How To Interview For Amazon

Amazon Star Interview Questions And Answers

However, this ominous comment from scary Jeff does not imply that Amazon wants you to fail. Rather, it simply means that they only want to hire those who have demonstrated their worth. Do you want to be certain that youll be considered for the position? Heres the answer! See Amazon STAR Interview Questions and answers.

Interviewing For Amazon Read These 10 Amazon Interview Questions Before You Go

Want to work for Amazon? Here we discuss some of the commonly asked interview questions.

While we get onto that, here are 3 questions which the hiring managers ask while conducting Amazon Interview Question and Answers sessions before selecting a new hire:

See Also:

There are 3 questions which the hiring managers asks while conducting Amazon Interview Question and Answers sessions before selecting a new hire:

• Will you admire this person?
• Will this person raise the level of effectiveness?
• Along what dimension might this person be a superstar?

So if you’re headed into an Amazon Q and A session, know that any questions your recruiter asks are an attempt to determine how you fare on these three counts. Here are 10 questions you may be asked:

Do you know our CEO? How do you pronounce his name?

Amazon’s 16 Leadership Principles: An Overview

• Customer Obsession
• Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer
• Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Naturally, your interviewer will be listening closely to the examples of past performance you give in response to their behavioral questions, and how you’ve demonstrated these leadership principles. As we mentioned before, behavioral questions at Amazon interview may hold more weight than at other companies.

Which is even more reason to prepare for them ahead of time.

Let’s review each in-depth.

Below, you’ll find the short explanation of each leadership principle given by Amazon on their careers page. Read each explanation thoroughly, as you’ll pick up clues as to how your answers to behavioral questions will be scored. When you’re ready, watch the expert mock interviews linked and then try your hand at a few sample behavioral interview questions compiled from past interviews.

Read Also: Questions To Ask The Cfo In An Interview

Until You’ve Mastered These 50 Questions

Preparing for any interview requires some work, and this is more so for a company the size of Amazon, where competition is very high. More preparation is always better, but whats more important is the quality of preparation. After reading this post, you can rest assured that you will have greatly enhanced your chances of passing the interview!

Interview Process At Amazon

Amazon usually takes a five-step approach to hiring new employees. Were going to break down the process, so you know what to expect when you get approached by a recruiter. Keep in mind that the process may be different depending on which job youre applying for.

Technical positions like engineers or software developers might need to take technical tests to prove their skills at some point in the process, but other candidates might not need to take any assessments.

First, a quick note on how to apply for a job at Amazon: while the company does list open positions on their website, Amazon recruiters tend to prefer reaching out to you through networks like .

You might want to do some digging and connect with recruiters on networking sites when applying for a job with Amazon. Often, people who get hired by Amazon are actually approached by the company first, so make sure youre active on professional sites.

Looking for a job at Amazon? These position are hiring now:

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask A Cfo In An Interview

Completing A Writing Sample

Amazon eschews PowerPoint and other slide-deck type presentations, so writing skills are paramount even for a software engineering role. When presenting new ideas, employees are required to write a press release-style memo presented to all team members at the start of the meeting for 20 minutes of silent reading, followed by Q& A with the writer.

What Should You Do Before The Interview

• DARYL DAVIS November 24, 2020

  Thanks for the summation. I was just introduced to such a thing, and this makes my interview prep more effective.

• Heather Leilani Foster November 24, 2020

  I am being considered for a promotion with Amazon , so these Star princples are ideal to know for my interview process.

• Alberto Colon

  I have interview to day and I need practice.

• Tushar Marwah

  It is so much helpful for everyonethanks 🙂

• ODALYSCR

  Excellent, precise and concise, thanks!

You May Like: Mailscoop Io

Great Amazon Interview Follow

Youll have the opportunity to ask the recruiting manager some questions as your Amazon interview progresses. Its crucial to be prepared for this moment because it allows you to express your interest and gain useful information that will help you decide if the position is suited for you. If youre stumped for questions, here are a handful that may be used in almost any situation:

Finally, an Amazon interview can be difficult. However, by following the advice given above, you can be prepared. Keep in mind that youre an excellent candidate. Now all you have to do is prove it. So take a big breath and take the plunge.

Best wishes!

