Amazon‘s Internal Transfer Policy In 2023: Everything You Need To Know As An Employee

Are you currently working at Amazon and wondering if the company allows employees to transfer to new roles or locations? Do you want to learn more about how Amazon‘s internal mobility program works?

Well, you‘ve come to the right place!

In this detailed 3200+ word guide, I‘ll be sharing everything you need to know as an Amazon employee about:

• How Amazon‘s internal transfer policy works
• The step-by-step process to request a transfer
• Who is eligible for internal transfers
• Why Amazon encourages transfers
• Number of open positions available
• Pros and cons of Amazon‘s policy
• How Amazon compares to other major companies
• Expert tips to get your transfer approved

Let‘s get started!

A Quick Primer on Amazon‘s Internal Transfer Policy

Before we dive into the details, here is a quick overview of Amazon‘s internal transfer policy:

• Eligibility: You must complete 60+ days of employment before applying for an internal transfer.

• Open positions: All available roles are posted on Amazon‘s internal "Jobfinder" portal.

• Process: Simply apply for open positions you qualify for. If selected, you can transfer within weeks.

• Frequency: Transfers are allowed every 12-24 months on average.

• Support: Amazon heavily promotes internal mobility and provides support.

So in essence, after 60 days of working at Amazon, you can freely apply and transfer to thousands of open roles across the company based on your career interests and skills!

Now let‘s look at the step-by-step process.

How To Request An Internal Transfer at Amazon

Wondering what the process looks like to request an internal transfer to a new team or facility within Amazon? Here is exactly how you go about it in 6 simple steps:

Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirements

Before applying for a transfer, you need to:

• Be employed at Amazon for 60+ days: This allows new hires time to get trained and ramped up before moving.

• Have satisfactory performance: If your reviews show low productivity or quality, transfers may be declined.

• Get your manager‘s approval: Your manager must green-light you leaving the team/department.

Once you meet these basic criteria, you‘ll be cleared to explore open positions!

Step 2: Review open roles on Amazon‘s Internal Job Finder

This is the fun part! Log into your employee A to Z portal and navigate to the Internal Job Finder.

You‘ll see thousands of openings across teams, locations and job families. Browse by:

• Job category – Finance, Tech, HR, Operations etc.

• Location – openings in your city, state or globally

• Job ID or keywords

Filter for full-time or part-time positions based on your needs. Make a shortlist of openings that interest you.

Step 3: Submit your application

Once you‘ve found relevant openings you‘re excited about, click "Apply Now" and submit your application. This typically involves:

• Uploading your resume and cover letter

• Answering questions about your skills, experience and interest

• Providing your employee ID, tenure, current role etc.

The hiring manager is automatically notified when you apply. Now the ball is in their court!

Step 4: Interview with the hiring manager

If the hiring manager sees you as a promising fit, they will contact you directly to schedule interviews.

This process mimics external hiring, with phone/virtual screens and multiple rounds if required.

Put your best foot forward! Highlight how your skills, experience and work ethic will add value to their team.

Step 5: Get the good news!

Congratulations, you got the job! The hiring manager will formally extend an offer letter with compensation, start date and other details.

This is the most exciting phase. But don‘t pop the champagne just yet, because…

Step 6: Inform your current manager

It‘s professional courtesy to let your current manager know you plan to transfer to a new team. They will work with the hiring manager on transition timelines.

And that‘s it! Within 1-2 weeks, you‘ll be starting your new role within Amazon. It‘s that quick and smooth.

Now that you know the process, let‘s look at who‘s eligible.

Who Is Eligible For Internal Transfers at Amazon?

Amazon grants internal transfer opportunities quite widely to employees who:

• Have completed 60+ days of continuous employment at Amazon. This allows new hires time to get fully trained.

• Are meeting/exceeding performance expectations in their current role. Strong performers get priority.

• Have a track record of good conduct with no disciplinary issues.

• Are interested in and qualified for applying to open positions on the internal job portal.

• Have necessary skills, experience and education to be a competitive applicant.

