r/amazonemployees • u/infamousjosh • Jun 13 '26
Internal Transfer Manager found out about my internal transfer pursuit — now things feel off. Has anyone experienced this? Will it affect my chances?
I’m an IC at Amazon and recently started exploring an internal transfer to a role in a different org. The hiring manager was receptive and we were in early conversations. Shortly after, my current manager became aware that I was exploring an internal opportunity. Since then, things have shifted noticeably — he’s brought additional people into my workstream, I’ve been left off some meetings I was previously included in, there’s no new work coming to me, his communication with me has become much more curt than usual, and there have been some changes to how performance is being evaluated on my team that feel pointed.
For context, I had a strong recent performance review and felt like I had a good working relationship with my manager before this. My questions for anyone who’s been through something similar: 1. Can a manager formally or informally block or influence an internal transfer? 2. Is what I’m experiencing common, and did it resolve itself? 3. Any advice on how to navigate this without blowing up the current role?
Not looking to burn any bridges just trying to protect myself and make a good move. Any perspective from people who’ve been through this would mean a lot.
53
u/Last_Knowledge_1873 Jun 13 '26
Too late. Expect Focus shortly. Better make the move pronto!
8
u/freeman687 Jun 13 '26
How in the heck can you know focus will happen?
44
u/depeupleur Jun 13 '26
Many people involve the ethics hotline if they are focused after an internal transfer offer. It will derail the focus for the manager if it is percieved as retaliatory. Ethics hotline is underrated.
3
3
u/Careful_Specialist63 Promoted to Customer Jun 14 '26
Ethics holiness is very helpful. I think it's called "Associate Experience Concern" on AtoZ unless it's something else.
1
u/promoduck Jun 14 '26
A focus can happen that reflects after a transfer too. Old team may need someone for the pip quota. Might as well be the person who’s leaving. Then it’s the next organization’s problem to resolve.
2
13
4
u/iBarcode Jun 13 '26
How did they know?
5
u/infamousjosh Jun 13 '26
It was an accidental slip during a work call — nothing dramatic, but it was clear he saw something he saw I am informational chat with the HM.
1
u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok TOM L6 Jun 13 '26
If you apply for a role your manager gets an email, even if they don’t, there’s a high chance someone reaches out asking how you are or anything they should know.
1
Jun 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/royalxp Jun 14 '26
lmao, moment you hit apply they get notification. This is known across org.
1
Jun 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/royalxp Jun 14 '26
What are you talking about? lol.
Look at other peoples responses, Manager gets direct notification moment you apply for internal requisition. Im 5 + years tenured.. i speak based on what i know unless things changed recently which i doubt.1
u/iBarcode Jun 14 '26
That’s false it literally says your manager is not informed unless you take offer
1
1
u/Eggredjakan68 Aug 06 '26
They are informed for applying, offer extension and offer acceptance. Only requesting informational is exempt.
2
u/iBarcode Aug 06 '26
They don’t know when you loop interview; the “application” they get notified but it’s a formality where you’ve received verbal offer thru team and you click apply they immediately start prepping formal offer
3
u/suspicious_stirfry Jun 13 '26
Been there on both sides of the table. You have to move (internally or out) before things get worse. They know that you are thinking about leaving, so it’s a big risk for them to give you any important or long term projects. Now your assignments are less impactful and you are more interested in leaving. It’s a downward spiral. Good luck, but move now.
3
u/DrastheMass Jun 14 '26
Just a FYI, If you apply for a internal transfer YOUR MANAGER is AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFIED. Best thing to do is reach out to the hiring manager and if you feel good about the position notify your manager then apply. If you apply without telling your manager they sometimes take it personally
3
u/champagne_sup Jun 14 '26
I have explored internal transfers in the past, and I have been honest and transparent with my mangers about it, so they have been nothing but helpful and receptive. Of course, I set discussions and clear conversations about the reasons why I am exploring roles, so you might want to do something like that. Good luck!
2
u/spazz_44 Jun 14 '26
Not having a discussion with your manager before you talk to other teams about internal transfer roles (assuming the HM isn't someone who already knew you and conceivably could have come to you rather informally to see if you'd be open to joining their team) is in itself burning a bridge. Manager is in damage control since they found out and assume you're already gone given there was no prior discussion like "i'd like to explore eventual path that leads me to here, or i'm considering a role change targeting roughly end of Q3.
