I just want to tell you that rejection happens for all of us.
Whether you're a Bootcamp graduate or a 10x developer.
I think if you know one thing about me its that I'm AWS Obsessed and you may ask why don't I work at AWS? I've been told an endless amount of times by AWS employees to apply.
So have I ever tried? and the answer is Yes, more than you can imagine.
I apply to AWS all the time and no matter:
- how many free AWS videos I produce
- how many AWS courses I create
- how much I evangelize on Dev.to, Startup School and in Toronto
- how many CloudFormation templates I publish
- how many AWS Tech talks
- how many AWS Workshops
- how many contributions to the open-source docs
- how many times I rewrite my cover letters or resume
- how many startups I covert over to AWS
I just face waves of rejections 🌊. At this point, I simply hit apply to every AWS job posted in Toronto ritualistically. I have no reason to believe I will ever be considered.
the list goes on and on...
I talk about being able to hack the job interview. But this one company has alluded me. I am beyond the point of frustration a long time ago and just accept how things are.
So what do you do when you face rejection?
Whenever I am feeling down, I utter the famous words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggart. Never Give up, Never Surrender.
How has it been for you?
Have any of you faced such a crazy amount of rejection?
👇 Share in the comments below. 👇
Top comments (81)
Exactly this. Its one thing to know how to build things with AWS, its another to actually build AWS. Same way being able to customize cars doesn't necessarily mean you have the skills to be an automotive engineer. From what I gather neither Amazon nor AWS really care what technologies you know. They only care that you exemplify their leadership principles, perform well on classical CS problems and raise their bar. Have you solved scalability and/or performance issues without AWS or other prepackaged solutions? Alternatively, look at Solutions Architect roles.
Actually, knowing AWS is very important and many AWS services are built on top of other AWS services.
What do you base this assertion on?
Same here... Applied for a few positions, got an offer over LinkedIn from them, but not what I was looking for.
Reject me once, shame on you; reject me 500 times, shame on me. That made me realize, I don't really want to work for them. Not now anyways, don't get me wrong I absolutely love working and building with AWS.
I just realized what I want, I might not get from them either, that belonging to a company with a family like culture where growth is mutual. A place I can be heard, make an impact and be encouraged and pushed to do what I love and that place at this moment is not AWS. There is a time and place for everything, now is just not that time.
Now there's a truer, heartfelt bit than I've heard in quite awhile!
If I worked at AWS, they probably wouldn't let me build a Pinball machine powered by IoT devices on company time.
Actually, you can. Provided you can justify it or have completed your share of work.
Wow that surely sucks, im rooting for you to get this job. In my city there's a company named Instituto Atlantico wich is a research company, everything i wanted but got rejected about 5 times but still trying keep in my head this might be that im not ready YET.
Former AWS Solution Architect here, I thought it was the highlight and culminating point of my career to join AWS. I'm obsessed with AWS as well but it was not an enjoyable experience working there. As for pay, they are salary capped, could never make more than a certain amount in my paycheck no matter how long I worked there, how well I performed, or how far I advanced. That's just wrong.
I heard about their salary caps, but I also heard that they compensate by increasing the number of stock options. Is that correct?
That's correct. I'm a current solutions architect at AWS, and I've been here 5 years. Ping me directly if you'd like to talk about opportunities that fit your skillset.
Kirk, I've been doing IT for 8 years and am currently taking courses and labs on the AWS Training platform. I am grateful for any insight you may wish to share, Thank you!
Hey Andrew. I'm a Solutions Architect at Onica, an AWS Premier Partner. In fact all we do is AWS, so you can say that we too are AWS obsessed. I can tell you that nearly all 300+ Onicans could get hired by Amazon but none of us want to. BTW: We have a Toronto office.
Hey Adam!
I know Onica and the Toronto team quite well. I have wonderful long conversations with Onica's Solutions Architects frequently. It is certainly not a bad suggestion.
I was about the suggest the same...
Ps: I'm a Cloud Native Developer from the Montreal office. 😉
It seems like you're already working for AWS in at least a part-time capacity -- they just aren't paying you for it. And why on earth should or would they, when they're already getting so much effort out of you for free? What more could they even pay you to do? In their position I'd be perfectly happy to let you keep on doing what you're doing, as long as you don't actively embarrass the brand somehow.
On top of that, I can't imagine seeing your name in their inbox for every single new job posting is endearing you to the hiring department any. It is highly inadvisable to do things likely to annoy the hiring department.
I second this.
I think you've been blacklisted @andrewbrown .
Why hire you when you're already doing the evangelizing for free (or at least free for them) ?
In addition, AWS is 71% of Amazon's income, it doesn't seem like they are struggling in selling their product.
Your "AWS mojo" is strong, why join the mother ship? I understand the need for security and all and I can't be in your own shoes. Would setting up a company that offers AWS based solutions in addition to what you're doing now on training be a possibility?
Everytime I think about "how to solve stuff with AWS" I think of Corey Quinn. I believe he focuses on cost savings on AWS with his company: lastweekinaws.com/services/
@Dian Fay I like to think there is one person who keeps having to deal with seeing my name 🙃
@ryhmes It could very well be their algorithm no longer likes me. There is a freelance marketplace called AWS IQ but its not available in Canada. I could do consultancy though I have always simply said no. It's actually how I ended up having my own web-dev firm, I was just doing consultancy on the side and then it took over.
