Decode And Smash The Amazon Tell Me About Yourself Question

Summary

In this video, former Amazon Senior Leader Gigi discusses the common yet ineffective 'Tell me about yourself' and 'Walk me through your resume' interview questions. She cites 'Working Backwards' by ex-Amazon leaders Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, who also criticize these questions. Gigi emphasizes that interviewers seek specific examples of problem-solving and alignment with Amazon's leadership principles. She advises job candidates to avoid personal anecdotes and instead focus on their professional journey, skills, and passion, providing three strategies to effectively answer such questions in an Amazon interview context.

Takeaways

• 📚 Gigi, an ex-Amazon senior leader, discusses the common 'Tell me about yourself' and 'Walk me through your resume' interview questions and shares her disapproval of them.
• 🤔 She cites 'Working Backwards' by Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, who were involved in creating Amazon's leadership principles and interview process, and shares their quotes criticizing these types of questions.
• 🔍 The book suggests that interviewers should seek detailed examples of candidates' contributions to solving problems and alignment with Amazon's leadership principles, rather than general open-ended questions.
• 🚫 Gigi emphasizes that during the final interview stage at Amazon, the focus should be on evidence-based decision making, such as leadership principles and technical competencies, rather than personal narratives.
• ❗ In early rounds, however, answers to 'Tell me about yourself' and similar questions can impact the interviewer's perception of the candidate's fit and interest in the job.
• 🈲 She advises against sharing personal details unrelated to job performance, as they are irrelevant for the interviewer's decision-making process.
• 📈 Gigi offers three strategies for answering these questions: a chronological resume walk-through, a project focus approach, and talking about professional passions and skills.
• 📝 The chronological resume strategy involves discussing career progression and the skills gained in each role that led to the current job application.
• 🏆 The project focus strategy highlights impressive and relevant projects from the candidate's career that demonstrate skills and experiences pertinent to the job.
• 🔑 The professional passion strategy involves expressing what the candidate loves about their field and how their strengths and interests align with the job requirements.
• ⏱ She recommends keeping the answer concise, suggesting no more than one or two minutes for the response.
• 📚 Gigi encourages viewers to watch her Amazon Interview Academy's free masterclasses for further preparation on answering customer obsession questions.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed by Gigi in the video?

The main topic discussed by Gigi is the common interview question 'Tell me about yourself' and how to effectively answer it, especially in the context of Amazon's interview process.

Why does Gigi dislike the 'Tell me about yourself' question?

Gigi dislikes the question because she believes it is vague and doesn't necessarily elicit specific, useful information about a candidate's qualifications or fit for the job.

What book does Gigi reference in the video?

Gigi references the book 'Working Backwards' by Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, which discusses Amazon's leadership principles and interview process.

According to the book 'Working Backwards', what is the general opinion about open-ended interview questions?

The book suggests that open-ended questions like 'Tell me about your career' or 'Walk me through your resume' are usually a waste of time and do not produce the specific information needed for an effective interview.

What are the two main types of evidence that Amazon considers during the hiring process, as mentioned in the script?

The two main types of evidence considered are the demonstration of the candidate's alignment with Amazon's leadership principles and their technical competencies.

What role does a 'bar raiser' play in the Amazon interview process?

A 'bar raiser' in the Amazon interview process ensures that only relevant and evidence-based information is considered when making a hiring decision, especially during the final stages of the interview.

Why might the 'Tell me about yourself' question matter in early rounds of the Amazon interview process?

In early rounds, the question might matter because the interviewer is trying to understand if the candidate is genuinely interested in the job and the team, and if they have the potential to fit well within the company.

What is Gigi's advice on what not to include when answering 'Tell me about yourself' in an interview?

Gigi advises against including personal details such as hobbies or family information, as these do not relate to the candidate's professional qualifications or fit for the role.

What are the three strategies Gigi suggests for answering 'Tell me about yourself' effectively?

The three strategies are: 1) Chronological resume, where the candidate discusses their career path in order; 2) Project focus, where the candidate highlights specific projects that demonstrate relevant skills; 3) Professional self-description, where the candidate talks about their professional passions and skills and relates them to the job being interviewed for.

