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 Interview: STAR Questions and Answers
Let’s prepare for your interview
NOTE: Amazon is closely following the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), and implementing processes that promote candidate and employee safety. Out of an abundance of caution, our default process for on site interviews will now be conducted virtually. Learn more about our remote interview process.
Interviewing for a software engineer role that requires at least 2 years of experience? Learn how to successfully demonstrate your skills in interviews.
Before we get into the details of your interview, take some time to learn about Amazon, get to know our business teams, and “meet” a few Amazonians.
Next, dive into our Leadership Principles. We use our Leadership Principles every day, whether were discussing ideas for new projects or deciding on the best approach to solving a problem. It is just one of the things that makes Amazon peculiar. All candidates are evaluated based on our Leadership Principles. The best way to prepare for your interview is to consider how you’ve applied the Leadership Principles in your previous professional experience.
Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.
Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say “that’s not my job”.
Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here”. As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time.
Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.
Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.
Hire and Develop the Best
Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.
Top 3 Amazon interview questions
Now that you have a foundation on how to answer Amazon interview questions, its time to practice. Below are three of the top interview questions you are likely to encounter during your interview.
How to Answer Amazon Interview Questions
While you could just jump into the fray, memorize a few Amazon interview questions, and be done with it, that’s not the best way to go about things. Sure, you might be ready to handle specific questions. But, if something unexpected comes up, you might be caught flatfooted. No one wants that.
With the right techniques and overall strategy, you can face off against unanticipated questions. Now, exactly how you need to prepare can and will be a bit nuanced. After all, there is a slew of positions at Amazon, and each one involves something different.
How do you make sure you’re ready for YOUR Amazon interview?
Start by reading the job description for the position. In that handful of paragraphs, you’ll find a ton of specific, actionable information about what the hiring manager is looking for in a perfect candidate.
For example, the list of must-have skills you find on most job descriptions reflects their priorities. Those keywords or qualities you see over and over? Yeah, those fall into that category, too.
Without a doubt, you can expect to have to speak about your capabilities in those areas, so reflect on your abilities and think about relevant examples from your work history that you can describe. That way, you can discuss your capabilities with ease.
Now, you may be headed for an interview at a traditional department store. If you’re curious about what those interview questions look like, head over to our articles on Kohl’s or Best Buy. Otherwise, here’s how to prepare for behavioral questions at Amazon!
FAQ
What are the 5 Star interview questions?
- Tell me about a time when you were faced with a challenging situation. …
- Do you usually set goals at work? …
- Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work.
- Have you ever faced conflict with a coworker? …
- Tell me about a time when you handled the pressure well.
How do I pass the STAR interview?
- Lay out the *situation.* First, set the scene for your interviewer. …
- Highlight the *task.* You’re telling this story for a reason—because you had some sort of core involvement in it. …
- Share how you took *action.* …
- Discuss the *results.*
What are the questions 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 are the top 10 star interview questions?
- How do you handle a challenge? …
- Can you work effectively under pressure? …
- How do you set goals? …
- Can you handle criticism? …
- How do you handle a mistake pointed out to you? …
- What’s your ideal approach if you disagree with someone at work?
