Amazon Interview Preparation In 10 Steps

Summary

Gigi, an ex-senior leader and Amazon bar raiser, shares her 10-step guide for acing the Amazon interview process. Starting with reflecting on past achievements and aligning them with Amazon's leadership principles, Gigi emphasizes understanding the core values Amazon looks for. She also covers how to deconstruct job descriptions, craft STAR-based examples, edit them for precision, and prepare for introductory questions. Finally, she stresses the importance of practicing through mock interviews to simulate real scenarios. By following these steps, candidates can be well-prepared for success in Amazon interviews.

Takeaways

• 😀 Step 1: Reflect on your career history and identify proud accomplishments or projects that showcase problem-solving and impactful results.
• 😀 Step 2: Study and fully understand Amazon's Leadership Principles, as they are central to the interview process and Amazon’s core culture.
• 😀 Step 3: Link each of your examples from Step 1 to the relevant Leadership Principles that align best with each story.
• 😀 Step 4: Analyze your job description to identify key Leadership Principles emphasized for the role and cross-reference with your stories.
• 😀 Step 5: Assess if your examples align with the key Leadership Principles identified in the job description and refine any gaps.
• 😀 Step 6: Explore any missing Leadership Principles not found in the job description but are still part of Amazon's 16 principles and find examples for them.
• 😀 Step 7: Draft your stories in the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result), including Improvement as part of the STARry model for a complete answer.
• 😀 Step 8: Edit your STARry stories, removing unnecessary details that don't add context or demonstrate behaviors, ensuring conciseness and clarity.
• 😀 Step 9: Prepare answers for introductory interview questions like ‘Why Amazon?’, ‘Tell me about yourself’, and ‘Why this role?’ with appropriate depth for early vs. final rounds.
• 😀 Step 10: Practice mock interviews as much as possible, either with a knowledgeable person or on your own, recording yourself to improve your answers and delivery.

Q & A

What is the first step in preparing for an Amazon interview according to the speaker?

The first step is to review your career history, identify projects, launches, or problems you've solved, and recall moments where you are particularly proud of your work. Write down these examples and focus on the details of how the projects or tasks began and ended.

Why is it important to study Amazon's leadership principles during interview preparation?

Amazon's leadership principles are considered the DNA of the company and are a critical reference point during the interview process. Understanding these principles thoroughly will help you align your experiences and stories to what Amazon values in candidates.

How should candidates align their career examples with Amazon's leadership principles?

After studying the leadership principles, candidates should review their career examples and identify which leadership principles best align with each example. This alignment helps demonstrate that your experience matches Amazon's core values.

What should candidates do after reviewing their job description?

After reviewing the job description, candidates should identify the key leadership principles mentioned or inferred in the description. This helps them understand what the hiring manager values and ensure that their examples align with these principles.

How can candidates address gaps in their examples with respect to the leadership principles?

Candidates should analyze their examples and identify if there are any leadership principles missing or underrepresented. They should then look for ways to shape or adapt existing stories to fill these gaps or come up with new examples that align with the missing principles.

What is the STAR method, and how should candidates use it in interview preparation?

The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It is a framework used to structure behavioral interview responses. The speaker recommends an extended version of this method called STARry, which adds 'Improvement' as the final component to showcase continuous growth.

What should candidates focus on when editing their STAR stories?

Candidates should focus on ensuring that their STAR stories are concise and relevant by removing any non-contextual or non-behavioral details. This ensures that the stories are clear, impactful, and directly demonstrate the desired behavior.

How long should candidates' responses be for introductory questions in Amazon interviews?

For early-round interviews, candidates should aim for answers that are around two minutes long. For final-round interviews, responses should be more concise, typically no more than one minute.

What is the value of practicing mock interviews in preparation for an Amazon interview?

Mock interviews are valuable because they simulate the real interview experience. They help candidates refine their responses, improve their confidence, and practice handling interruptions or follow-up questions. Ideally, candidates should practice with someone familiar with Amazon's interview process.

What should candidates do after completing all the steps in the preparation process?

After completing all the steps, candidates should practice, practice, and practice some more. Recording themselves and reviewing their responses can help identify areas for improvement, such as talking too fast or missing key information.