We started helping candidates prepare for behavioural interviews at Amazon shortly after leaving the business. Very quickly, we have discovered that candidates were asking us to help them answer Amazon interview questions that did not map to Leadership Principles and were unlikely to ever be used in an Amazon interview. To our horror, we discovered that “fake” Amazon interview questions were posted in all corners of the Internet – from Glassdoor to various random forums.
In order to prepare for your Amazon interviews properly, you need to be able to recognise the key themes from Amazons 16 Leadership Principles, understand Amazons peculiar culture and become a pro at framing responses to behavioural interview questions. You can achieve all this with our signature self-study Amazon Interview Preparation Courses and 1:1 Amazon Interview Coaching services (see below). Our resources helped candidates land L4-L8 jobs at Amazon.
Tell me about an important lesson you learned over the past year.
Tell me about a situation or experience you went through that changed your way of thinking.
Tell me about a time when you made a smarter decision with the help of your curiosity.
6. Hire and Develop The BestLeaders are responsible for raising the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent and will move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take their role in coaching others seriously. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.
Tell me about a time when you mentored someone
Tell me about a time when you made a wrong hire. When did you figure it out, and what did you do?
Are these the official Amazon interview questions?
NO. While there is an official Amazon interview question bank, we no longer have access to it.
What are the Amazon Leadership Principles?
The Amazon Leadership Principles describe 14 fundamental values that govern the conduct of the company and its employees. The company states that these values are implemented in day-to-day operations and believes in hiring people who behave by these principles.
These qualities are often tested during the hiring process. They are crucial to know if you are preparing for an interview with Amazon and want to become an excellent candidate.
“We obviously hire based on the principles. We give both positive and negative feedback, which references the principles. We are encouraged to be aware of our own successes and failures in relation to the leadership principles,” says Dave Anderson, Head of Technology at Bezos Academy and a former Director/GM at Amazon.
The good news is that you dont have to memorize all 14 Amazon Leadership Principles to get ready for an interview. Instead, Amazon tests applicants on the qualities that are most relevant to the position.
Here are the 14 Amazon Leadership Principles and some essential details to remember:
Customer Obsession – Successful leaders always start with the customer and work their way backward. They work hard to earn and maintain customer trust, and even though they pay attention to competitors, customers are always the priority.
Ownership – Leaders think long-term and prioritize long-term value over short-term success. They are owners, and they act on behalf of the company, not just themselves or their own team.
Invent and Simplify – Leaders always seek ways to simplify and always require invention and innovation from their teams. Their thinking has no limits, and they always search for new ideas from everywhere. And, as they try new things, they expect to be sometimes misunderstood.
Are Right, a Lot – Leaders are right most of the time. They possess good instincts and strong judgment, which enables them to seek diverse perspectives.
Learn and Be Curious – Leaders always seek ways to improve themselves and never stop learning. They are curious about new opportunities and arent afraid to explore the unknown.
Hire and Develop the Best – Every hire and promotion decision made by leaders raises the performance level. Leaders recognize talent and are willing to support them in their development. They invest their time into coaching and mentoring others.
Insist on the Highest Standards – Leaders are continually raising the bar of their standards and motivate their teams to deliver high-quality services, products, and processes. Leaders make sure that problems are fixed and defects never get sent down the line.
Think Big – Leaders think differently and envisage a bold direction that inspires outstanding results. They also expertly partake in calculated risk-taking. They think outside of the box to serve customers and achieve a significant impact.
Bias for Action – In business, speed matters. Many actions and decisions are reversible and do not require extensive study. They have a bias for action with long-term gains in mind.
Frugality – Leaders find ways to accomplish more with less and maximize profit. They take constraints and turn them into self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, and invention.
Earn Trust – Leaders speak candidly, listen attentively, and treat others respectfully. They arent afraid to be self-critical in front of others and benchmark themselves only against the best.
Dive Deep – Leaders focus on the details, work at all levels, and audit frequently.
Have Backbone; Disagree, and Commit – Leaders arent afraid to speak up and challenge decisions in a respectful way whenever they disagree. They do not compromise, even in a challenging environment. And once the team finalizes a decision, these leaders fully commit to it.
Deliver Results – Leaders need to focus on the critical things in their work and deliver quality results promptly. No matter what, they overcome obstacles and never settle.
