{"id":4727,"date":"2023-06-27T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=4727"},"modified":"2024-05-17T11:56:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T15:56:45","slug":"amazon-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/interview-questions\/amazon-interview-questions","title":{"rendered":"How to Answer Amazon Interview Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve got an interview at Amazon<\/a> and want to be prepared. So, you read up on common Amazon interview questions, practice your responses, and feel like you\u2019re as ready as you\u2019ll ever be. Or are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answering Amazon interview questions requires more than your \u201cstandard\u201d interview prep. You need to dig deep into what the company is looking for in applicants and frame your answers in a way that explains why you\u2019re the person Amazon should hire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, Amazon provides a ton of interview advice<\/a> on its website. With that information and this handy guide, you can feel confident that you\u2019re prepped and ready for your Amazon interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Amazon Wants in Interview Answers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to prep for Amazon interview questions is to understand the types of questions Amazon asks how to format an answer, and what the interviewer wants to hear in your response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of Amazon\u2019s interview questions are behavioral interview questions<\/a>. These questions help the interviewer understand how you use your skills in a real-life situation. Generally, a behavioral interview question starts with, \u201cTell me about a time when,\u201d or \u201cHow would you handle X?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon recommends<\/a> using the STAR method<\/a> to answer behavioral interview questions. STAR stands for s<\/strong>ituation, t<\/strong>ask, a<\/strong>ction, r<\/strong>esult and the mnemonic can help you remember the critical elements your answer needs. In short, you describe a situation<\/em><\/strong> you faced, the task<\/em><\/strong> you needed to complete, the action<\/em><\/strong> you took, and the results<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Amazon isn\u2019t only looking for candidates that use the STAR method. Every answer should be framed around three critical items: Amazon\u2019s leadership principles, data, and peculiarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the easy part first: data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One reason people use the STAR method is that it\u2019s a great way to include metrics and outcomes in the answer. This allows you to quantify how much you\u2019ll positively impact the organization if you’re hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Professional Skills<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Identify your professional values and learn how to connect with a company that supports them in this free course from Discover Financial Services.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSelf-reflection, discovery, organization, planning\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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And one of Amazon’s interview tips<\/a> mentions including data in your answer: \u201cUse data or metrics to support your answer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data is usually in the results section of the answer. So, you might say that you decreased late payments by 27% or sped up shipping rates by 36%. Depending on your background and the position you\u2019re interviewing for, you could explain that you had an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership Principles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another key point Amazon stresses in its interview prep advice is to frame your answer around the company\u2019s<\/a> leadership principles. This is crucial because you’re likely to encounter one or more Amazon leadership principles interview questions even if you’re not applying for a leadership role. The leadership principles are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Customer obsession<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ownership<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Invent and simplify<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Are right, a lot<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Learn and be curious<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Hire and develop the best<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Insist on the highest standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Think big<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Bias for action<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Frugality<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Earn trust<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Dive deep<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Have backbone; disagree and commit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Deliver results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Strive to be Earth\u2019s best employer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. Success and scale bring broad responsibility<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Each leadership principle also has a brief description. For example, for \u201cLearn and be curious,\u201d Amazon explains, \u201cLeaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, frame your answer around at least one of these leadership principles. For example, you could talk about a time you wanted to learn a new skill and what steps you took to make that happen. The rest of your answer could discuss how you used your newly acquired skill on the job and how that benefited the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Peculiarity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    One additional thing Amazon wants candidates to address in their answers is the company\u2019s self-described peculiarity<\/a>. And what is that, exactly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Interestingly, this is never specifically addressed. However, according to Amazon, the company has several peculiarities, many of which are covered in the leadership principles and the annual letter to shareholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One clue the company gives is that every letter to shareholders ends with this point from the 1997 letter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \u201cOur core values and approach remain unchanged. We continue to aspire to be Earth\u2019s most customer-centric company.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nAmazon’s 2017 Letter to Shareholders<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s safe to say that your answers should include some indication of how you are a customer-centric person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Answer Common Amazon Interview Questions (With Answers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To answer common Amazon interview questions, use the STAR method to frame your answer around one (or more) of their leadership principles and use data to support your answer while including something about the company\u2019s peculiarities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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    Career Readiness<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Get career ready with this free class from Cisco. Learn how to analyze a data set, manage a project, and communicate in the workplace.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tData analysis, data presentation, project management, project planning\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s more, Amazon also says your answers should be specific and detailed, as well as have a beginning, middle, and end. You should also be ready to answer follow-up questions in even greater detail and use examples that are unique to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Phew! That\u2019s a lot, but with a little practice, you can do it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fortunately, Amazon posts several common interview questions it asks during in-person or phone interviews<\/a>, so you can practice your answer and get a feel for what works. Head over to Amazon\u2019s interview information page and click on \u201cBehavioral-based interviewing\u201d to see them. Let\u2019s check out two of Amazon\u2019s interview questions and possible answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Describe a time you took the lead on a project.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    OK. Technically this is a request, but it\u2019s still a behavioral interview question. The interviewer is asking you to tell a story that explains when you led a project and what the outcome was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t have the word \u201cmanager,\u201d \u201csupervisor,\u201d or any other leadership-type words in your current or past job titles. What the hiring manager<\/a> is looking for is a time you stepped up and led something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, let\u2019s say you\u2019re going to talk about a group project from school. Using the STAR method, you could explain how everyone volunteered to take on parts of the project, but no one seemed to be getting their work done. You stepped up and collaborated<\/a> with the entire team to ensure everyone did what they were supposed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    >>MORE:<\/strong> 10 Common Leadership Interview Questions and Answers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But to make your answer more Amazon-ish, you need to frame it around a leadership principle (say, bias toward action), use data to back up your answer (the grade your group received), and how your actions were customer-centric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That last part may be a bit tricky because, technically, there are no customers in this scenario. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t use this example to illustrate how you are a customer-centric person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your answer could go something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

