The continuation of “Employment: Identifying the Segment War” posted February 2014. I remain unemployed, and not for the lack of effort. However, there were some elements I did not discuss previously.
Before leaving my last position, I had worked to establish a lead with Amazon. I had researched, as you should when looking to join another organization, that Amazon had made a strong move into New Jersey in 2013. Amazon purchased approximately 900 thousand square foot location from northeast distributor C&S Wholesale based in Bratleboro and Keene New Hampshire. I heard whispers that Amazon was looking to remove their external distribution from UPS, DHL, and FedEx which was the company’s primary distributor. Clearly, Amazon was looking to establish their own distribution. After some research, I learned Amazon was developing a new business model to include distribution and fulfillment centers; I’ll avoid the logistics and operations explanation of how to for time and sanity sake.
At the time I was sure there would be one of each, a fulfillment and distribution center, within New Jersey and had heard the possibility of there being another distribution center possibly. I also came to know that Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, was born Jeffrey Preston Jorgenson, a Scandinavian like myself. His mother divorced while young and remarried a Cuban immigrant Miguel Bezos. I prepared note cards with each of the senior management’s alumni, educative focus, organizational role, and their professional development before getting to Amazon. None of which even presented an opportunity to share during the interviews. How disappointing the wasted time and research. Regardless, the research was done in preparation and to establish a feeling of control that should the opportunity be presented would doubtless provide me leg up over other potential candidates.
I was interviewing for an operations management position within New Jersey, and clearly felt I was a shoe in for the position. I had exceeded all expectations laid forth within the source description (employment description). I completed my Master in Business Administration; my experience within the eight years of military service was all logistical and operational related. I even moved over $10 million dollars worth of aviation communication equipment from Japan to Thailand and back to Japan without losing, or damaging, even one component. That operation in itself is no mere feat and I was responsible for the entire movement.
I remember, as a young Lance Corporal within 2nd Marine Division being a liaison for a pilot program that infused logistics and operations specialist from a battalion level to a company to enhance the regiment’s overall efficiency; the program was such a success that now there are levels of logistic operations that work between Battalion and Company level supply offices. I was rewarded many times over for this effort to include four certificated of commendation, two (consecutive) Commandant Logistical Excellence awards and several letters of commendation from Company, Battalion, and Regimental Commanders.
I had, at the time of the Amazon interview, over 10 years of experience in working in warehouse environments. Conducted many wall-to-wall inventories, which if you have ever worked within a warehouse would know the exactness requirement of count accuracy. For example, an Amazon distribution facility, some of the larger operations, move over one million pieces daily, imagine trying to account for a standing one million piece inventory let alone a consistently moving inventory. I have loaded many distribution trucks, driven every type of forklift in development; worked budgets, time lines, and production requirements since.
Clearly, I had everything Amazon was looking for and then some. I took the phone interview in December 2013 and new Amazon was not looking to hire ’till mid January 2014, so I was relieved that less than 24 hours after the initial screening that I had been invited back for a second interview and walk-through within one of their distribution centers. Moreover, this knowledge coming after my December dismissal from Aaron’s; no need to panic, I have done what the “experts” have always counseled, target an organization, research, extend interviews, and get hired while still employed! Felt good, felt right, nothing to worry about, I would go less than six weeks of being unemployed.
The warehouse walk-through was very interesting and informative. Seeing first hand how the largest online retailer conducted its business; however, logistically and organizationally speaking was not a revelation to the industry. What I observed, and based on personal experience from working distribution operations with other large warehouses like C&S from New Hampshire, Amazon simply removed a significant portion of error that one typically finds within a warehouse. That error being human selection; of course location and a dedicated distribution chain from FedEx, I expected more flare and circumstance to the Amazon operation.
Still, the experience was neat and exciting. The interview process itself was not unlike any before, though not within the civilian world I must admit. Four to five back-to-back interviews. Other candidates where present as well but I felt rather confident about the entire experience; I felt more than qualified and a shoe-in for the position, at least I would be considered for something if not the Operations Management position. I left after a long day of interviewing relieved the process was over and positive that my future outlook would change!
I wanted to work for Amazon and I pursued the position in every was possible. Prepared and felt, finally a break. I would have a career and a solid opportunity for professional growth and advancement. I felt, professionally speaking, at home. All that remained was to wait for an offer.
A week later, I got my first response from Amazon. I didn’t get the job. Moreover, nothing else was offered. As I read the email, a cold fear ran through me, shock and awe. Anger followed shortly after to which I emailed the recruiter I had worked with for over a month. Unbelievable upset. Several hours went by with me going through everything wondering what the hell went wrong. Did I say something wrong? Provide a wrong reply to a question. Worse yet, when I asked the recruiter what I had done to exclude me from an opportunity, “providing that information is against company policy” was all that I was offered.
WHAT THE FUCK!! was all I remember thinking after that. The disappointment that I felt I had done everything right and still yielded no job; moreover, this was the only opportunity I had available and it didn’t pan out. I was angry!! I went back and reviewed the employment description to see where I was not a viable candidate and grew even angrier that I had exceeded nearly every component within their requirements for the position!
I was wasted, absolutely wasted. The injustice, unfairness, and still no clue on why the hell I was not offered at least something with the company.
Larss A. Ogren 