How To Ace The Why Amazon Question Like No One Else Will

Summary

The video provides guidance on how to answer the 'Why Amazon?' question during both phone screens and panel interviews at Amazon. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring your response to your personal motivations and the specific business unit you are applying for. The video also outlines key universal aspects of Amazon, such as leadership principles, unique ways of working, and the expectation of raising the bar. For phone screens, concise answers are recommended, while for panel interviews, the focus should shift towards a brief synthesis, moving quickly into leadership principle discussions.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The question 'Why Amazon?' is crucial for interviews at Amazon and should be tailored to the individual's truth and motivations.
• 📞 For phone screens, the question aims to gauge a candidate's motivation and fit for Amazon, focusing on whether they will be a long-term asset to the company.
• 🏢 The complexity of 'Why Amazon?' arises from the company's vast业务范围 and diverse business units, each with unique characteristics and stages of maturity.
• 📝 Amazon's leadership principles are a universal truth across the company, serving as the DNA that unites all Amazonians.
• 📈 Amazon's unique ways of working, including document writing and flat organizational structure, are key to its operations and should be considered in a candidate's answer.
• 💪 The concept of a constantly raising bar is inherent to Amazon's culture, where the goal is continuous improvement and growth.
• 🌱 Businesses within Amazon can be in states of 'build,' 'scale,' or 'optimize,' and understanding which state a unit is in can help tailor a candidate's answer.
• 👥 It's essential to research the specific team you're interviewing with to understand its history, goals, and challenges.
• 🗣️ During phone screens, keep the answer to 'Why Amazon?' concise, aiming for 6-10 sentences to allow time for other questions.
• 🏁 In panel interviews, the 'Why Amazon?' question is more of a warm-up, as the decision to hire is based on leadership principles and potential for growth, not just motivation.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of asking 'Why Amazon?' during an interview?

The main purpose of asking 'Why Amazon?' is to understand the candidate's motivation for joining Amazon, whether they have the right reasons, and if they are likely to be a good long-term employee.

Why is it important to have a personalized answer for 'Why Amazon?'

It's important to have a personalized answer because there is no one-size-fits-all response. The answer should reflect the candidate's truth and genuine reasons for wanting to join Amazon.

What are the differences in answering 'Why Amazon?' between a phone screen and a panel interview?

In a phone screen, the question is used to gauge the candidate's motivation and reasons for joining Amazon. In a panel interview, the question serves more as a warm-up and is not the primary factor in the hiring decision, as the candidate's motivation should have been established earlier.

What are the three universal truths about Amazon that a candidate should consider in their answer?

The three universal truths are the leadership principles that serve as the DNA of Amazon, the unique ways of working including document writing and meeting structures, and the constant raising of the bar, ensuring continuous growth and improvement.

Why is it suggested to keep the same answer for 'Why Amazon?' if asked in multiple phone screens?

Keeping the same answer ensures consistency and shows that the candidate has a clear and well-thought-out motivation for joining Amazon, which is important for the interviewers to assess.

What does Amazon look for in a candidate's understanding of its business diversity?

Amazon looks for candidates who understand that it operates in many different sectors and that each business within Amazon could be a standalone entity, and that the candidate can articulate why they are interested in a specific unit or team within this diverse landscape.

How should a candidate prepare to answer 'Why Amazon?' for a panel interview?

A candidate should synthesize their previous answer from the phone screen into a concise 2-3 sentence response and then quickly move on to discussing the leadership principles, as the panel interview focuses more on these aspects.

What is the significance of the leadership principles in Amazon's culture?

The leadership principles are the DNA of Amazon, ensuring that all Amazonians speak the same language and understand each other's expectations, which is crucial for effective communication and collaboration.

How does the structure and hierarchy, or lack thereof, in Amazon influence its operations?

Amazon's flat structure and minimal bureaucracy allow for agile decision-making, which is fundamental to its unique ways of working and contributes to its ability to innovate and respond quickly to market changes.

What should a candidate do to understand the team they are interviewing for?

A candidate should do their homework on the team, speak to their recruiter for insights, understand the team's history, goals, and key challenges, and consider how they align with the team's needs and direction.

How can a candidate effectively communicate their answer to 'Why Amazon?' during a phone screen?

A candidate should aim for a concise and clear response, ideally within 6 to 10 sentences, to encapsulate their motivation and reasons for joining Amazon without overwhelming the interviewer.