• Receive approval from their current manager to transfer out of the department.

As long as you check these boxes, you can easily navigate an internal move at Amazon!

However, these are some scenarios where a transfer request may be denied:

• You‘re still within the initial 60 day probation period as a new hire.

• Performance issues put you on a Performance Improvement Plan.

• You apply for transfers too frequently, every 6-12 months.

• The position you want requires niche skills you lack.

• There is an urgent staffing need in your current department.

• It‘s peak holiday season and your team can‘t afford to lose you.

Overall though, 75-80% of internal transfer requests get approved at Amazon according to employee reports. The key is finding the right open role at the right time.

Now let‘s talk about why Amazon is so supportive when employees want to transfer internally.

Why Does Amazon Allow and Encourage Internal Transfers?

You might be wondering – why does Amazon so actively enable employees to transfer across teams, roles and locations?

There are some key business and cultural reasons why internal mobility is encouraged at Amazon:

• Retains top talent: Allows employees to flex their skills and prevent boredom. Amazon retains high performers.

• Develops skills: Transfers let employees gain well-rounded experience and take on more responsibility.

• Optimizes roles: Amazon moves people to where their skills add the most value based on priorities.

• Increases engagement: New challenges and incentives motivate employees and prevent stagnation.

• Provides staffing flexibility: Transferring people where they are needed most helps optimize operations.

• Develops leaders: Working across functions creates managers with diverse thinking and skills.

• Facilitates innovation: Cross-pollination of ideas happens faster with greater mobility.

As you can see, enabling internal mobility provides significant cultural and business benefits for both employees and the company. It‘s a win-win!

Next, let‘s look at the amazing variety of open positions available for you.

Just How Many Open Positions Does Amazon Have for Transfer?

With Amazon continuing its breakneck growth amid the pandemic, the number of open positions available for internal transfer is massive.

Here is a quick snapshot of internal transfer opportunities currently available globally:

• Over 15,000 openings for Corporate, Tech and Engineering roles as of October 2022

• ~50,000 openings in Operations roles – delivery stations, fulfillment centers, transportation

• Tens of thousands of seasonal temporary roles during peak holiday season

• New facilities launching every few months in new cities, states and countries

Just look at some current examples of high-demand positions open for internal transfer:

Job Category	Specific Open Roles
Technology	Software Development Engineer, Data Engineer, Cloud Architect, QA Engineer, Product Manager, Program Manager, Data Scientist
Operations	Process Assistant, Warehouse Associate, Warehouse Manager, Inventory Control Specialist
Finance	Financial Analyst, Accountant, Auditor, Payroll Specialist
Human Resources	Recruiter, HR Generalist, Compensation Specialist
Facilities	Maintenance Technician, Safety Coordinator, Area Manager

And these are just a handful of examples across a few functions. With over 1.5 million employees globally, Amazon has openings spanning hundreds of corporate and operational roles across the globe.

Whether you want to explore opportunities within your city, state or even internationally, Amazon likely has open positions matching your interests and skills.

The possibilities for internal mobility and career growth are immense due to the company‘s scale and exponential growth!

But is Amazon truly a good environment for transfers? Let‘s weigh the pros and cons.

Is Amazon a Good Company for Internal Transfers? Pros and Cons

Given the abundance of openings and supportive policies, how does Amazon stack up as a company for internal mobility and career development?

Pros of Internal Transfers at Amazon

Here are some of the benefits that make internal transfers so popular among Amazonians:

• Abundant openings: No shortage of job options spanning locations globally and roles across hundreds of functions.

• Transparency: All open jobs visible on internal portal. Apply based on skills, not connections.

• Speed: Transfers can happen swiftly within weeks if hiring manager approves. No long waits.

• Support: Amazon provides ample learning resources and support to help transferred employees ramp up quickly.

• Development: Exposure to diverse roles, teams and locations enables accelerated career growth.

• Retention: Employees feel invested in and stay with Amazon given the many mobility opportunities.

• Morale: Challenging new assignments and incentive of transfers motivates employees.

