Behavioral Interview Questions Asked At Amazon
These Amazon behavioral interview questions for Senior SDE or SE are usually asked to most applicants and are based on the leadership principles of Amazon. For example:
Read for more.
Walk Me Through Your Process For Designing Scalable Applications
How to Answer
A Amazon interviewer will ask this type of question to understand how you go about doing your job. When asked to walk somebody through the process you use, you should divide it into several distinct steps and briefly describe each one. Be careful not to talk too much or over complicate your answer. If the interviewer needs more details, they will request them.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Answer Examples Have Been Hidden
Please upgrade to view
Situational
I Prioritized Promotional Work
I realized I couldnt only work on things that would get me promoted. If everyone did this, it would undoubtedly lead to a toxic team environment.
However, I did prioritize the work that would contribute towards my promotion.
If I needed to focus on delivering a high impact feature because of an imminent deadline, Id start work on that first thing in the morning. This gave me myself enough time to produce quality work.
If I needed to perform more code reviews, I would do so first thing in the morning.
If I needed to perform more interviews, I would sign up for interview time slots first thing in the morning.
You May Like: Interview For Supervisor Position Tips
Role Of An Embedded Software Engineer
An embedded software engineer develops code optimized for an embedded system to manage a hardware device. For example, embedded software engineers are responsible for the development and maintenance of software that is embedded in devices such as pacemakers, cars, and thermostats.
Embedded software is developed and used for a particular hardware system or platform, keeping end-user needs in mind. Because this software controls critical functions, embedded software engineers must have a strong understanding of both hardware and software design principles. They must also be able to write code that is both efficient and reliable. The role of an embedded software engineer is challenging but also very rewarding.
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of an Embedded systems engineer here.
Google Embedded Software Engineer Interview Questions
The embedded engineer interview at Google comprises multiple on-site interviews, about four rounds of interviews. Below are the types of embedded software engineer interview questions that may be asked at Google. This may vary depending on your overall years of experience.
- Round 1: Embedding programming concepts, architectural-level problem-solving
- Round 2: Assembly language programming, computer memory hierarchy, and architecture, coding in C
- Round 3: Profile discussion, Algorithm development concepts, dynamic programming
- Round 4: Algorithm development, dynamic programming
Embedded software engineer interview questions can vary in complexity and difficulty depending on whether youâre applying for an entry-level embedded software engineer position or a senior embedded software engineer position. Cover all key topics related to the position, ensuring you have strong conceptual knowledge and the latest technologies.
Learn more about , including sample questions.
Also Check: How To Crack Amazon Data Scientist Interview
I Focused On Correctness And Intent
I avoided sunk cost fallacy. It didnt matter if I spent 4 hours doing something the wrong way. I knew that I needed to scratch that work and do it the right way.
For every 100 lines of code that I submitted for code review, there were 250 crappy lines I had written and discarded.
I made sure there was purpose, intent and clarity behind every one of those 100 lines.
These days, my code reviews usually ship in 1 or 2 revisions.
Embedded Systems Interview Questions
In this moderately long page, Ill list down the most common embedded systems interview questions. Ive been answering too many questions over the past few years and many readers have asked for a compiled list of questions and answers for embedded systems and embedded c interview questions. So here it is!
Whether youre a student searching for an embedded systems internship, a graduate seeking an embedded software position, or a full-time embedded systems engineer seeking to switch your position or the company. In all cases, youll need to go through one or more technical interviews to get where you want.
Please, be advised that the interview questions depend heavily on the specialty of the company youre going after , the position youre applying for , and also your CV. Yea, your CV somehow dictates some of the interview questions. For me personally, I was asked in just because its all written in my CV, however, these topics are not mandatory at all for most embedded systems positions. So, only write in your CV what you can actually demonstrate and be ready to get questions about it.
Regardless of the position youre seeking, the company specialty, or your previous experience, there are many general questions that youll most probably get. And this is what Im going to mainly focus on this page. To help you quickly revise and get ready for your next embedded systems interview.
We can categorize these questions as follows.
Don’t Miss: What To Ask About Benefits In An Interview
How To Prepare For Embedded Engineer Interview In 2021
When preparing for an embedded engineer interview, think about the questions you’ll be asked. You’ll also want to prepare questions to ask about the company and culture. Research and learn about the company in advance.
Dale Bertrand, a former embedded engineer who is now President of Fire and Spark, says job applicants need to ask key questions about the company and position in their first phone screening interview with the company.