Amazon Leadership Principles: Questions And Interview Tips

Get prepared for your Amazon interview by studying their 14 Leadership Principles

• #1 Questions on Customer Obsession:
• #2 Questions on Ownership:
• #3 Questions on Invent and Simplify:
• #4 Questions on Are Right, a Lot:
• #5 Questions on Learn and Be Curious:
• #6 Questions on Hire and Develop the Best:
• #7 Questions on Insist on the Highest Standards:
• #8 Questions on Think Big:
• #9 Questions on Bias for Action:
• #10 Questions on Frugality:
• #11 Questions on Earn Trust:
• #12 Questions on Dive Deep:

Don’t Miss: Women’s Outfit For Job Interview

Keep Your Answers Short

Answers to behavioral questions should be between 2 and 4 minutes. Once you go above that you are giving too much detail. Does everyone agree with my time limit choice? No. Everyone has a different opinion about the proper time limit. However, the reason I choose this time is that Ive heard a lot of people tell me the comments theyve gotten from their interviewers. 4 minutes is going to be enough detail so you dont get comments about how you dont have enough detail but not so much there are no follow up questions left to ask when youre finished.

I realize 4 minutes doesn’t sound like a long time, but it’s hard to listen to someone for 4 minutes. The listener gets bored.

If you’re the kind of person who talks a lot, pay attention to this rule and try to keep your answers to this length.

If you feel like your answers are too long, time them. I often time my clients when I’m working with them. Timing yourself can give you a clear idea of whether your answers are too long.

If you’re thinking that you know you don’t talk too much, are you absolutely sure? I’ve noticed that the people who do talk too much usually are not aware of it.

Are you a biz dev or sales type? You probably talk more than technical people want to listen to. Get straight to the point dont tell long stories.

Are you from Latin America or another place where the communication style is the opposite of the American get-to-the-point style? You may be talking more than an American wants to listen to.

Acing The Amazon Interview Process: From A To Z

Interviewing at this self-proclaimed “peculiar company” is a little different from the usual. Here’s what to expect.

As you’d expect from a trillion-dollar company, Amazon has a rigorous and unique recruiting process. Like many large tech companies, they don’t put much stock in cover letters which means your resume must stand on its own.

Like Zappos and Airbnb, Amazon bases its hiring decisions on culture fit as much as a candidates qualifications. The term culture fit has courted bad press for eroding workplace diversity, but at Amazon it simply refers to a set of leadership principles that guide the companys mission. “Customer obsession” is at the heart of it.

The hiring process can be broken down into 5 steps, and reportedly ranges from one week to four months, depending on the role and team. Depending on the role youre interviewing for, you may be required to take a technical or non-technical assessment, answer behavioral questions, or even complete a writing sample.

Recommended Reading: Questions To Ask Cfo In Interview

The Right Way To Read Resumes & Design Questions

Every job search starts with a resume or web profile whether it comes in as referral or through a proactive sourcing strategy. While current wisdom suggests that resumes arent all that important compared to what a candidate actually knows, Roseman argues theres a lot to be gained through careful review.

The things that most teams have the least experience in is how to read a resume, identify the areas worth probing, and determining how to probe into them.

While screening resumes, Roseman keeps an eye out for areas where he can push candidates. I always look for things where they have a measure of their success, especially if they make comparisons or use percentages. For example, “grew revenue by 50% or decreased downtime by 30%.”

This is how he develops most of his questions. You want to find out what somebody really did, as opposed to just being an observer or a participant, Roseman says. Even at the greatest companies, theres a gap between those who get the most stuff done and those who dont get much done. You need to try and figure that out during an interview.

As an example, here is a resume snippet Roseman recently received, Led a team of 3 engineers in creating massively scalable storage infrastructure used by various Google products. Roseman took note of this and during the interview, had the candidate whiteboard the infrastructure, and then highlight his main contribution, where Roseman could dig down and see if he really knew his stuff.

How Should I Respond To Amazon Interview Questions

You should respond with an introductory story that lasts no more than 4 minutes. The response should be structured in a STAR format: Situation, Task , Actions, Results . Then you should invite the interviewer to drill down for more details and be ready to provide them. You should also ensure that all situations end with measurable outcomes. These can be both quantitative and or qualitative regardless, you should be able to explain how you knew that you succeeded or failed.

Be sure to avoid long monologues.

You know you are doing well when an Amazon interview feels like a conversation. Aim to be brief and to the point – concise enough to exclude unnecessary or unrelated details, but offer enough to the interviewer to demonstrate that the story is real and that you have an eye for detail.

Pay special attention to sharing stories about professional failures. Almost every Leadership Principle has a “reverse side”, which may be tested by a question about a mishap. Read this article to learn how to answer Amazon interview questions about failures.

