Jeff Bezos’ job posting for Amazon from 1994 goes viral
One of the first-ever help wanted ads written by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is making the rounds on the internet nearly 30 years to the day it was first posted online.
“Well-capitalized Seattle start-up seeks Unix developers,” read the title of the job posting written by Bezos, which is dated Aug. 22, 1994.
The screenshot of the ad was posted by Krista Pappas, a Boston-based investor.
“Well-capitalized start-up seeks extremely talented C/C++/Unix developers to help pioneer commerce on the Internet,” Bezos wrote in the posting from 28 years ago.
“You must have experience designing and building large and complex (yet maintainable) systems, and you should be able to do so in about one-third the time that most competent people think possible,” the future billionaire wrote.
“You should have a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or the equivalent.”
The posting continued: “Top-notch communication skills are essential.”
“Familiarity with web servers and HTML would be helpful but is not necessary.”
Bezos wrote that the prospective employee should “expect talented, motivated, intense, and interesting co-workers.”
Well before remote work became possible, Bezos told would-be job holders at Amazon that they “must be willing to relocate to the Seattle area” though he added that the fledgling company “will help cover moving costs.”
Most significantly, whoever answered the ad and was hired had the opportunity to become quite wealthy — though it is unlikely they knew so at the time.
“Your compensation will include meaningful equity ownership,” the posting read.
Bezos then provided a mailing and email address for jobseekers to submit their candidacies.
“We are an equal opportunity employer,” Bezos wrote.
He ended the ad with a quote from the pioneering computer scientist Alan Kay who said: “It’s easier to invent the future than to predict it.”
Amazon’s beginnings were modest. Before it became the largest e-commerce company in the world, Bezos began selling books in Nov. 1994.
A few years later, it expanded into selling computer games and music. By the turn of the new millennium, Amazon started selling consumer electronics, video games, software, home improvement items, toys, and more.
In the mid-2000s, Bezos founded Amazon Web Services, which marked the online retail company’s foray into tech.
Today, Amazon has a market capitalization of $1.37 trillion — making it the fifth most valuable firm on the globe behind Apple, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, and Alphabet Inc.
Bezos is the third richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $158.2 billion, according to Forbes.
He stepped down as CEO of Amazon last year to make way for the current chief executive, Andy Jassy.
