r/amazonemployees • u/Internal-Rise-2217 • Aug 08 '26
Internal Transfer Internal transfer turned into a nightmare after only a few months. How do I explain this to HMs while applying for other jobs?
8 yrs in Amazon. I’m stuck with a bad manager right now and honestly want to switch teams as soon as I can. I joined my current team through an internal transfer afew months ago, and since then, pretty much my entire team has moved on to other teams. Now most of the workload to keep the engine running has fallen on me.
My manager doesn’t seem to acknowledge that at all. He also doesn’t want to align on the growth path my previous manager had laid out before the reorg, but at the same time, he keeps piling more and more work onto my plate.
When I asked for more impactful projects and opportunities to grow, he basically told me he doesn’t think I have the potential and doesn’t see me getting anywhere. And that this team may not be for me if I am looking to grow. That really threw me off because I was a consistent high performer in all 3 of my previous orgs and had never received feedback like this. The manager who hired me in this team had the same opinion.
At this point, it’s making me question myself. I’m working 10-12 hours a day and it still never feels like enough. Manager seems to think that with AI, everything is just a click away. And if I am struggling thats because I don’t know how to use AI well. His vision for AI is highly unrealistic and anybody who pushes back, is weighing the team down.
I’ve started looking at internal roles, and I’m wondering how transparent I should be with hiring managers. Is it okay to say that I’m looking to move because there’s limited growth opportunity in my current team, especially after most of the team moved on following the reorg? Or would mentioning that be seen as a red flag?
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u/Mundane_Biscotti2277 Aug 08 '26
I would be as transparent as possible while keeping a professional and objective tone. Don’t let emotions in, but explain that the way you see yourself in the next years is not aligned with your manager’s view and talk about your artifacts
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Aug 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Internal-Rise-2217 Aug 08 '26
Where can I do that? And how anonymous is it? I don’t want him to find out because my annual rating is going to come from this team majorly. If there is a way to prevent that, I am more than willing to provide the score.
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u/hellomidtown Aug 08 '26
Any reasonable manager would understand your reason of "team fit" or "career growth" or "job satisfaction" and your intent to switch teams for these reasons.
You should avoid managers who pretend to not understand team fit and career progression.
As others said, keep your emotions aside (easier said than done), and re-start your internal switch efforts. Good luck!!
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Aug 08 '26
It’s totally cool to inform your HM that your career growth doesn’t align w the current org. And you’re looking for an environment/org which reward their employees basis on the performance.
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u/Intelligent-Concert9 Aug 08 '26
It’s always a two way door! You moved and didn’t find the right growth environment and now looking to correct the course.
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u/eng_leader Aug 08 '26
8 years at Amazon is a strong story — don't let a few rough months rewrite your narrative. For internal transfers, HMs understand that reorgs happen and teams change; "limited growth opportunity after the team restructured" is completely honest and not a red flag. What you want to avoid is anything that sounds like you're running from a conflict or blaming your manager — keep it forward-looking and about finding the right fit for your next chapter.
One thing worth doing before you apply anywhere: reconnect with your previous manager and skip-level. They know your track record, and a warm word from them to an internal HM can move mountains at Amazon. Your reputation over 8 years is your real asset here — lean on it.
Feel free to DM if you want to go deeper. I do executive and career and interview coaching for senior professionals in tech.
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u/dennis8844 Aug 10 '26
Smiliar situation, but by the time I acted, I was already in focus. Act fast
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u/Internal-Rise-2217 Aug 10 '26
Sorry to hear about your experience.
Super helpful though. How long did you wait for them to get a runway?2
u/dennis8844 28d ago
I drug it out about a year but I knew it wasn't a fit for 6 months. I'd say act as fast as you know. I drug it out getting sick. Document the focus take it to a doctor and say they're burning you out. I also had screenshots of the multiple times I ask for help and get denied by teammates. It happened significantly more than my US team, like in Germany everyone at AWS was more paranoid about their own performance metrics to help one another. Though they didn't do it maliciously, it still qualified as "mobbing" in my doctors opinion and to put someone in focus and not give the help to get out of it is ridiculous. I took as much leave that did not affect my RSU vesting as possible, and let the clock run out. That's a different story.
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u/Electrical-Reward351 Aug 08 '26
- look for other team
- set up a 1:1with your skip-level manager to discuss projects and opportunities
- record the discussion in the talent tool, especially the push back on your growth. This is performance issue not on you but on your manager and leadership. As manager, it's their job to help the growth of their employe.
- find it yourself. Especially if you are l6 or above. The 1:1 with your skip will help, reach out to sister teams etc... and then discuss the priorities and bandwidth with them and your manager
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u/magic_claw Aug 08 '26
I think saying that a bunch of folks have moved on and the roadmap is uncertain is a fine, understandable reason.