Clearly, the sheer abundance of openings, transparent process and ability to swiftly transition between diverse roles make Amazon a hugely appealing employer for those seeking internal mobility.

However, there are also some potential downsides to consider:

• Very high performance expectations. Lower performers can get overlooked for competitive transfers.

• Transfer opportunities can dry up during peak seasons when teams are understaffed.

• Manager approval is required. A bad manager can hamper mobility.

• Compensation changes during transfer require negotiation. No guarantees.

• After transfer, you‘re the new kid on a team and have to prove yourself again.

Therefore, while Amazon enables transfers, you have to work hard to earn and sustain high performance to unlock the most career development opportunities.

How Does Amazon‘s Internal Transfer Policy Compare?

To provide more perspective, let‘s see how Amazon stacks up on internal mobility compared to other top employers:

Company	Transfers Allowed	Openings	Speed	Support Provided
Amazon	Every 12-24 months	Abundant	Within weeks	Ample training resources
Apple	12 month minimum tenure	Limited	1-2 months	Moderate support
Google	Anytime	Abundant	1-2 months	Generous support
Microsoft	6 month minimum tenure	Abundant	1-3 months	Strong support
IBM	12 month minimum tenure	Moderate	3-4 months	Minimal support

As is evident, Amazon offers one of the most liberal, fast-moving and well-supported internal transfer programs compared to its peers in the tech industry.

The abundance of openings spanning locations globally combined with swift transfer timelines make Amazon a very compelling environment for employee mobility.

Now let‘s move on to expert tips and tricks to land your dream internal transfer at Amazon.

7 Expert Insider Tips to Get Your Amazon Internal Transfer Approved

Here are some pro tips shared by Amazon leaders and employees who have successfully navigated multiple internal transfers:

1. Maintain Strong Performance

Amazon heavily favors and fast-tracks transfer requests of employees with a sustained track record of high performance and productivity.

Managers want to know they are getting top-tier talent before approving transfers. Keep your performance metrics glowing!

2. Get Certified in In-Demand Skills

Take initiative to get trained and certified in niche skills like Six Sigma, Process improvement, coding languages, data analytics.

Having in-demand expertise makes your transfer application much more attractive.

3. Communicate With Your Manager

Have ongoing career conversations with your manager. Share your transfer interests early, and enlist their support to make it happen.

Getting your manager‘s buy-in goes a long way rather than having them be caught unaware.

4. Time it Right

Avoid applying for transfers during peak seasonal crunch times or when your team is severely understaffed.

Aim for periods when your departure will have the least adverse impact.

5. Prepare Thoroughly For Interviews

Treat the hiring interviews like you would for an external job. showcase your skills, passion and cultural fit.

Remember, you‘re competing with outside candidates so put your best foot forward!

6. Negotiate Compensation

Do your research and negotiate strongly if the offer during transfer is lower than your expectations.

Present data and make your case. Amazon rewards bold negotiation.

7. Onboard Swiftly To Add Value

After getting the transfer, onboard rapidly into your new role and team. Identify ways to quickly contribute.

Adding value right away will make your transfer highly successful.

Using these insider tips will help you get your transfer application approved swiftly and set yourself up for success in your new role.

Summarizing Amazon‘s Internal Transfer Policy

To wrap up, let‘s summarize the key points on navigating Amazon‘s generous and transparent internal transfer process:

• Meet basic tenure and performance eligibility before applying to open roles

• Review thousands of openings on Amazon‘s job portal spanning locations and functions

• Submit your application and ace interviews to get an offer

• Inform your manager and transition within weeks to your new position

• Maintain high performance and negotiate compensation to maximize success

Amazon provides exceptional opportunities to transfer across teams, facilities and geographies. This enables career enrichment and retains top talent.

By following the advice in this guide, you can take full advantage of Amazon‘s best-in-class internal mobility program for your career growth!

I hope you found this detailed guide helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions as you consider exploring new opportunities internally at Amazon.

Wishing you the very best!