“What are they looking for? What would it take to be a success in this job? A question I always like to ask is: What problem is this potion intended to solve? If you can get those answers, then you can prepare,” Bertrand explains. “You have to ask the right questions on that first call. I don’t think you can go into the more in-depth interview blind. That’s kind of suicide.”
Read our guide to embedded engineering skills to learn more about what these roles require.
Amazon Engineering Interview Process
Amazon continues to improve people’s standard of living and significantly contributes to the economies of many countries. Jeff Bezos, the former CEO at Amazon.com says:
“We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job to make the customer experience a little bit better.”
Amazon’s engineering interview process usually takes four to eight weeks and typically follows these steps:
- Submitting a resume, cover letter, and referrals
- Getting an HR recruitment call or email if shortlisted
- Performing online assessments
- Having one to two phone screen interviews
- Having four to six on-site interviews
- Debriefing – interviewers making a unanimous decision
- Receiving your offer letter
Carrus Coach and former Amazon Bar Raiser Teresa Fung highlights that the process can vary slightly between the levels. Online assessments are commonly applied to L4 and L5 applicants Once they pass OA, it is possible to move straight to the final loop, or have a phone interview in between before reaching the final loop.
Also Check: Uber System Design Interview Questions
Linked List Coding Problems
A linked list is a linear collection of data elements whose order is not given by their physical placement in memory. Instead, each element points to the next. Wikipedia
The questions pertaining to linked lists revolved around iterating, reversing, sorting, and manipulating different linked lists.
Some examples of linked list questions asked were:
- How would you find the middle element of a linked list?
- Reverse a linked list, both recursively and iteratively.
- Implement deep copy on a linked list where nodes also have a pointer to a random other node.
- Find the Kth element from last in the linked list.
For similar linked lists interview questions, check out the sources below:
Many Amazon Software Engineers Prefer To Program In Java Can You Describe How You Would Implement Linear Search In Javascript
How to Answer
This question asks you to detail the process you use to perform a specific operation within a software programming language. During an interview, you should listen carefully to each question the interviewer asks. Always make sure that the interviewer completes the question before you begin to formulate your answer. This will ensure that you respond to the right question and provide the interviewer with the information they are seeking.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Answer Examples Have Been Hidden
Please upgrade to view
Operational
Recommended Reading: Machine Learning Technical Interview Questions
Create A Work Portfolio
A work portfolio is a collection of your work that will give the employer an example of your experience, work product, and skills. Your portfolio can be in digital form or can be a hard copy portfolio of your work that highlights your skills.
If your portfolio is digital, ensure there is a way for it to be accessed during the interview or bring a hard copy.
If you dont already have a portfolio, start to collect examples of your work prior to the interview . Quality counts, so ensure your portfolio represents the highest level of quality.
Practice makes perfect, and that includes job interviews. How many times have you been asked that tough question and didnt have a good answer? Weve included some typical interview questions along with some suggested answers. While specific answers are impossible to provide, the responses provided below should help you in crafting your own responses. 14 Challenging Job Interview Questions With Answers
What Do You Feel Are The Critical Principles Of Good Software Engineering
How to Answer
This is a general question that asks you to characterize what makes a software program efficient and effective. Your ability to do this will help the interviewer at Amazon understand your qualifications for the position. Your answer should incorporate both the requirements for the job, as stated in the job description, and your previous experience writing code. You should limit your answer to two or three important principles and anticipate a follow-up question from the interviewer.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Answer Examples Have Been Hidden
Please upgrade to view
Technical
Also Check: How To Create A Portfolio For An Interview
Analyzing Over 1300 Personal Experiences Of Those Whove Gone Through The Process
In a previous article, I analyzed over 300 personal interviews from those who completed the . Now Im back with part 2 to discuss one of the most sought-after positions in all of tech: software engineer at Amazon. This time, I was able to look over 1,300 experiences.
Youre probably wondering how was I able to find 1,300 people who did the Amazon software engineer interview in person.
Well, it was all thanks to Glassdoor.
