This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarthak Gupta, a 29-year-old data scientist at Amazon who lives in Seattle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2023, I was living in New York City and working as a quantitative research intern at a nonprofit organization. I decided to pursue a role at a larger corporation that combined AI, quantitative risk, and finance, and became interested in the tech industry.
To set myself up for success, I was very strategic about where I chose to live. I realized there were roles that checked all my boxes in the Seattle area, so in early 2024, I decided to move there and stay with a friend to save on rent while applying for jobs. When I moved, I didn’t yet have an interview lined up at Amazon, but I was definitely targeting the company.
I believed being in Seattle would offer more networking opportunities, and that listing a Seattle address on my résumé could boost my chances with local employers like Amazon by signaling I was ready to hit the ground running without any relocation delays.
Eventually, a cold application turned into an interview with Amazon for a senior risk analyst role. I eventually landed the job and joined Amazon in July 2024.
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I prioritized living close to the office
I’m expected to work from the office five days a week, but my commute is very easy.
After I landed the job at Amazon, I moved to South Lake Union. It’s a neighborhood in Seattle where it sometimes feels like you can only find two types of people in an apartment building: Amazon and Microsoft employees. My roommate and I split a rent of $4,800 a month, including parking, for our two-bedroom apartment — and it was only a five-minute walk to the office.
I recently moved into my own one-bedroom apartment in South Lake Union, which is a seven-minute walk away from my office. The rent is about $2,700 a month, including parking. I found some cheaper options that were farther away, but staying close to the office was one of my biggest priorities while apartment hunting to avoid unnecessary travel time.
The short commute has allowed me to focus on building my career instead of feeling drained from getting to and from work. It’s also made it easier to attend networking events in the area after work.
Read more about people who’ve found themselves at a corporate crossroads
The 5-day RTO mandate has worked out for me
Working from the office makes it easier to connect and collaborate with my team. When everyone is physically around, you don’t have to set up meetings for every small discussion. You can just walk over, ask a quick question, and keep moving.
Another major advantage is the networking and visibility, especially with leaders. In the office, I naturally get to talk to leaders during lunch, coffee breaks, or quick walks. On top of that, spending time with colleagues builds a healthy work relationship; people go from being just coworkers to friends, which makes the work environment more enjoyable.
The only real downside of working from the office five days a week is on days when I’m feeling slightly unwell or would prefer to work from home. There’s been a stronger push for managers and teams to be consistently in the office, and attendance is being tracked more closely. Since everyone is present, there’s also an unspoken expectation of being on time, which reduces some flexibility.
For me, though, the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin. Even when Amazon had a hybrid setup of only three in-office days, I preferred going in every day because I genuinely felt more productive in person.
I wasn’t affected by Amazon’s recent layoffs in January, nor was anyone on my team, as far as I’m aware. In terms of job security, I think many employees have adopted a more pragmatic mindset, focusing on delivering impact and doing their best work, while accepting that some factors are outside individual control.
Overall, my role as a data scientist — which I transitioned to last year — hasn’t changed much, and I’m really happy with the work I’m doing.
My advice for job seekers
One of my favorite hobbies is mentoring other job seekers I connect with, offering free advice on their résumés, interview prep, and how to incorporate AI tools into their job searches. Some have told me my guidance helped them land jobs.
One of the main pieces of advice I give job seekers is to start preparing for interviews before they even land one — and to keep preparing throughout the entire process.
I also emphasize the importance of résumés — a candidate should be able to clearly explain and stand behind every word on it. In my experience, 99% of questions trace back to the résumé and how it aligns with the job description.
Once a young professional lands a job, I recommend that they live close to the office if they can. It frees up time they’d otherwise spend commuting and lets them focus that energy on work, networking, and building connections with colleagues, all of which really help them settle into the new role smoothly. That initial period is crucial for building their presence and making a strong impression.