How long should the answer to 'Tell me about yourself' be according to Gigi's advice?

Gigi suggests keeping the answer to no more than one or two minutes to maintain brevity and focus.

What additional resource does Gigi offer for those preparing for an Amazon interview?

Gigi offers a free Amazon Interviewers Academy Customer Obsession Master Class and additional video tips on interview strategy for Amazon interviews.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Critique of 'Tell Me About Yourself' Interview Questions

Gigi, a former Amazon senior leader, expresses her disdain for common interview questions like 'Tell me about yourself' and 'Walk me through your resume,' which she believes are ineffective. She supports her viewpoint by referencing 'Working Backwards' by Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, who were instrumental in shaping Amazon's hiring process. The book criticizes these questions as unhelpful, suggesting they fail to elicit specific insights into a candidate's ability to solve problems or align with Amazon's leadership principles. Gigi emphasizes that the true purpose of an interview is to assess a candidate's technical competencies and alignment with Amazon's leadership principles.

05:01

🔍 The Impact of Interview Answers in Different Rounds

This paragraph delves into the significance of interview answers at various stages of the hiring process. In the final round, where a 'bar raiser' is present, the answers to open-ended questions like 'Tell me about yourself' are deemed less important because the decision is based on evidence of technical skills and leadership principles. However, in earlier rounds, these questions can influence the hiring manager's perception of the candidate's fit and interest in the job. Gigi advises candidates to avoid sharing irrelevant personal details and instead focus on how their experiences and skills make them suitable for the role.

10:02

🛠 Strategies for Answering 'Tell Me About Yourself'

Gigi offers three strategies for effectively answering 'Tell me about yourself' in an interview. The first strategy is the chronological resume approach, where candidates discuss their career progression in a structured manner. The second strategy is the project focus approach, where candidates highlight specific projects that demonstrate their skills and relevance to the role. The third strategy involves discussing one's professional passions and skills, and how they relate to the role being interviewed for. Gigi suggests keeping the answer concise and relevant to make the best impression within the limited interview time.

Keywords

💡Bar Raiser

A 'Bar Raiser' at Amazon is a senior employee who participates in the interview process to ensure that candidates meet high standards and will elevate the performance bar within the company. In the script, the concept is used to emphasize the role of these senior leaders in the final interview stages, where they ensure that only candidates with the right technical competencies and alignment with Amazon's leadership principles are selected.

💡Amazon Interview Process

The 'Amazon Interview Process' refers to the systematic approach Amazon uses to evaluate job candidates. It includes behavioral interviews, technical assessments, and evaluations against Amazon's leadership principles. The script discusses the process, highlighting criticisms and providing insights into how it has evolved over time with the involvement of senior leaders like Colin Breyer and Bill Carr.

💡Tell Me About Yourself

This is a common interview question where interviewees are asked to provide an overview of their background, experiences, and qualifications. In the video, it is criticized as a poor interview question because it often leads to generic responses that do not provide specific insights into a candidate's suitability for a role at Amazon.

💡Resume

A 'Resume' is a document that outlines a person's professional history, including their education, work experience, and skills. The script suggests strategies for discussing one's resume during an interview, emphasizing the importance of highlighting relevant experiences and skills that align with the job requirements.

💡Leadership Principles

Amazon's 'Leadership Principles' are a set of values and behaviors that the company expects from its employees. The script mentions that interviewers look for evidence of these principles in candidates, indicating that they are a critical part of the hiring process and company culture.

💡Working Backwards

'Working Backwards' is a book by Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, who were senior leaders at Amazon. The book is mentioned in the script as a source that shares the same negative view of certain interview questions and provides insights into Amazon's creation of its leadership principles and interview process.

💡Behavioral Evidence

Behavioral evidence refers to specific examples of how a candidate has acted in the past, which can indicate how they might perform in the future. The script discusses the importance of providing behavioral evidence during interviews, particularly in demonstrating alignment with Amazon's leadership principles.

💡Technical Competency

Technical competency is the ability to perform specific tasks or roles effectively due to one's knowledge and skills. The script mentions that demonstrating technical competency through assessments or interviews is a key factor in the hiring decision at Amazon.

