Sonic2k
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I have a right to be, you're obviously not on the receiving end of this government
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Amazon as an employer
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airborne
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From my experience anything but food and accomadation is significantly cheaper in the US. Anything manufactured incl clothing is cheaper over there and that's on direct exchange values but if you compare prices considering what they earn then it's no comparison at all. In the US R500k/pa wage is considered low level pay , any legal full time menial labour job that pays just the minimum wage gets around R250k/pa incl benefits.Food, clothing, pretty much all necessities except electronics and cars are very cheap in SA compared to the rest of the world. Excluding 3rd world dumps like India or China of course.
Even the rest of Africa is a lot more expensive to live in as I found out the hard way. The US and Europe are even more so. If you look at the comparative indexes you will see SA is usually at half or less of US prices.
Here is a PPP map (yes it's from Wikipedia and a few years old, but I couldn't find anything more recent). The bluer the country is the less expensive the general cost of living. Most of Europe is orange indicating similar price levels to the US and Scandinavia is red indicating stupidly high costs as we know.
PP2003.svg" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FilePP2003.svg
PP2003.svg
There are a few things that are an astronomical cost, like Medical Aid, rent in some cities, smokes(R120 a 20's box in some states), booze can cost a mint in restaurants/bars not even fancy ones.
But in the US if you are prepared to hunt for things you can get virtually any consumer goods for relatively next to nothing. It's the consumer capital of the world.
Another thing that tends to be more is any kind of slightly skilled labour (renovations, plumbers, electricians, etc.). On accommodation, though, apart from a few hot spots, even that isn't so bad. Amazon's head offices are in Seattle, which isn't too expensive, and the taxes are much lower in WA state, and as you mention, of course the income is much higher. Add to this that you can easily move out into the burbs, which are much cheaper, and you're set.
Yes, just one guy didn't get that. Which led onto the second part...
Yip they keep approaching me every +/- 6 months, either a recruiter or a dev. So I reckon there must be a good pay off for finding someone that makes the grade. Anyway I lost interest in their system of interviews when I tried 5 yrs ago(after tech rounds don't believe their non-tech rounds and you will fly thru). Besides its based in Cpt and I'm either leaving SA or digging heals in while things hit the fan.
It's weird though, in SA there really is only a handful places in IT that are well known for top talent, like in Cpt it's like 2-3. Kinda makes you realize that leaving SA, starting your own thing or climbing far up the ladder is where you need to be as the goal posts shift well for me at least
It's weird though, in SA there really is only a handful places in IT that are well known for top talent, like in Cpt it's like 2-3. Kinda makes you realize that leaving SA, starting your own thing or climbing far up the ladder is where you need to be as the goal posts shift well for me at least
Other Pineapple Smurf
Honorary Master
I work with some ex-Amazon staff (Cape Town and Europe). The guys had their personal reasons for leaving, but none bad mouth the company.
Also hearing somebody being paid R1 million CTC means nothing, one needs to understand what it is they do and what value the company puts on that position.
I've a friend working at Amazon who gets way less than what we pay for a similar position (product management team).
Another mate of mine (python developer) got offered an OK salary offer at Amazon and we unknowingly made him the same offer. Personally I felt he was worth way way more with the projects behind his name (I got offered 20% more) but its obvious each prospective employer did not put the same value on him as what I do.
One thing about working in Cape Town CBD has taught me is that don't be afraid to move around till you find a job that makes you happy.
Also hearing somebody being paid R1 million CTC means nothing, one needs to understand what it is they do and what value the company puts on that position.
I've a friend working at Amazon who gets way less than what we pay for a similar position (product management team).
Another mate of mine (python developer) got offered an OK salary offer at Amazon and we unknowingly made him the same offer. Personally I felt he was worth way way more with the projects behind his name (I got offered 20% more) but its obvious each prospective employer did not put the same value on him as what I do.
One thing about working in Cape Town CBD has taught me is that don't be afraid to move around till you find a job that makes you happy.
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Other Pineapple Smurf
Honorary Master
Going to disagree.
There is a lot of head hunting in Cape Town by top international companies including the likes of Facebook. Its amazing how much talent we have here and what is being developed. For me its a privilege to work with the people I do and to hear what amazing projects that have worked.
Well, it means that they pay up to at least R1m for at least some of their Devs - if you are ~90th+ percentile talent, this means quite a lot.
Colin62
Executive Member
You've been in software development for how many months now? And just about everyone is SA is crap? You've just insulted quite a few people there, with one very broad brush.
I have a friend who works for Amazon. The amount he gets paid for his background is staggering, imho - or I'm just in the completely wrong profession. They have some really good perks, with really great stock options. Plus they keep the door open to transfers abroad. Tbh, I can't think of a better company to work for in the area if you are career driven.
semaphore
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Colin62
Executive Member
He's gonna win lots of friends in the dev community with that attitude
Maybe even as many as he has in the electronics crowd.
Other Pineapple Smurf
Honorary Master
Yes but they make their staff work for their money. Its the one thing I always hear.
I'm not dissing the job, but more that its great that there are such local opportunities here in SA. The reason why I never took up a recent San Fran job offer.
Other Pineapple Smurf
Honorary Master
He probably works with junior PHP developers.
semaphore
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No everyone he works with are arseholes apparently.
Kilgore_Trout_Redux
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Yeah, I have heard that working for Amazon is a young persons game. Put your life on hold for a few years.
sparticus
Expert Member
Not true, its a great company and fantastic laid back environment, for instance, its not uncommon to see guys coming to work with their dogs, the rewards are awesome and yes the work is at a fast pace but its also at a good pace. The only reason they recruit so often is because they expanding so fast and people move up pretty fast (on average 12 to 18 months).