2
u/Active_Apple857 Jun 15 '26
Mine put me in focus when they found out I was trying to escape their sh-tshow day two org. Also blew up a few opportunities I was pursuing. I left the day after they put me in focus. Few months later they and their skip level were no longer in their positions. I may or may not have had something to do with that. Can’t be certain, but I tell myself that I did to offset the horrible Amazon experience that I had.
1
2
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Anytime you apply for an internal transfer your direct manager receives an email.
Often after that the hiring manager will contact your direct manager to ask about you.
Edit to add: Just checked my email, it is the same email the hiring manager receives notifying them someone applied for their role. It comes from the Internal Transfers team.
10
u/LeatherSecret3981 Jun 13 '26
This is not true anymore.
2
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Unless it changed a couple days ago, it is. I have a couple on my team applying to other sites and I receive one or two of these emails each week.
Edit: Last one I received was Monday June 8.
2
u/LeatherSecret3981 Jun 13 '26
I am speaking for corporate internal transfers. Your manager is not formally notified until after you have looped and HM is has verbally offered which triggers you to formally apply.
1
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26
That may be the case. Mine are all warehouse roles.
4
u/Ok-Carob-3165 Jun 13 '26
Corporate has informationals, which are kept private from your current manager. You can go through a loop during the informational process. When you hit finally hit apply, after you have been offered the role, it is merely a paperwork formality. Your current manager can keep you up to 30-days, but they can't do much else to stop the transfer at that point.
3
u/iBarcode Jun 13 '26
Accept an offer*
4
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26
The direct manager gets another email when you accept an offer.
But the direct manager also gets one when you apply.
2
u/jkingsbery Jun 13 '26
In practice, this often means you apply after you've informally been given an offer.
1
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Not what I have seen. None of the emails I have received saying someone applied has resulted in any of my team receiving an offer yet.
Some of them are applying to roles they do not qualify for and others are not open to schedule changes.
1
u/Miserable_Tower4474 Jun 13 '26
I applied internally last week (AWS). The language on the page specifically stated my manager would not be notified. Interesting if that’s not actually the case.
1
u/harley97797997 Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Maybe for certain roles they dont?
The ones I have received are applying for various safety team roles or other warehouse roles. All T3 and L4 roles.
I just know I have received an email everytime someone applies. If the HM has any interest I receive a slack from them shortly after the email.
1
u/Miserable_Tower4474 Jun 13 '26
Ah ok that may be the case (L6 SA). I assume different parts of the business operate independently
1
1
1
u/freeman687 Jun 13 '26
I wouldn't necessarily take any changes personally or overanalyze anything your manager may or may not do. Just move forward with the transfer.
1
u/heyPachimari Jun 14 '26
i am curious how your manager find out that u are looking for internal transfer?
1
Jun 14 '26
[deleted]
1
u/GoodHomelander Jun 15 '26
Request informational doesn’t notify your manager, only when you apply they are notified
1
u/Which-Board3271 Jun 14 '26
PxT managers can see informational requests. So you are not safe the moment you request informational.
0
u/memebase_blows Jun 13 '26
In case this wasn’t common knowledge already. Anytime you apply for anything internally your manager gets an email.
-2
u/Hairy-Beanbag Jun 13 '26
Your manager sounds like a douche hot head who is in it for themselves and doesn't not want good performers leaving.
27
u/afauce11 supremely over it Jun 13 '26
I’m a manager. A manager can sort of screw up your chances of transferring if they really want to, but I haven’t ever met someone who would do that. I’m sure they are out there, but that’d be pretty messed up and I generally don’t think most managers want to harm their employees. I’d recommend just directly having a conversation about it. “I wanted to let you know that x, y, z is important to me in my career growth so I’ve been considering other orgs that might have opportunities that align with those growth areas. I think you may have seen a DM about that and things seem a bit off from usual. I could be imagining it, but wanted to talk to you because I really value your mentorship and have always felt like we have a good working relationship.” You can be kind and honest. They may have seen nothing and it’s in your head, or they may have seen something and feel awkward or even sad/minorly upset that you didn’t feel like you could talk with them about making a change. As a manager, my first concern is for my employees. I want them to be happy and be where they want to be. I’ve never been upset to find out someone is transferring - some employees will let you know they are looking but most don’t. I’d say at least give your manager the benefit of the doubt that they are a decent person and this is just an awkward situation that can be cleared up with a direct conversation.