As Amazon announces its seasonal hiring for 2025, two operations leaders share how their Amazon journeys began with temporary roles and evolved into fulfilling careers.
When Amazon announces seasonal hiring initiatives, like the 7,000 positions recently opened across Canada for the 2025 holiday season, it's not just about temporary jobsâit's about potential career starting points. For Cassandra Radovich, General Manager at YHM1 in Hamilton, and Garrett Shaw, Senior Operations Manager at YVR3 in Vancouver, seasonal positions were the first steps in what would become transformative career journeys.
Balancing Studies and Career Growth: Cassandra's Path Forward
In 2014, Cassandra Radovich was a student at the University of Guelph looking for flexible work. What she thought would be a seasonal role at a nearby Amazon fulfilment centre turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I was just looking for a way to earn money while balancing my studies," Cassandra Radovich recalls. "I had no idea that my seasonal job would shape my entire career path."
While completing her degree in Environmental Governance, Cassandra moved through various roles in Amazonâs local fulfilment network, gaining experience and building a reputation for leadership and problem-solving. "What kept me at Amazon was seeing that growth opportunities weren't just theoreticalâthey were happening all around me," she explains. "I watched colleagues advance from entry-level positions to leadership roles, and I realized this was a place where potential for growth was truly endless.â
Today, as General Manager of the 855,000 square foot YHM1 fulfilment centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Cassandra leads a team of thousands of employees who process thousands of customer packages daily. Her journey from seasonal associate to GM represents Amazon's commitment to developing talent from within.
"When I talk to new seasonal hires, I tell them to look beyond the immediate job description," Cassandra says. "Amazon has multiple career paths availableâoperations, technical roles, corporate positionsâand the company invests in helping you find the right fit for your skills and interests."
