What's Interesting About Amazon Interviews
Are you preparing for an Amazon interview? If so, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll cover the most important questions you should be prepared to answer, as well as some newer concepts that you may not be aware of. We'll also provide tips on how to answer these questions effectively and how to prepare a story bank to showcase your experience.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Elevator Pitch
3. Behavioral Questions
4. Taking Calculated Risks
5. Making Decisions with Limited Data
6. Delivering Projects Under Tight Deadlines
7. Insisting on High Standards
8. Diving Deep into Complex Problems
9. Helping Team Members Develop Their Careers
10. Simplifying Complex Problems
11. Communicating Change and Earning Trust
12. Thinking Big
13. Saving Costs and Eliminating Waste
14. Learning and Being Curious
15. Conclusion
Elevator Pitch
The first and most commonly asked question in any Amazon interview is the elevator pitch. This question is designed to get to know you better and understand why you want to work for Amazon. To prepare for this question, brainstorm your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your expertise and level of experience. Use templates and frameworks to help you sell yourself during the interview. Make sure to focus on the one highlight from your CV that you want to talk about with the hiring manager.
Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions are designed to assess your leadership principles and how you handle different situations. These questions are usually asked in the form of "tell me about a time when..." and require you to provide a specific example from your past experience. Some of the most important behavioral questions to prepare for include:
Taking Calculated Risks
Give an example of a calculated risk you took where speed was critical. What was the situation, and how did you handle it? What steps did you take to mitigate the risk, and what was the outcome? This question is designed to assess your bias for action and how you handle high-pressure situations.
Making Decisions with Limited Data
Tell me about a time when you didn't have enough data to make the right decision. What did you do, and how did you handle it? This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills and your ability to learn from your mistakes.
Delivering Projects Under Tight Deadlines
Give an example of a time when you were able to deliver an important project under a tight deadline. What sacrifices did you have to make to meet the deadline, and how did they impact the final deliverable? What was the final outcome? This question is designed to assess your ability to deliver results and work under pressure.
Insisting on High Standards
Describe a time when you refused to compromise your standards. What was the result? This question is designed to assess your ability to insist on the highest standards and your commitment to quality.
Diving Deep into Complex Problems
Tell me about a time when you had to dig into the details to figure out a complex problem. Who did you talk to, or where did you have to look to find the most valuable information? How did you use the information to solve the problem? This question is designed to assess your ability to dive deep into complex problems and your attention to detail.
Helping Team Members Develop Their Careers
Tell me about a time when you helped a team member develop their career. What did you do, and what was the result? This question is designed to assess your ability to develop and mentor team members.
Simplifying Complex Problems
Give an example of a time when you solved a complex problem with a simple solution. What made the problem complex, and how did you know your solution addressed the problem? This question is designed to assess your ability to invent and simplify.
Communicating Change and Earning Trust
Tell me about a time when you had to communicate change in a direction that you anticipated people would have concerns with. What did you do to understand the concerns and mitigate them? Were there any changes you made along the way after hearing these concerns? How did you handle questions and resistance, and were you able to get people comfortable with the change? This question is designed to assess your ability to earn trust and communicate effectively.
Thinking Big
Tell me about a time when you were working on an initiative or goal and saw an opportunity to do something much bigger or better than the initial focus was. Did you take that opportunity, and why or why not? What was the outcome? This question is designed to assess your ability to think big and take risks.
Saving Costs and Eliminating Waste
Give me an example of a time when you helped save costs or eliminate waste within your role or organization. What was the situation, and what was the impact? This question is designed to assess your ability to be frugal and make efficient use of resources.
Learning and Being Curious
Tell me about a time when you realized you needed a deeper level of subject-matter expertise to do your job well. What did you do about it, and what was the outcome? Is there anything you would have done differently? This question is designed to assess your ability to learn and be curious.
Conclusion
Preparing for an Amazon interview can be challenging, but by understanding the most important questions and leadership principles, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to prepare a story bank and use the STAR method to answer behavioral questions effectively. Good luck with your interview!
Highlights
- Elevator pitch questions are designed to get to know you better and understand why you want to work for Amazon.
- Behavioral questions are designed to assess your leadership principles and how you handle different situations.
- The STAR method is an effective way to answer behavioral questions.
- Preparing a story bank is essential for success in an Amazon interview.
- Understanding the most important questions and leadership principles can increase your chances of success.
FAQ
Q: What is the STAR method?
A: The STAR method is a structured approach to answering behavioral questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
Q: How can I prepare for an Amazon interview?
A: To prepare for an Amazon interview, you should research the company and its leadership principles, prepare a story bank, and practice answering behavioral questions using the STAR method.
Q: What are the most important questions to prepare for in an Amazon interview?
A: The most important questions to prepare for in an Amazon interview include elevator pitch questions, behavioral questions, and questions related to the company's leadership principles.
Q: How can I showcase my experience during an Amazon interview?
A: To showcase your experience during an Amazon interview, you should prepare a story bank and use the STAR method to answer behavioral questions effectively.
Q: What is the purpose of Amazon's leadership principles?
A: Amazon's leadership principles are designed to guide the company's culture and hiring practices. They are also used to assess candidates during the interview process.