Do you think that spamming the person or people who decide which applications get more than five seconds of attention at the Toronto office makes you a more attractive candidate and more likely to be hired?
Do you think that it makes any kind of sense for Amazon or any company to pay for what you're happily giving them for free?
You'be been rejected and are whinging about pestering them and getting outright black-listed? Hmmm, imagine the recruiters side of the story? I hope this teaches you a business lesson.. I get it, you've done so much and think your in with a great chance. But you aren't the recruiter. This type of behaviour raised serious red flags. Either way they're not going to hire you after this blog so best just move on.
You know what: too bad for them.
Use your devotion to AWS to build your own tutoring/consulting company!
I know a lot of people who had the same bug with Google: t-shirts, stickers, apps - rejected all the time. Some of them simply created their own companies and moved on.
Again, it is not your issue AWS is ignorant enough to reject people with such a deep devotion.
Good luck anyway!
Hi, I am an ex Amazonian (TPM), a few things that you may want to try:
1) Don't go and apply directly through the amazon.jobs website without first contacting a recruiter (use LinkedIn to find AWS recruiters).
2) Check if there are any hiring events in your area.
3) If you have a contact inside Amazon, ask for a referral.
4) If you decide to go by yourself and apply directly on amazon.jobs, optimize your resume so ATS robots see you as a good fit for the position that you are applying to.
5) Don't apply to just any job, apply to only the ones that you think you are really passionate about and you will be a good fit.
Considering your long history of rejection I would focus on items 1-3 from the previous list.
Good luck!
This may be a dumb question Andrew, but what do you do for work then?
Contracts, contracts and contracts.
I am at a point in my career where I can get hired at many places but I really want to work for very specific companies in very specific roles.
So unless I build that company myself (ExamPro) or the right company approaches me, then I just make money with ExamPro and do contract work to supplement.
In honest I would love to be a non-profit just producing endless amounts of video content, though that is hefty undertaking to get sponsorship.
I hear you.
Your ExamPro rates are super reasonable, so please don't feel badly about monetizing the content at all!
I wish you the best in finding your perfect role! You're blessed to be in the position to hold out for it 😄
And for the record, I think AWS is simply terrified of you 😏
Let's hope so. 😎
You don't necessarily need sponsorship, you could monetize a YouTube channel or have a class on Udemy. I wouldn't worry so much if Amazon gives you a job since you seem to be able to make a living off their product and there are endless opportunities without being tied down to their corporate structure.
Try Egghead.io they could use a nice bolster for their aws content and it's paid.
It has nothing to do with the fact that they want you to work for free.
The point is the fact that you love AWS, but you might not want to work for AWS. AWS has been known for extended work time, and tight timeline, so does the heavy operation load. It is not happening to all the AWS teams, but it is part of the facts. Loving one thing not necessarily means you enjoy working for that thing.
Second is that be honest about how did you do during the interview. Sadly the open-sourced doc and greate tutorial videos might only take little consideration in the final assessment. The hiring decisions no doubts needs improvements, but it is highly likely what is going on.
The last thing I want to share is that if you like using AWS, keep using it. The product itself has nothing to do with the recruiting process. If you find an alternative is better, like Azure, switch. It is just a tool to support your end goal. That is what matters.
I much admire your hard work, and I hope you would not be bothered by it anymore.
TBH I've only applied to amazon once but have interviewed 5 times. I think it's about the recruiter you get there because he keeps in contact with me and keeps recommending me for different AWS teams.
Keep on keepin' on!
I think your resume/info got stuck in their automated sorting algorithm preference list. Try changing your resume, kewords etc. Sometimes the post jobs because they have to and they might not be available.
Change approach. First I'd get to grips with getting to know some AWS employees on a personal level. linkedin, meetup(Eventbrite) and events are best for this. Next ask them to recommend you for a role (link up your skills to something they see a space in) third is to work extremely hard at Thier personal brand fit. They want a very specific type of person and is usually well versed in Thier principles. This process will take 6 months so don't expect it too quick. Make steady progress everyday is my advice
Hey man unlike you I was obsessed with Apple (not retail store) for decades, then finally I gave up and just continued my own way. But one day surprisingly I received a phone call from the Apple recruiter, now probably you can tell what I felt. Never stop on good things, someone will appreciate your efforts soon or later!
I felt the same way in my earlier career in my 20s applying for Citrix, I was living in the same city as the HQ and didn’t get in possibly lacking experience, certification, education or just personality. I also went to a all paid for travel experience attending a 4 hour Situational Amazon interview in NYC in 2017 and they were a tough crowd to interview with. I didn’t get hired and moved on with my life.
Big Data, start ups, competition like OVH, is just so mundane. I get it, I read that your talented. However I also did not read In your story and troubles above that you possess any of the AWS certifications with combined education and experience with other tech companies. It almost sounds like you just want to jump right in with the big boys and play and if that is true then the universe has not aligned with your dream position or career.
“It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know”. Get out there and network, linkedin a great source but actually going out hitting the pavement and truly network with people in your profession. If you happen to meet someone who is working at your dream company, ask for a referral and reference to use on your application. Speaking of references you need to have an Arsenal, people that you actually worked with or who you directly reported to like your managers.
Practice interviewing. Apply to places and get interviews, and learn the power of negotiating your salary, hell even sit back and watch companies Fight for top dollar for your talent.
Talent is what they want, not what you can do Already, what you can do for them in the future to improve or impact the company in a positive experience. Let the ball be in your court.