Reflections on Leaving Amazon: The Journey Ahead

After over four years at Amazon, I made a significant decision last week (on October 20) by submitting my resignation. Just a day later, I learned about the upcoming layoffs affecting 30,000 employees. It’s a surreal moment, and I’d like to share my thoughts and insights on this major transition.

The Reasoning Behind the Layoffs

From what I’ve gathered, the narrative surrounding this round of layoffs centers around Amazon’s advanced AI capabilities. The company claims that AI has significantly boosted productivity, allowing them to reduce the workforce by 10%. While it’s an optimistic outlook for productivity enhancement, the stock market barely reacted, showing only a 1.5% shift. Coupled with last week’s AWS outage, it makes me a bit anxious hoping these cuts aren’t detrimental.

Why Leaving Was the Right Choice for Me

• Four-Year Vesting Completed: Successfully completed my four-year vesting schedule, which is considered a customary milestone in corporate life.
• Opportunities for Growth: Due to previous procrastination, I hadn’t started my permanent residency process. With layoffs on the horizon, it seemed logical to transition to a more secure job with a stable identity.
• Entrepreneurial Aspirations: I’ve always had the desire to start my own venture, but the stringent return-to-office policies stifled my progress. Sometimes you have to choose between a stable job and your entrepreneurial dreams, and I felt compelled to make a shift.
• Team Dynamics: The research direction of my group had become increasingly specialized, with a ratio of 13:1 between PhD holders and the rest of the team. I prefer a business-focused data science role, where feedback is rapid and gratifying compared to the lengthy research process.

Pros of My Current Team Environment

Overall, my team has become a rare gem in the corporate landscape:

• Supportive Atmosphere: The vibe in the group is incredibly positive. Colleagues often check on my workload, but I genuinely feel at ease. Working in a centralized science team allows for a simplified dynamic, free from office politics. The focus is on results.
• Diverse Research Areas: There’s a vast array of topics being explored within the team, from forecasting and causal analysis to generative AI, NLP, and computer vision. This diversity has provided ample learning opportunities from my knowledgeable colleagues.

Storytelling Ahead: Lessons Learned at Amazon

With a tenure of 4.5 years, I believe I’ve gathered enough experiences to stand out among 70% of my fellow Amazon alumni. Many projects I participated in involved building from the ground up, navigating through various leadership changes—both good and bad—has given me a wealth of stories to tell. I’m excited to relaunch my “Fruit Storytelling” series, where I’ll share:

• Creative strategies for self-rescue during reorganization
• My favorite and least favorite managers
• Insights on the interview process
• Five key things I wish I had known when starting

Feel free to share any topics you’re interested in discussing! #TechGiants #AmazonLayoffs #JobSeekingInNorthAmerica #LifeInNorthAmerica #NewYorkLife #ResignationDiaries #NewBeginnings

Conclusion

Change can be daunting yet invigorating. As I step into the next chapter of my career, I carry with me the experiences, lessons, and stories gathered during my time at Amazon. I look forward to embracing new opportunities and continuing to learn and grow. Your thoughts and support are most welcome as I navigate this transition!