Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions | Leadership Principles Explained

Summary

In this video, Kevin Way, a product manager, offers guidance on acing Amazon's behavioral interviews. He explains the importance of these questions in aligning with Amazon's culture and leadership principles. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is introduced as a structured approach to answer effectively. Viewers are also advised on how to prepare stories that reflect the 16 leadership principles, emphasizing the need to avoid repetition, share decision-making trade-offs, and be an engaging storyteller.

Takeaways

• 😀 Amazon's behavioral interview questions are crucial for assessing if a candidate will fit the company culture and are based on past behavior and performance.
• 📝 The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is recommended for structuring answers to behavioral questions to avoid rambling and ensure clarity.
• 🛠 Amazon's 16 leadership principles are key to their hiring process, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate these through their experiences.
• 💡 Candidates should prepare stories from their work experience that align with Amazon's leadership principles to showcase their values and fit for the company.
• 🔍 Interviewers look for evidence of leadership principles such as customer obsession, ownership, and invent and simplify through behavioral questions.
• 🤔 Questions about decision-making without data or handling roadblocks are used to assess a candidate's judgment, instincts, and problem-solving skills.
• 📈 High standards and a bias for action are emphasized, with leaders expected to raise the bar and take calculated risks in business.
• 💼 Frugality is valued, with leaders encouraged to accomplish more with fewer resources, promoting resourcefulness and invention.
• 🔑 Trust and transparency are important, with leaders expected to listen, speak candidly, and be vocally self-critical to earn and maintain trust.
• 📊 A deep understanding of details and metrics is necessary, with leaders diving deep into projects and being skeptical of discrepancies.
• 🚀 Being a good storyteller can help in interviews, with advice to share conflicts, obstacles, and the path to success, making the narrative engaging and memorable.

Q & A

What is the focus of Amazon's behavioral interview questions?

Amazon's behavioral interview questions focus on a candidate's past behavior and performance to predict their job performance and cultural fit within the company.

Why are leadership principles important in Amazon's hiring process?

Leadership principles are important because they help Amazon determine if a candidate will embody the company's values and culture in their daily actions.

What is the STAR method and how is it used in answering behavioral interview questions?

The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It is a structured way to answer behavioral interview questions by outlining the context, objectives, actions taken, and outcomes of a situation.

What is the first leadership principle Amazon emphasizes and why is it significant?

The first leadership principle is 'Customer Obsession'. It signifies that leaders at Amazon always start with the customer's needs and work backwards, striving to earn and maintain customer trust.

How can candidates demonstrate the 'Ownership' leadership principle during an interview?

Candidates can demonstrate 'Ownership' by discussing instances where they took responsibility for long-term value over short-term gains and acted on behalf of the entire company, not just their own team.

What does the 'Invent and Simplify' leadership principle entail and how might it be assessed in an interview?

'Invent and Simplify' means leaders expect innovation and always look for ways to simplify processes. Interviewers might ask about times when the candidate solved a complex problem or handled roadblocks with creative solutions.

How do interviewers evaluate a candidate's 'Deliver Results' leadership principle?

Interviewers may ask about challenging projects the candidate has worked on, their approach to prioritizing tasks, and how they ensured timely delivery despite setbacks.

What is the 'Think Big' leadership principle and how can candidates showcase it?

'Think Big' encourages leaders to create and communicate a bold vision. Candidates can showcase this by discussing their greatest successes or times when they were creative and innovative.

Why is 'Bias for Action' important in Amazon's business approach and how might it be discussed in an interview?

'Bias for Action' is important because it values speed and calculated risk-taking. Interviewers might ask about instances where the candidate convinced others to take action or managed risk effectively.

How does Amazon's 'Frugality' leadership principle relate to resourcefulness and invention?

'Frugality' encourages accomplishing more with fewer resources, which breeds resourcefulness and invention. Interviewers may ask about times when the candidate achieved significant results with limited budgets or resources.

What advice does Kevin Way give for candidates to stand out in their Amazon behavioral interview?

Kevin Way advises candidates to avoid repeating stories, share trade-offs considered in their decisions, and be good storytellers by highlighting conflicts and obstacles they faced.