💡Career Evolution

Career evolution refers to the development and progression of one's professional life over time. The script suggests that discussing one's career evolution can help interviewers understand a candidate's journey and suitability for the role they are applying for.

💡Project Focus Strategy

The 'Project Focus Strategy' is one of the suggested approaches for discussing one's resume during an interview. It involves highlighting specific projects that demonstrate relevant skills and experiences, showing how these connect to the job being applied for.

💡Professional Passion

Professional passion refers to the enthusiasm and motivation one has for their work. In the script, it is suggested that candidates should convey their professional passion during interviews to show their commitment and suitability for the role, as well as how the role aligns with their career goals.

Highlights

Gigi, an ex-Amazon senior leader, discusses the 'Tell me about yourself' interview question.

She expresses her dislike for this type of open-ended question, as do senior Amazon leaders.

Quotes from 'Working Backwards' by Colin Breyer and Bill Carr, who were involved in creating Amazon's interview process.

The book criticizes open-ended questions as unproductive and lacking in specific information.

Interviewers should seek detailed examples of problem-solving and alignment with Amazon leadership principles.

Evidence of behavior against Amazon leadership principles or technical competencies is key for hiring decisions.

Bar raisers ensure that only relevant evidence is considered in the final interview stage.

In early rounds, interviewers may use open-ended questions to gauge a candidate's fit and interest.

Personal details are discouraged as they do not contribute to a candidate's suitability for the role.

Three strategies are suggested for answering 'Tell me about yourself': Chronological resume, project focus, and professional self.

Chronological resume strategy involves walking through career history to show progression to the current role.

Project focus strategy highlights specific projects that demonstrate relevant skills for the role.

Professional self strategy emphasizes a candidate's passion and skills related to the role.

Answers should be concise, ideally no longer than one or two minutes.

Gigi offers free Amazon Interviewer Academy classes for mastering customer obsession questions.

Additional Amazon interview bar raiser tips are available in another video.

Transcripts

hey i'm gigi i'm an ex-amazon senior

leader and bar raiser

so today we're going to talk about the

tell me about yourself walk me through

your resume type questions that

so many of you get and quite frankly

have no idea what the interviewer is

looking for

if you've seen any of my live

sessions or some of my other content

you'll know

i hate these questions i think they're

really bad interview questions and hey

ho actually so do the senior leaders at

amazon who actually came up with the

whole amazon interview process and i can

give you evidence of this i'm just going

to show you this book here this is

working backwards by colin breyer and

bill carr

now colin and bill were both in the past

very senior leaders at amazon and they

worked closely with jeff at a time where

those key mechanisms that we all know

and love today about amazon like the

leadership principles the hiring process

the document writing culture were all

being created and evolved so they were

there at the coalface they were part of

creating the actual leadership

principles and the amazon interview

process and i read their book and i was

heartwarmed to see that they feel the

same way about those interview questions

as i do i'm just going to quote to you

from their book in terms of how they

feel about it so two quotes i wanted to

read to you give me one second please

all right so the first quote and if you

have this book this is on page 24.

