'Feels like yesterday': Jeff Bezos reposted Amazon’s first job listing in a throwback to 25 years ago
|
Posted By: Hija Chang on December 19, 2019 On August 23, 1994, a little-known entrepreneur posted a job listing to Usenet, a pre-web message board. He was looking for "extremely talented" software developers to "help pioneer commerce on the internet." The entrepreneur in question was Jeff Bezos, who was taking his first steps toward building Amazon. Bezos is now the wealthiest man in modern history, and Amazon has grown into such a dominant force that the Federal Trade Commission has started questioning its rivals about whether they feel crushed by the company. Bezos nostalgically posted an image of the job ad on Instagram on Friday, saying it "felt like yesterday." Here's the text of the job ad: Well-capitalized start-up seeks extremely talented C/C++/Unix developers to help pioneer commerce on the Internet. 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. You should have a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or the equivalent. Top-notch communication skills are essential. Familiarity with web servers and HTML would be helpful but is not necessary. Expect talented, motivated, intense, and interesting co-workers. Must be willing to relocate to the Seattle area (we will help cover moving costs). Your compensation will include meaningful equity ownership. Send resume and cover letter to Jeff Bezos: mail: be...@netcom.com fax: 206/828-0951 US mail: Cadabra, Inc. 10704 N.E. 28th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 We are an equal opportunity employer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's easier to invent the future than to predict it." -- Alan Kay ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bezos had not even settled on the name Amazon for his startup at the time when he posted this ad, as Bezos noted in Friday's Instagram post. Whoever replied to that post was applying to "Cadabra," as mentioned in the ad. "Awake.com," "Browse.com," or even "Relentless.com" were also names Bezos was considering at the time, according to Brad Stone's Bezos biography, "The Everything Store." If you type any of those three domains into your browser today, you'll be redirected to Amazon. The quote at the end is from Alan Kay, the computer scientist who won the 2003 Alan Turing Award — computer science's most prestigious accolade. It may be lost to time who eventually got the job listed in the Usenet post, but soon thereafter Bezos hired Shel Kaphan as the company's first employee in charge of building its technical infrastructure. In the job listing, Bezos said he was looking for an engineer who could build complicated systems in "about one-third the time that most competent people think possible." In exchange, the person would get "meaningful equity ownership." How much would that Amazon stock be worth today? https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fir... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Hija Chang
Management, See Moss Interactive Bellarmine University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest Career Content
 |
Launch Your Career with SinclairSinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified multimedia company connecting audiences through local news, live sports, digital content, and premium entertainment brands nationwide.
From broadcasti ...more
luisa velasco • 525 Views • May 18th, 2026 |
 |
Sun River Health Is Hiring: Make a Difference in Communities That Need It MostFor professionals looking to build meaningful careers in healthcare, community impact, and patient advocacy, Sun River Health is expanding its team across multiple locations and specialties.
With a ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 536 Views • May 18th, 2026 |
 |
Monster.com 🧏🏼♂️ let's hear from Job experts about the path to career answers and insighTJeff Taylor founded Monster.com in 1994 and revolutionized how the world finds jobs. Now at 63, he's back to destroy what he created.
In this episode of Talent Take Five, Jeff shares why the recrui ...more
Hija Chang • 319 Views • May 15th, 2026 |
Popular Career Content
 |
PAID, federal internships with the Federal Diversity Internship Initiative!The Washington Center Federal Diversity Internship Initiative Now is your chance to apply for paid fall internships with the Federal Diversity Internship Initiative! This is your once-in-a-lifetime op ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 43,456 Views • June 14th, 2017 |
 |
Today's Success Tip: Joachim de Posada says, Don't eat the marshmallow...yetWe were invited to the National Association of African Americans in Human Resource's reception held at the
Atlanta Marriott Marquis during the SHRM conference, and the gift/tip we walked away with w ...more
Hija Chang • 41,876 Views • June 29th, 2012 |
