2018-02-23 18:58:03 +00:00
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created_at: '2012-01-03T05:46:33.000Z'
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title: How Jeff Bezos advertised for the first Amazon employees (1994)
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url: http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/how-jeff-bezos-advertised-for-the-first-amazon-employees-1994-20101228/
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author: heelhook
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points: 51
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story_text:
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comment_text:
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num_comments: 27
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story_id:
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story_title:
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story_url:
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parent_id:
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created_at_i: 1325569593
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_tags:
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- story
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- author_heelhook
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- story_3418764
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objectID: '3418764'
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2018-06-08 12:05:27 +00:00
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year: 1994
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2018-02-23 18:58:03 +00:00
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---
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2018-03-03 09:35:28 +00:00
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[](http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/jeffbezos.jpg)
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2018-02-23 18:19:40 +00:00
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2018-03-03 09:35:28 +00:00
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In 1994 Amazon.com did not exist. The idea was still in founder Jeff
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Bezos’ head, and the company he was setting up had the name Cadabra Inc.
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2018-02-23 18:19:40 +00:00
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2018-03-03 09:35:28 +00:00
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But like any new start-up, he needed developers on staff in order to
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realize what was to become the biggest online retailer in the world. How
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exactly did Bezos go about finding those first few individuals that
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helped create Amazon.com?
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2018-02-23 18:19:40 +00:00
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2018-03-03 09:35:28 +00:00
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The answer comes in the form of a [job posting on
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Usenet](http://groups.google.com/group/mi.jobs/msg/d81b6c1fa8f361fc?pli=1)
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made in August 1994 by Bezos, asking for “extremely talented C/C++/Unix
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developers”. The listing discovered by web consultant [Joe
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Devon](http://twitter.com/RWW/status/19659039260549121), and has been
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included below in full:
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> Well-capitalized start-up seeks extremely talented C/C++/Unix
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> developers to help pioneer commerce on the Internet. You must have
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> experience designing and building large and complex (yet maintainable)
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> systems, and you should be able to do so in about one-third the time
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> that most competent people think possible. You should have a BS, MS,
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> or PhD in Computer Science or the equivalent. Top-notch communication
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> skills are essential. Familiarity with web servers and HTML would be
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> helpful but is not necessary.
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>
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> Expect talented, motivated, intense, and interesting co-workers. Must
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> be willing to relocate to the Seattle area (we will help cover moving
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> costs).
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>
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> Your compensation will include meaningful equity ownership.
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>
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> Send resume and cover letter to Jeff Bezos:
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>
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> mail: be…@netcom.com
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> fax: 206/828-0951
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> US mail: Cadabra, Inc.
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> 10704 N.E. 28th St.
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> Bellevue, WA 98004
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>
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> We are an equal opportunity employer.
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>
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> ——————————————————————-
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> “It’s easier to invent the future than to predict it.” — Alan Kay
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> ——————————————————————-
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Did the first few developers who got asked to interview and secured a
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position at Cadabra have any idea what they were about to create? I
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doubt it, and most would have just seen it as an interesting challenge
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they couldn’t pass up. All of them, if they stayed, are probably quite
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well off now with that equity ownership they got offered.
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Cadabra Inc. became Amazon when it was found people sometimes confused
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the original name with Cadaver. Then the site launched in 1995, and the
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rest is history.
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So next time you see a job listing for a new start-up, just remember
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Amazon started the same way, and that new listing might just be for a
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company that turns out to be the next Amazon, or Facebook, or Google.
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Read more at
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[ReadWriteWeb](http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/history_job_posting_for_amazoncom_before_it_launch.php)
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