Many companies today are striving to make remote employment the new normal, and Amazon is no exception. With more than a million employees worldwide, Amazon is hiring thousands of people for jobs with built-in remote flexibility, making the company an excellent option for those seeking work from home jobs.
In this complete guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to land an Amazon work from home job. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers!
Yes! Amazon has had a limited number of remote employees for years, especially in virtual customer service roles. But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Amazon was forced to dramatically increase the number of remote jobs. It was both a business necessity and a matter of employee safety.
To protect as many employees as possible, Amazon established a policy that allowed corporate and white-collar employees to work remotely during the pandemic. These employees handle everything from logistics and software development, to technical support and customer service – jobs that can easily be done from home.
Now that COVID restrictions are easing, Amazon will offer a mix of working from home and office for its corporate positions. Going forward, employees will be able to work remotely up to two days per week.
At the same time, all corporate employees will be permitted to work fully remote for up to 4 weeks per year. Employees who want to work from home more often can seek an exception.
According to the memo posted on company's blog, "Our thinking is predicated on what we believe will be most beneficial for customers, while also trying to give employees more flexibility in their work environment and lives."
With more people than ever shopping from home during the pandemic, sales skyrocketed. In the second quarter of 2020 alone, net sales increased by an incredible 40 percent to nearly $89 billion.
To keep up with the unprecedented demand, Amazon started hiring more remote workers, and recently announced plans to hire an additional 33,000 employees. All of these corporate and tech jobs began as remote jobs working from home at Amazon.
To make the good news even better, the average compensation package for these jobs is $150,000.
It’s no wonder that Amazon tops our list of 30 major U.S. companies hiring remote workers. As the King of commerce, Amazon is bursting with opportunities for those pursuing more autonomy over their career, especially if you:
Because of Amazon’s commitment to hiring remote workers, we have awarded Amazon a spot on our list of the Best 39 Flexible Jobs for Working Mothers.
If you’re ready to apply for an Amazon work from home job, you’ll find hundreds of Amazon positions listed on MotherWorks.
If you need more information first, read on!
You will find a wide range of jobs at Amazon with a remote component:
And many more.
Here are some of the specific job titles:
Amazon customer service jobs typically cover one or more of the following roles and purposes:
Learn more about customer service jobs in our complete guide.
With all of these roles being virtual, there is no lack of remote possibilities within the company.
Don’t see anything that suits your skillset? Never fear, Amazon is constantly updating their available opportunities based on the ebb and flow of the job market. With a role in every department you could imagine, there is a place for everyone at Amazon.
What Kind of Salary Can You Expect Working for Amazon
Amazon jobs pay a minimum of $15 per hour, but the average Amazon salary is $102,632 per year. As mentioned before, many work from home jobs exceed the average.
Salaries will vary greatly depending on the role you possess, your experience, the quality of your skills, and seniority. To offer a breakdown of the spectrum, here are the average annual salaries for various roles within the company (in order from highest-paid to lowest):
Principal Product Manager - $155,731
Senior Network Engineer - $132,422
Digital Marketer - $120,000
Finance Manager - $132,658
Software Development Engineer - $119,540
Product Marketing Manager - $113,855
Systems Administrator - $112,453
Network Engineer - $96,800
I.T. Support - $80,740
Controls Engineer - $71,951
Customer Service Manager - $68,735
Liaison - $62,655
GIS Analyst - $61,823
Area Operations Manager - $61,805
Support Specialist - $61,000
Operation Technician - $56,912
Delivery Coordinator - $52,808
Dispatcher - $37,274
Customer Service Representative - $30,720
Warehouse Associate - $29,870
Account Resolution Specialist - $29,415
Source: Payscale
You can apply for Amazon jobs on the MotherWorks portal for Amazon work from home jobs, or you can search for remote jobs on the Amazon website. You can customize the search for remote jobs:
The process will vary depending on the role, but the entire process will typically take an average of one to three weeks.
The ways in which the procedures diverge depending on the position include:
You will notice in employee reviews that some people were hired in 3 days, others in 3 months. The process may take 4 days or 4 weeks, it may be subject to:
Upon finalization of the official hire, the employee would be subject to random drug screenings, as well as an annual medical exam.