Microcontroller Embedded Software Engineer Interview Questions
Microcontrollers are an important topic that you can expect questions on at your embedded software engineer interview. Take a look at the sample questions below:
Also Check: How To Prepare For A System Design Interview
Can You Describe Amazon’s Software Development Life Cycle As You Understand It
How to Answer
This is an example of a hybrid operational and technical question. It asks you to define a concept relative to this profession and describe how you go about doing this job. When answering these types of questions, you should be direct and to the point. The Amazon interviewer is likely to ask several follow-up questions to explore this topic in more detail. Your answer should also be aligned with the requirements for this job, as defined in the job posting.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Answer Examples Have Been Hidden
Please upgrade to view
Technical
Amazon Is Very Proud Of Our Products And The People Who Develop Them In Your Opinion What Distinguishes A Great Software Engineer From An Average One
How to Answer
When an interviewer asks this type of question, they seek to understand what your perception of excellence in this role is. When answering the question, you should align your response with the job requirements, as defined in the job posting. You can also incorporate your past performance to demonstrate that you are aware of what excellence is and strive to achieve it.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
1st Answer Example
“I believe the trait which distinguishes a great software engineer from an average one is being able to balance excellence and performance. While I strive to write perfect code, I recognize that the project has a deadline and needs to be accomplished on time and under budget. If I have to compromise the quality of my code, it is done in such a way that it will not impact the final performance of the product.”
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Behavioral
Also Check: What Is Pi Test In Interview
Data Structures & Algorithms Questions
Implement a linked list in c
Implement a double linked list in c
Implement a queue in c
Search for a number in an unsorted array
Search for a number in a sorted array
Reverse an array
Whats a task and a process?
Whats The CPU Load?
Whats the scheduler? List down some scheduling algorithms
Whats a deadlock and when does it occur?
Differences between Mutex and Semaphores
Whats the priority ceiling?
Whats the priority inversion?
Whats the priority inheritance?
What does RTOS mean? Give some examples
Write a FreeRTOS task implementation in c
Preemptive vs Non-Preemptive kernels
Whats the speed range for the CAN bus?
Whats the speed range for LIN?
Applications For CAN and LIN
Differences between CAN and LIN
Why CAN bus has 2 resistors at both ends?
What happens when 2 CAN nodes transmit data with the same id at the same time?
What do you know about AUTOSAR?
Whats SWC?
Whats the RTE? Its functions?
What do you know about iso26262 and functional safety?
How To Prepare For The Amazon Sde Interview
You can crack the Amazon Software Development Engineer Interview if you stick to the following tips.
- Learn about Amazon’s leadership principles and the company culture.
- Aim for 10 to 15 mock interviews to analyze your interview style, identify any weaknesses and perfect your answers. Mock interview preparation is without a doubt the best way to ace your interview because itâs the closest thing to a real interview, without the high stakes of landing your dream job. The process allows you to practice the stories and answers youâve prepared and a great coach will give you direct feedback that you can use immediately. People see a dramatic improvement in confidence, communication style and the quality of their examples even after one hour of mock interview prep.
- Get a firm grasp on the concept of data structures and algorithms and learn to code in any programming language.
- Solve different problems and ask your peers to help you with interview preparation. You can use sites like HackerRank and LeetCode that have countless sample coding questions you can practice on.
- Prepare your answers to the typical behavioral questions, and practice your storytelling techniques.
You May Like: Where Can I Watch Oprah Interview With Harry And Meghan
Here At Amazon We Have Embraced Agile Methodology How Experienced Are You With The Agile Software Development Process
How to Answer
This question is asking about your familiarity with a specific process used in software development. It may be a follow-up question to a previous answer you provided the interviewer. When asked this type of question, you should first define the concept or topic and then explain how it is used in your job. This will demonstrate your knowledge of the subject and your experience employing it in the work you do.
Written by William Swansen on May 17th, 2021
Answer Examples Have Been Hidden
Please upgrade to view
Amazon Shouldnt Have Hired Me Heres How I Became An Sde2
Disclaimer: Im not representing Amazon in any way. Opinions written here are strictly my own.
Today I celebrate my 5 year anniversary at Amazon.
Ive contributed more than 500,000 lines of code to production systems. Ive authored and shipped more than 500 code reviews.
Ive designed, developed, deployed and maintained large scale software systems used by thousands of customers all over the world.
Im recognized as one of the key technical leaders on my team.
It wasnt always this way, though.
In 2015, I was hired as a Software Development Engineer 1.
I shouldnt have been hired. I was an impostor.
Despite my technical limitations, I eventually earned a promotion to Software Development Engineer 2.
I share my story to help other impostors achieve success in FAANG .
You May Like: How To Have A Great Phone Interview
Graphs/trees Related Interview Questions Asked At Amazon
About 39% of all Amazon Senior SDE interview questions or SE interview questions are based on concepts related to graphs and binary trees that involve sub-concepts like nodes. Some of the most frequent questions asked by Amazon related to this subject are:
Check out the Problems page for more coding questions with solutions.