    I was part of a group project for class. Things started off OK. Everyone volunteered to take on a specific portion of the project, and we agreed to a timeline for milestones. A few people missed the first milestone, which was fine, but from there, the entire team seemed to slip.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Worried we were going to either turn in something not great or miss the due date entirely, I stepped in. I met with each person on the team to see what was holding them back and brainstorm ideas on how to get their part of the project done \u2014 without doing the work for them!<\/em><\/p>\n

    In talking to my teammates, I learned that some of them needed information from others in order to make progress on their part. So, I organized a group chat and set up a shared Google doc where everyone could discuss how things were going and what they needed from other team members in a transparent, shared, and organized manner.<\/em><\/p>\n

    This helped improve communication among the team and had a noticeable impact on how quickly the project moved along. After we started communicating more openly, we didn\u2019t miss milestones and got the project in on time, resulting in an A grade on the project.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

    This answer hits all the essential points. It talks about the situation (people missing milestones), task (meeting with each person), action (brainstorming, setting up the chat and shared document), and result (made the milestones, turned the project in on time, got an A).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s more, the answer also hits the key points Amazon looks for. It\u2019s framed around a leadership principle (bias toward action) and includes data (the grade). And it explains how you\u2019re customer-centric. By talking to teammates, you learned what challenges they were facing and devised a solution that met their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When did you take a risk, make a mistake, or fail? How did you respond? How did you grow from it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At first glance, this seems like a trick question. Why would Amazon want you to talk about a time you failed? Should you say that you\u2019ve never taken a risk or are always right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of Amazon\u2019s leadership principles is \u201cLeaders are right, a lot.\u201d Interestingly, the explanation says that while a leader has strong judgment and good instincts, leaders also \u201cseek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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    Interview Success<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Uncover the tips and tricks for interview success in this free course from BCLP. You'll learn how to ace a video interview, the online skills assessment, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tVideo interviewing, public speaking, organization, time management\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In other words, leaders know that while they\u2019re right most of the time, they aren\u2019t right all of the time. And sometimes, the best way to learn when you\u2019re right is to occasionally be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The question is asking if you\u2019re comfortable taking a risk even when there\u2019s a chance you\u2019ll be wrong. And that time you were wrong, what did you learn from it, and how did it change your thought process or methods?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your answer could go something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

    When I was an intern, I was responsible for the email list. This included list hygiene, merging new entries onto the list, and segmenting the list for different campaigns. I had never worked with email management software before, so I was learning on the job. For the most part, that was fine. There were a lot of helpful tutorials online.<\/em><\/p>\n

    But one day, I was asked to segment an already segmented list, and I just could not find a tutorial anywhere. I googled and searched the software\u2019s knowledge base but \u2026 nothing. Then I tried internal resources, like Slack and Notion, but there was nothing there.<\/em><\/p>\n

    I had already been at the internship for about three months and assumed that with that amount of time on the job, people figured I knew how to do my job, and if I asked a question, people would wonder if I should still be responsible for the list or even in the internship.<\/em><\/p>\n

    So \u2026 I guessed how to do it. And it was wrong. It wasn\u2019t a huge deal in that it didn\u2019t involve a coupon code or sale or anything, but it did give a group of people incorrect information about their order.<\/em><\/p>\n

    When my boss found out, he had me send out a corrected email with an apology note, then explained to me how to segment a segmented list. And, much to my relief, he wasn\u2019t mad about what happened and told me that in the future, I should ask for help!<\/em><\/p>\n

    What I learned from this is that there really are no stupid questions. I knew this, of course, but actually living it is different. I also learned that no one expects anyone to know everything, so it\u2019s OK to ask for help whenever you need it. Someone on the team probably has the answer, and the team is there to help and support each other.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

    This answer describes a situation (being responsible for the email list), task (segmenting a segmented list), action (not knowing what to do, so guessing), and the result (you messed up but learned it\u2019s OK to ask questions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And it\u2019s also framed around a leadership principle: Leaders are right, a lot. In this instance, you took the lead and made a decision, but it didn\u2019t work out. This is one of those times you were wrong but learned something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It also includes data, even though it\u2019s not a number. In this case, it\u2019s what you did after the fact (sent out the corrected email with an apology) and what you learned about asking questions and teamwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And finally, this also explains how you\u2019re customer-centric. You were trying to serve the customers by sending an email, and once you found out you were wrong, you did what was necessary to make it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Answer Common Amazon Technical Interview Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re applying for a software development or software engineering<\/a> role, you\u2019ll also have a technical interview. This is slightly different from a behavioral interview in that the hiring manager will see you use your skills by whiteboarding or coding during the interview instead of asking you to talk about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    >>MORE:<\/strong> 5 Technical Interview Questions for All Careers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Amazon offers candidates<\/a> tips to prepare for the technical interview. You should be ready for topics like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n