From day one, I was able to make an immediate impact on my team. Contributing to such a great company has enriched my skills, expanded my network, and thus allowed me to walk away with unforgettable memories. Throughout these 10 weeks, I spent my time with Amazon Operations leading a team of 40 associates across various shifts. My primary focus each day was to maximize productivity, safety, and quality goals within the CAP department. As an Area Manager Intern, I analyzed individual and team performances to determine where there were inefficiencies to provide essential support. Off the floor, I worked on an extensive project aimed at simplifying the damage process.
Following the completion of my internship, I now realize how important company culture is to one’s career development. At Amazon, one of their leadership principles is “Hire and Develop the Best”. When Amazon recognizes potential, they will do everything they can to help you develop into a leader. That’s something I really appreciated about Amazon. The fact is that if you’re willing to put in the work, the possibilities are endless. As someone who’s constantly pushing the limits to be a better version of myself every day, emphasis on career development has become a priority on my list. Moving forward, that will be one of the main aspects I look for when pursuing my next career aspiration.
The moment I realized I valued career development over any other factors was when I learned everything there was to be an Area Manager. After about 2 months, I could run a shift to perfection even though we lacked leadership in my department. At that point, I was exceeding expectations and knew I had become a valuable asset to the team but I wasn’t necessarily satisfied. My eagerness to learn more had me wondering what the next step could be. A different department? A promotion to Operations Manager? All I knew was that I wanted to continue developing and gaining new experiences so I could be a well-rounded manager.
Moving along my manager Britiney, who had mentored me these past few months has been someone I greatly admire for her journey through Amazon. After our initial 1:1, I walked away with not only a different perspective on my manager but also career development. She started off as a Tier 1 Associate and over the years, her hard work has given her the opportunity to become a Tier 5 Area Manager. It comes to show how Amazon wants to see its employees grow if they wish to develop in their careers. Britney mentioned one of the reasons she’s been with Amazon for over 6 years is due to the opportunities they gave her to develop. From my perspective, that’s totally valid, which is why I want to work for a company that looks out for my best interest personally and professionally.
Lastly, about halfway through my internship, I noticed that managers were being moved around left and right. Every department had changed in one way or another and it had me wondering why. I learned that the majority of those who got moved had requested to do so to learn more outside of their department. These managers asked for change and that’s what they got. For those that didn’t want to be moved, the GM at my facility had said he saw potential in them and knew they could handle it. Even when you believe in yourself, Amazon will and wants to see you continue developing.
In conclusion, my mindset revolving around career development has changed tremendously after completing this internship. Beforehand, I was rather money-oriented, only chasing where I could make the most money. Realizing that money doesn’t bring me happiness has helped me decide I want to be at a company that emphasizes my career growth. One day, I hope to be in a position where my decisions will greatly impact a company so that I can make a truly positive impact. That is ultimately my professional goal which is why I’ll only consider working for companies that encourage promoting from within moving forward.