Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Check Out the First Job Listing Jeff Bezos Ever Posted for Amazon 25 Years Ago The position was for a computer programmer who could finish their work, 'in about one-third the time that most competent people think possible.'

This story originally appeared on Business Insider

Drew Angerer/Getty Images via BI
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.

In August 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 towards building Amazon. Bezos is now the wealthiest man not only in the world, but in all of modern history, and Amazon has grown into such a dominant force the FTC has started questioning its rivals about whether they feel crushed by the company.

BNN Bloomberg's Jon Erlichman dug up the vintage job ad last year. It's reproduced below in its entirety:

Here's the text:

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

At this time when Bezos posted this ad he had not even settled on the name "Amazon" for his startup, according to Brad Stone's Jeff Bezos biography, The Everything Store.

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 the Stone. 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 computer scientist Alan Kay, winner of the 2003 Alan Turing Award -- computer science's most presitgious 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 and CTO 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, they would get "meaningful equity ownership."

How much would that Amazon stock be worth today?

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

She Started a Business With $300 After Getting Laid Off. It Made $300,000 in Year 1 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Company.

Bobbie Racette wanted to revamp the virtual assistance space — and provide job opportunities for underrepresented communities at the same time.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Business News

Can Anyone Beat Microsoft at AI? The CEO of Salesforce Thinks His Company Can.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff calls Copilot "the new Microsoft Clippy."

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Not Yet Fully Autonomous': Tesla's Optimus Robots Stole the Show — But Were They Actually Controlled By Humans?

Musk said the $20,000 to $30,000 robot could perform household tasks like mowing lawns and putting away groceries.

Franchise

McDonald's Launched a Happy Meal for the 30th Anniversary of a Classic '90s Sitcom — But There's a Catch

The promotion is only available in one country, so fans elsewhere are turning to resale platforms like eBay to buy the collectible toys.