Despite the massive surge in unemployment we’ve seen recently because of the coronavirus pandemic, several companies have announced that they’re actually hiring for hundreds of thousands of part-time, full-time, temporary and permanent positions.
One of those companies is e-commerce giant Amazon.
What You Need to Know About Working for Amazon
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon needs a lot of people to operate. In early September 2020, the company announced its plan to hire 33,000 people as part of Amazon Career Day 2020.
More recently, the company announced that it is looking for 100,000 new workers as it continues to see a huge demand for home delivery of goods during the pandemic.
Here are six things you need to know about those jobs, and about working for Amazon in general.
1. What Kinds of Jobs Are Available Right Now?
Amazon says the bulk of the jobs that need to be filled are new full and part-time positions across the U.S. and Canada in their fulfillment and logistics network.
Many of the jobs Amazon is hiring for are Warehouse/Shopper positions.
You can apply for that and any other positions here.
Of course, jobs can be filled and new opportunities can open up at any time. Be sure to check back often if you don’t see what you’re looking for at first.
2. What Are the Requirements for Working at Amazon?
While some more senior positions may ask for advanced degrees, many of the jobs available right now only require that the applicant:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have the ability to read and speak English for safety
- Have a high school, GED, or equivalent diploma
In many cases, no resume or previous job experience is necessary to apply. See the specific job postings in your area for any additional requirements.
3. How Quickly Could I Expect to Be Hired?
According to multiple job descriptions for these Amazon positions, you may be able to start work in “as soon as 7 days.”
This is an incredibly quick hiring cycle for a major company and could be huge if you’re trying to figure out how to pay bills that are coming due soon.
4. How Much Do Jobs at Amazon Pay?
Amazon says these new jobs start at $15 an hour. That means you may be able to earn more based on the position and your experience.
5. Where Are These Jobs Located?
The latest hiring spree includes full- and part-time positions across the country, but especially in these states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
6. What Other Benefits Does Amazon Offer?
Benefits at Amazon vary by location and a number of other factors. However, regular, full-time employees can expect to receive:
- Medical benefits, including health, vision and dental plan availability from day one
- A 401(k) retirement plan with 50% company match
- $1,000 bonus (if jobs in your location offer this, check the eligibility period in the fine print)
- Paid time off, in addition to company holidays
- A discount on products sold and shipped by Amazon.com
Amazon also offers a unique program called Career Choice that will pre-pay 95% of tuition and fees for employees to earn degrees in high-demand fields.
Some college and technical classes are taught inside Amazon fulfillment centers to make them more convenient.
