An in-depth guide about how to prepare to answer Amazon interview questions from two ex-Amazon hiring managers (and one Bar Raiser).
This guide will show you how to prepare for behavioural interview questions at Amazon. Our recommendations are based on our experience with thousands of candidate interviews and coaching sessions (both while we were at Amazon and after starting Day One Careers).
At the end of this guide, we offer a vetted Amazon interview questions list, but we encourage you to read through the entire guide. While we cannot guarantee that you will get a job, following this guide will increase your chances of landing the offer.
Evgeny Bik and Gayle Gallagher (GG), co-founders of Day One Careers, wrote this guide. GG spent five years at Amazon as a senior leader in Prime Video and Amazon Fresh in the UK. Evgeny spent over three years at Amazon as a senior leader in Amazon Launchpad and Amazon Devices in Europe. In addition, GG and Evgeny were Hiring Managers and interviewers for their teams and partner organizations.
In addition, GG was a qualified Amazon Bar Raiser – an independent decision-maker with veto power over the hiring manager in the Amazon interview process. GG and Evgeny had careers in multi-national Tech, FMCG and Retail companies before joining Amazon.
Finally, after leaving Amazon, Evgeny spent one year at Apple as an eCommerce lead in IMMEA (Apples developing markets organization).
We created Day One Careers to provide everyone with expert Amazon interview preparation resources. Were incredibly proud of our free and paid resources, and we encourage you to explore our blog and YouTube channel for more expert guidance.
You can check out our LinkedIn profiles if youd like to learn more about our career paths: GGs profile and Evgenys profile.
Amazon Prep Video – Technical Product Manager (PM-T)
Interviews for Top Jobs at Amazon
Senior Product Manager – Technical Interview
I interviewed at Amazon
Interview
Smooth and HR is very helpful. You can contact the HR to give you some tips for the interview process, and they will schedule a call with you. The questions are based on your past work experience and behavioural questions on the leadership principles
- What was the last time you made a strategic decision?
Senior Technical Product Manager Interview
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon (Seattle, WA)
Interview
Several rounds of virtual interviews. Interviewers are instructed to report on the question of whether you would be better at the job than 50% of existing people with that title.
- Behavioral interview about past work experiences.
Key Facts
Week 0
Submit your resume and get referrals.
Week 1
Initial phone screen with a recruiter.
Week 2
Two phone interviews with different managers, focused on behavioral and case questions.
Week 3
Usually, youâll be asked to write a 1-2 page essay in response to questions like, âwhat is the most innovative project youâve ever worked on?â or, âtalk about an experience where you were able to simplify the lives of your customers.â
Week 4
Six 40-50 minute interviews with PMs, engineers, and a VP. Each round will center around a particular topic, such as work history,a business case study, a break-even analysis, product specs, or cultural fit. Make sure you study Amazonâs 12 leadership principles!
Product Design
The product design interviews, which usually encompasses 2 interviews out of all the onsite PM interviews at Amazon, is designed to test how an applicant would actually build and ship a product at Amazon. These interviews firstly test the Amazon principle of âThink Bigâ. Amazon is a massive company and itâs important for PMs at the company to be able to make a relevant impact upon the business through scale just as itâs important that they continue to innovate creatively, which correlates to the principle âInvent and Simplifyâ. Finally, the product design interviews also consider the principle âDive Deepâ; Itâs important that Amazon PMs are excited about solving challenging problems within their vision and product, especially because they are working in complex spaces and markets. Â
Cracking Amazon Technical Program Manager Interview Questionsby Interview Kickstart Team in
Our tried & tested strategy for cracking interviews
How FAANG hiring process works
The 4 areas you must prepare for
How you can accelerate your learnings
Amazon Technical Program Manager (TPM) interviews are incredibly challenging. You can expect tricky questions specific to Amazon and other broader topics. However, you can certainly answer even the most difficult Amazon TPM interview questions with the right preparation. We have, therefore, prepared this ultimate guide to help you ace your TPM interview at this FAANG company.
Having trained over 13,500 software engineers, we know what it takes to crack the toughest tech interviews. Since 2014, Interview Kickstart alums have been landing lucrative offers from FAANG and Tier-1 tech companies. The highest ever offer received by an IK alum is a whopping $1.2 Million!
At IK, you get the unique opportunity to learn from expert instructors who are hiring managers and tech leads at Google, Facebook, Apple, and other top Silicon Valley tech companies.
Want to nail your next tech interview? Sign up for our FREE Webinar.
In this article, weâll cover:
FAQ
What is PMT in Amazon?
What questions will be asked in Amazon interview?
- What would you do if you found out your closest friend at work was stealing? …
- Describe your most difficult customer and how you handled it. …
- Tell me about a time you were 75 percent through a project and had to pivot quickly. …
- Behavioral questions. …
- Leadership questions.
What is a TPM interview like?
- What would you do if you found out your closest friend at work was stealing? …
- Describe your most difficult customer and how you handled it. …
- Tell me about a time you were 75 percent through a project and had to pivot quickly. …
- Behavioral questions. …
- Leadership questions.
Is the Amazon interview process difficult?
- What would you do if you found out your closest friend at work was stealing? …
- Describe your most difficult customer and how you handled it. …
- Tell me about a time you were 75 percent through a project and had to pivot quickly. …
- Behavioral questions. …
- Leadership questions.
