Nordstrom, Whole Foods Market, and Wegmans Food Markets are companies that routinely end up on Fortune's list of “100 Best Places to Work." These companies use a differentiation business strategy. In contrast, Amazon and Walmart use the cost leadership strategy: and as low-cost leaders, they do not rate nearly as well. According to inputs from the employee review site Glassdoor.com, only 50 percent of the employees working at Walmart would recommend the firm to a friend. Compare this to the 72 percent who would recommend both Nordstrom and Whole Foods, and the 80 percent who would recommend Wegmans Food Markets. As you seek options for starting or growing your career.

Carefully consider the strategy the firm takes in the marketplace. By no means should you avoid low-cost leaders in lieu of strong differentiators (nor should you deem all differentiators as great places to work). Fast-paced organizations that focus on driving tangible results for the organization offer much to learn. For example. Amazon has been a very successful company for the past decade, and many employees have had multiple opportunities to learn enormous amounts in a short period of time. While the environment is challenging and intense. Some employees love it. For others, though, the demands of the workplace are overpowering and far too combative. Many of them leave after a year or two. Amazon had the shortest employee tenure among the Fortune 500 firms, according to a 2013 salary analysis by PayScale.

Amazon employees are encouraged to criticize each other's ideas openly in meetings; they work long days and on weekends; and they strive to meet "unreasonably high” standards. “When you're shooting for the moon, the nature of the work is really challenging. For some people it doesn't work, "says Susan Harker, a top recruiter for Amazon. The high standards and relentless pace are a draw for many employees who are motivated to push themselves to learn, grow, and create— perhaps beyond their perceived limits. Many former employees say the nimble and productive environment is great for learning and the Amazon experience has really helped their careers expand.

Now consider the following questions.

Employees and consultants say the Amazon workplace is the epitome of a "do more for less cost" environment. We recognize this is a hallmark goal of a cost-leadership business strategy. But ask yourself this key question, is it the type of high-pressure work environment in which YOU would thrive?

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