A former Amazon vice president has issued a stark warning about career advancement during company reorganisations, stating that employees who do not vocalise their needs can be left behind. Ethan Evans, who retired from the e-commerce giant in 2020, said that during reorgs, managers often prioritise saving those who have been clear about their career intentions.
Evans made the comments in an interview for "The Peterman Pod," released on Tuesday. His advice challenges the traditional "work hard and hope to be noticed" strategy, suggesting a more proactive approach is necessary for professional survival.
The 'Harsh Truth' of Corporate Restructuring
Evans explained that two employees with similar performance records can experience different outcomes. "It's not that I mean to screw you. I'm focused on saving this other person, and I know you'll put up with it," he said, describing a manager's perspective. "You can end up behind just because you're such a nice guy."
He clarified that his advice is not to encourage poor behaviour, but rather to highlight that "pushy people get more." The core issue, according to Evans, is that managers arranging a reorganisation may only be aware of the career desires of those who have spoken up.
A Strategy for Being Noticed
In a follow-up statement to Business Insider, Evans outlined a practical alternative to simply hoping for recognition. "It begins with simply making your career desires known," he stated.
The next step, he advised, is "reasonably sharing your work, so that it gets noticed." He suggested this could be achieved through methods like a weekly status report to a boss and key stakeholders, ensuring awareness of an employee's contributions without crossing into bragging.
Context of Amazon's Recent Reorganisations
Evans's comments come amid a period of significant restructuring at Amazon. The company cut 16,000 jobs in January as part of an effort to become what an internal memo called the "world's largest startup." Further layoffs occurred in its robotic division earlier this month.
Evans, who has previously shared career tips with Business Insider including résumé advice and lessons from working under founder Jeff Bezos, emphasised that self-advocacy is a critical skill in this environment. The difference between success and being overlooked, he concluded, is taking deliberate action rather than relying on hope.