r/AmazonCXO

I wanted to share a positive update and hopefully encourage anyone who may be in a similar position.

I recently had to make a big decision between staying with Whole Foods or continuing with Amazon. It honestly was not an easy decision because Whole Foods was a big part of my work journey. I worked as an e-commerce shopper, learned a lot about customer service, fulfillment, store operations, working under pressure, and supporting a team. I’ll always be grateful for that experience.

But I ultimately chose Amazon because I see more long-term growth and stability there for my current situation, especially as a student.

I recently accepted an L3 Site Lead role at an Amazon Counter/CXO location. Going from Whole Foods e-commerce shopper to L3 Site Lead feels like a huge jump, and I’m genuinely excited and grateful.

The role starts at $20/hr, gives me a set schedule from Sunday to Thursday with Friday and Saturday off, and it is an evening lead position, which works almost perfectly with school. I also have the option to use temporary schedule adjustment to reduce my hours when needed so I can focus more on classes. For me, that is a major benefit.

Even though I was making slightly more at Whole Foods as a shopper, the schedule and hours were becoming less consistent. Shift availability has been getting reduced, and with the newer systems and changes happening, it feels like there may not always be as many shifts available. The shifts that are available can also be at odd times or change every week, which can be difficult if you are a student or someone who needs a more predictable schedule so technically I am making more at Amazon.

That was one of the biggest reasons Amazon made more sense for me. Having consistent hours, a set schedule, and a clearer leadership path is extremely valuable.

Another major part is the benefits. Amazon has strong health insurance options with wide coverage, multiple time-off options, and more flexibility than people may realize. If a site is closed for a holiday, you may still be paid for that day depending on your schedule and situation, which is another nice benefit. I also think long-term, as Whole Foods becomes more integrated with Amazon’s systems, there may eventually be changes to how benefits and discounts work. In my opinion, one possibility is that the Whole Foods discount could become more universal for Amazon employees, which would make sense. Another possibility is that the discount could change or be discontinued, although I personally think that is less likely. Of course, that is just my own opinion and not official information.

For anyone still working at Whole Foods e-commerce, especially students, I would seriously consider looking into Amazon Counter/CXO opportunities if they are available near you. It may not be the path everyone thinks of right away, but it can be a really solid opportunity. The Counter role can be one of the more manageable Amazon roles, and it can also be really rewarding if you put in the effort, take ownership, and build good relationships.

The work itself may seem simple from the outside, but there is a lot of opportunity to stand out if you care about customer experience, site standards, organization, safety, and helping the team. When you take the role seriously, people notice.

Treat every shift like a chance to build your reputation.
For me, labor share and supporting other sites helped a lot. It gave me more experience, helped me meet other site leads, and helped build trust with leadership. Building rapport with your Area Manager and getting support from site leads can really open doors if you are trying to move into a lead role.

I know people sometimes look at Amazon Counter as just an easy or chill role, and in some ways it can be a very manageable job compared to other operations roles. But if you really put in the effort, make connections, and show leadership through your actions, it can become much more than that.

I started as a Whole Foods e-commerce shopper, moved into Amazon Counter/CXO, supported multiple sites, built relationships with leaders, and now I’m stepping into an L3 Site Lead role.

So if you are a Whole Foods shopper, a student, or someone trying to decide whether Amazon is worth staying with, my experience has been that there is real opportunity if you are intentional about it.

Whole Foods gave me a strong foundation, and I’ll always appreciate that. But for my schedule, school, benefits, stability, and long-term growth, choosing Amazon was the right move for me.

Now a fair warning is that L3 site lead roles are highly desired and competitive roles so it may be very difficult obtaining one especially since most sites only have one spot for it and others having 2 with the evening lead being the second. Additionally being a L1 is tough if you’re not fast enough picking up shifts.