The background checks will take between 10-14 business days due to a time-consuming report on their end as part of the candidate’s comprehensive investigation.
The aspects Amazon will be examining during your background check and items that could potentially disqualify you if they deem you irresponsible or unfit, include:
According to BackgroundChecks.com:
“Amazon is extremely vigilant about conducting drug screenings on new hires and existing employees. The drug test typically occurs in Amazon’s hiring process after an interview or orientation session and criminal background and reference checks. “
Amazon will also seek information such as:
Depending on the position, they may also look your social media presence to ensure there are no posts that could be damaging to Amazon’s reputation.
As a beautifully written self-statement, the company reports of their Company Culture:
“At Amazon, we work with smart, passionate people who are building new products and services every day on behalf of our customers.
Our Leadership Principles empower us to be owners and innovators while maintaining our customer-centricity.
We’re willing to take risks – innovating requires failing.”
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on making recent strides in diversity.
If you’re applying for a leadership role – Be sure to check out Amazon’s 14 Principals of Leadership.
There is no doubt that Amazon has revolutionized online retailing and delivery. One of the big reasons for Amazon’s success is the company’s ability to hire the right people for a lot of highly specialized jobs.
There is no specific background experience that Amazon requires, with each applicant being analyzed on a case-by-case basis for what they can bring to the role. “Hiring has been the secret to scaling Amazon all along the way,” says Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
You might think that digital prowess is the leading talent that Amazon is seeking for non-delivery roles; however, customer service is behind Amazon’s success and that’s what has kept them on top.
Embracing a culture of tolerance and collaboration is another factor contributing to the company’s success. Amazon seeks prospective team members that embody the following characteristics:
Benefits of working at Amazon include:
You can read more about the benefits of working at Amazon here. Part-time employees are eligible for benefits when they work at least 20 hours a week. If you are interested in other part-time jobs with benefits, check out our comprehensive guide.
Amazon will usually interview an applicant one to two times (one if closer to entry-level, two for senior-level roles). Before the pandemic, one may be asked to come in for an on-site interview, but all in-person requirements have been put on hold.
Important to note – For any interview or series of interviews you may participate in, you may be interviewed by what who company has coined as – The Amazon Bar Raisers. Amazon writes of their Bar Raisers’ responsibilities when searching for the ideal candidate:
“Bar Raisers have three responsibilities as part of the hiring process.
The first is to assess candidates for the specific role and for long-term success at Amazon.
The second function of a Bar Raiser is to make sure there is an open, accurate and fair assessment of the candidate with every member of the interview loop participating in the discussion.
Finally, they are responsible for helping hiring managers and others prepare for interviews, ask questions related to the Leadership Principles and the competencies that are needed for the position, assess the candidate, and provide written feedback.”
A few tips to mentally-fortify you for your Amazon interview includes:
The demand for excellence at Amazon is high, and there is little room for error. Of course, highlight the strengths of the role you are going for (‘people person’ if Customer Care, ‘collaborative leader’ if leading teams over virtual calls as an Account Management, etc.)
But regardless – find a way to mention some form of verbal or tangible evidence for your productivity, speed, and ability to exceed quotas.
Even for hourly associates, Amazon offers a skills course to allow their employees to pursue their goals of vertical career mobility. The program Career Choice is one of the many ways that Amazon shows how they care about their employees, their families, and their futures.
In the Career Choice employee program, Amazon will:
There has never been more opportunity for remote and virtual workers to re-enter the workforce with a vengeance! With thousands of positions in every department (administration, customer service, tech, management, accounting, H.R., legal, advertising, procurement, investigation, etc.) – There should unquestionably be a role within this e-commerce giant that will foster your unique talents.
Amazon is one of the best-of-the-best, with opportunities added year-round, great benefits, a healthy company culture, and the security of a booming business that is unlikely to go out of business amidst the economic overhaul. For remote workers in an uncertain time, this is the bread and butter. Literally.
If you are considering working remotely, get ahead of the curve!
Begin developing your telecommuting expertise by applying to Amazon’s work-from-home roles here.