Everything you need to prepare for an Amazon interview.
Learn the Amazon interview process, Amazon's common interview questions, and practice 150+ real Amazon interview questions.
The Amazon interview process
Understand each stage of the interview process at Amazon.
Initial Contact by Recruiter
If your application aligns with the role's requirements, a recruiter from Amazon will reach out to you. This initial contact is usually via email or phone and serves to discuss your application, the role, and to set up the next steps.
Phone Screenings
The first round of interviews is usually conducted over the phone. This can be one or two interviews, often with a recruiter and/or hiring manager. These interviews focus on your background, experiences, and motivation. For technical roles, this might also include some technical or problem-solving questions.
Online Assessments
Depending on the position, you might be asked to complete online assessments. These can include work style assessment, job simulation exercises, and for technical roles, coding or technical problem-solving tests.
On-site Interview (“Loop” Interviews)
This usually involves a series of back-to-back interviews with multiple team members, managers, and occasionally peers. These interviews typically focus heavily on Amazon's Leadership Principles, assessing how your experiences and behaviors align with them. Technical roles will also include more in-depth technical questions.
Bar Raiser Interview
One unique aspect of Amazon's interview process is the inclusion of a "Bar Raiser" - an interviewer who is specifically trained to ensure candidates meet the high hiring bar set by Amazon. This person is usually from a different team and provides an unbiased assessment of the candidate's fit for Amazon.
Hiring Committee Review
After the interviews, the hiring committee, including the Bar Raiser, reviews your entire application - interview performance, resume, references, and assessments - to make a hiring decision.
Offer Stage 🎉
Once a match is found and all reviews are favorable, you receive a job offer. This offer includes details about the salary, benefits, and other terms of employment.
Say 👋 to Amazon's interview questions
Here are the top 10 most common questions asked at Amazon that you will likely encounter and need to prepare for. We've included sample answers and tips to help you ace your interview.
Tip for this question
When discussing your approach to unfinished tasks, it's important to emphasize strategic decision-making and prioritization skills. Highlight your ability to balance perfection and practicality, and how you communicate and manage expectations with stakeholders effectively.
Example response
"In my previous role as a project manager, we were nearing a critical deadline for a new software release. One feature, though innovative, was proving complex and time-consuming. Faced with the dilemma of perfection versus practicality, I assessed the situation and decided to prioritize the core functionalities that were essential for the product launch. I communicated this decision to the team and stakeholders, explaining the rationale and planning for the advanced feature to be included in a subsequent update. This strategy not only ensured we met our deadline but also maintained high standards of quality and functionality. Post-launch, we successfully integrated the additional feature, which was well-received by users. This experience was a testament to the importance of strategic prioritization and effective communication in project management."
Tell me about a time when you had to leave a task unfinished.
How do you handle making a mistake?
Describe a time when you had to make a decision with incomplete information.
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager. How did you handle it?
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple important tasks?
Describe a situation where you had to take a risk. What was the outcome?
Can you give an example of when you had to deliver bad news to a team or a client?
Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.
What do you do to ensure your skills and knowledge stay current in your field?
How would you handle a conflict within your team?
Tell me about a time when you had to leave a task unfinished.
How do you handle making a mistake?
Describe a time when you had to make a decision with incomplete information.
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager. How did you handle it?
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple important tasks?
Describe a situation where you had to take a risk. What was the outcome?
Can you give an example of when you had to deliver bad news to a team or a client?
Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.
What do you do to ensure your skills and knowledge stay current in your field?
How would you handle a conflict within your team?
Tip for this question
When discussing your approach to unfinished tasks, it's important to emphasize strategic decision-making and prioritization skills. Highlight your ability to balance perfection and practicality, and how you communicate and manage expectations with stakeholders effectively.
Example response
"In my previous role as a project manager, we were nearing a critical deadline for a new software release. One feature, though innovative, was proving complex and time-consuming. Faced with the dilemma of perfection versus practicality, I assessed the situation and decided to prioritize the core functionalities that were essential for the product launch. I communicated this decision to the team and stakeholders, explaining the rationale and planning for the advanced feature to be included in a subsequent update. This strategy not only ensured we met our deadline but also maintained high standards of quality and functionality. Post-launch, we successfully integrated the additional feature, which was well-received by users. This experience was a testament to the importance of strategic prioritization and effective communication in project management."
Do's and Don'ts
Here are proven effective tips for getting a job at Amazon.
Do familiarize yourself with Amazon's Leadership Principles and be ready to provide examples demonstrating these traits.
Do prepare for role-specific technical questions if applying for a technical position.
Do conduct thorough research on Amazon, including its products, services, culture, and recent news.
Do show customer obsession by providing examples of how you've prioritized customer needs in past roles.
Do exhibit ownership and initiative by sharing instances where you took charge, even when it wasn’t your responsibility.
Do demonstrate bias for action by discussing times when you made quick decisions and took action in fast-paced environments.
Do reflect on failures and learnings, being honest about past challenges and what you learned from them.
Don't neglect the Leadership Principles; failing to align your answers with these principles is a common mistake.
Don't be vague in your responses; avoid generalities and be specific, especially when giving examples from past experiences.
Don't overlook soft skills; Amazon values skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership alongside technical abilities.
Don't forget to reflect on the 'big picture'; discuss the impact and results of your past projects, not just the actions.
Don't under-prepare for behavioral questions; they are as important as technical questions in Amazon's interview process.
Don't ignore your non-technical achievements, especially if you’re in a technical role; discuss contributions beyond technical aspects.
Don't forget to practice and prepare; thorough preparation is key for Amazon's rigorous interview process.
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