Don’t Miss: System Design Interview Prep

Second Part Of The Face To Face Interview Technical Questions And Tests

During your in-person interviews with Amazon , you will have to deal also with difficult technical questions, related mostly to your field of expertise. Practical case studies and computerized exams are nothing unusual.

You will have to demonstrate your creativity, and ability to solve problems of all kind. Not everyone will make it to this stage, and to prepare for it in advance is nearly impossibleunless you have a chance to talk to someone who interviewed for the very same position recently

Your entire life, all your experiences and projects you have ever worked on, mark your preparation for this final stage of Amazon interviews. So I hope you are ready for it

Understand How Interviews Are Evaluated

You must incorporate the principles into your responses because your responses are evaluated and you are rated based on how well you performed according to the leadership principles.

I don’t understand. Is every question going to be about the principles?

You will probably get a mix of technical questions, if applicable, basic/introductory questions, like “Why do you want to work at Amazon?,” questions about your resume/skills, and principle questions .

Most people think that the behavioral questions are the ones that are the “principle questions” but even the general questions require you to understand what kind of person they’re looking for so you can give an answer that shows you are that person .

In other words, you don’t just show you have a bias for action by stating that outright when directly asked, you show it by answering all the questions, even the ones about customer obsession or ownership, with answers that highlight your quick responses .

For instance, if you get asked, “How did you solve a recent business problem?” and you talk about how you researched the problem for six months and brought in a team of consultants to do more research, this is not demonstrating a bias for action. This is showing you move slowly and think about things for a long time before you act.

Also, I said “partly” because this question also relates to ownership and deliver results and dive deep you should be demonstrating your skills in all of these areas in your answer.

Don’t Miss: What Should Females Wear To A Job Interview

How Do I Apply

To start, search for a job of interest. You can search by locations, business categories, job categories or keywords. Once you find one, click the “Apply Now” button next to the title of the role at the top of the page.

Then, follow the directions on your screen. Either create a new profile, or log back in if you’re a returning candidate.

If you are interested in a warehouse/associate position in an Amazon Fulfillment Center, learn more about the application process here.

Amazon Interview Preparation: Ultimate Guide

Get a comprehensive Amazon interview preparation guide from an experienced ex-Amazon hiring manager and interviewer.

Video advice: Amazon Leadership Principles Interview Questions and Answers Preparation Guide

Do Understand Amazon Interview Format A few years ago, I successfully cleared my on-site loop at Amazon and secured an offer to join the business as a senior leader in London. My Amazon interview preparation did not entail watching a single YouTube video or investing in any prep resources. If you had asked me if I knew what I was doing, my honest answer would have been probably. Amazon interview process fascinated me deeply. Ive encountered structured and competency-based interviewing before, but Ive never seen a business trying so hard to stay objective and fight bias during the process. So as soon as I passed my 6-month mark in the company, I qualified as an Amazon interviewer. I started participating in grad recruitment, and soon after, I began doing my fair share to hire for my team and helping partner teams fill open roles. While at Amazon, I interviewed recent grads, folks with MBAs, experienced candidates, and current Amazonians looking to switch teams. When I left for another FAANG opportunity, I started Amazon Interview Coaching professionally and to great results.

Video advice: AMAZON LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES Interview Questions & Answers!

Read Also: Best Interview Attire For A Woman

A Recruiter Will Reach Out Via Email Or Linkedin

Many Amazon hires are headhunted, meaning a recruiter sources candidates via LinkedIn and invites them to apply usually to one specific role. Whether you applied online or were discovered, a recruiter will contact you to set up a 15-30 minute phone screen. At this point, they’ll ask for your resume, so have one prepared.

Which resume outline should you use?Find out here.

Don’t Worry About Your English Too Much

Your English doesn’t have to be perfect to succeed at an Amazon interview. Don’t spend your time reviewing your present perfect tense homework from high school spend your time practicing your responses to questions using STAR and the leadership principles.

However, interviews ARE about communication.

Even if you’re a very technical person who’s applying for a very technical role you still need to be able to talk to your interviewers in English. If you can’t do this you’ll have trouble, so try to practice as much as you can before you go.

But if you want a reason to relax a bit, remember that Amazon is an international company now so it may be that your interviewers won’t be native speakers themselves.

Looking for more help? Visit my page to find all of my best interview tips in one place.

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask Cfo During Interview