so the quote comes in the context where

the writer is telling us a bit of a

story about someone who had been

interviewed

in another organization and their

thoughts on the interview experience of

that candidate so they say

the kicker following an unusually long

pause

tell me something about yourself that

isn't apparent by reading your resume

you might as well just say

look

i don't know what i'm looking for

or how to find it

so can you please help me out

clearly they don't hold a very high view

of the quality of that question that

they're retelling the story from

another quote and again if you've got

this book check this one out on page 41

but they're trying to describe what the

amazon interviewer is trying to achieve

in their interview so here we go

first the interviewer wants the

candidate to provide detailed examples

of what they personally contributed to

solving hard problems and how they

performed in work situations like the

ones they'll experience at amazon

second

the interviewer wants to learn how the

candidate accomplished their goals and

whether their methods aligned with the

amazon leadership principles

now this is the kicker bit

general open-ended questions such as

tell me about your career or

walk me through your resume are usually

a waste of time

and will not produce the kind of

specific information you're after

when asked such questions most

candidates will take the opportunity to

deliver a positive perhaps slightly

glorified narrative of their career

so there we go

i completely agree with these very very

smart gentlemen

colin and bill

they're bad questions the reality is

that this bad practice of asking these

types of questions and taking the

responses quite seriously has filtered

its way into the amazon interview

process i can tell you this because

i hear it from my candidates all of the

time so whether i like them or colin and

bill like them is totally now irrelevant

you're going to have to deal with them

so let's now make that our starting

point the first thing to then i guess

cover off is

does your answer actually matter

yes and no is the truth of it and we'll

start with the no bit so why i say no

is

the evidence that is meant to be used to

make a decision as to whether amazon is

going to hire you or not and if you are

bar raising is meant to be evidence

either how you behave and demonstrate

evidence against the amazon leadership

principles

my point being demonstrate the evidence

or your technical competencies again you

have at some point demonstrated evidence

of this either through having to do some

kind of very specific technical

assessment if you're a developer you

would have done some coding if you're a

finance person you've probably been

challenged with some kind of

sequel or building a financial model if

you're a marketer like me someone's

probably probed you quite deeply in your

actual interview process about some of

the technical specifics that you might

have mentioned about your knowledge

about

running experiments or ppc or

sorry that paid search for seo type

stuff um

they'll have found that nuggets of

information about technical competency

those two areas are really the only data

that is supposed to be considered to

make a decision as to whether you're

going to be raising the bar

it's evidence-based

now

when you are at the final stage loop

panel final round whatever you want to

call it there's a bar raiser there and

the bar raiser knows that those are the

really the only two evidence points

concept buckets whatever you want to

call them that are meant to be used to

make a decision on you so they will

police the process and they will make

sure that it is only that type of

information that is tabled and is used

to make a decision on you so when it

comes to that final stage your answer to

that question really doesn't count all

that much quite a lot of people will ask

it but primarily it's gonna be a warm-up

question because they should know and

certainly the truth will kind of rubber

to the

rubber to the road that's right isn't it

um when it comes to your d roof is your

bar razor will police that so when it

comes to your final round your answer

doesn't matter all that much

now when i said yes as part of the yes

or no when it comes to earlier rounds it

is gonna have an impact because in the

early rounds a bar raiser has no

oversight your bar raiser doesn't get

involved until the final stage so it's

really your interviewer the hiring

manager whoever you're talking to on

their own got to bear in mind that at

that stage really what they're trying to

kind of understand for themselves is is

this person going to want to do this job

are they going to stick around am i

going to hire someone that wants to work

for me or in my team or

am i at risk of hiring someone that's

only coming to this job because they can

think they can get this job and then

maybe jump to another role that isn't so

easy to get in from the outside trust me

people have that strategy all of the

time so those are some of the thought

processes that are going on in their

head and because of that they walk me

through your resume tell me about

yourself also why amazon but we're not

talking about amazon now i have another

video about that

why those matter much more in the early

rounds so you need to be prepared with

an answer

so how are you going to answer it first

thing is you've got to bear in mind that

you are in that room with a very limited

amount of time you're not in a room

you're in a virtual room you used to be

in a physical room now you're in a

virtual room bear with me

fixed amount of time to convince this

person that you are right for this job

so

there is no point in giving them

information that has no bearing

whatsoever on whether you have the

ability to do the job or do the job in

amazon so i personally strongly advise

against telling them about personal

details about yourself what your hobbies

are how many children you have those

types of things

in many countries that's actually not

evidence that anybody's even legally

allowed to use um to make a decision as

to whether to move you forward or hire

you but also it's impossible for them to

then use that information to decide

is this person a good fit for the role

so avoid that type of stuff so i'm going

to take you through three strategies

that i think you can use

strategy number one

is

let's call it chronological resume

take your interviewer through your

resume chronologically now obviously if

you've got a very long career you're

going to really want to skip over the

very early days and pick a point at

which you're going to start kind of

taking the narrative a little bit more

seriously

work through your roles where you've

been where you've come from and tell the

story about how each of those roles has

moved you on to the next role what skill

did you learn what area of interest

was created by working in that role and

why that took you to the next role and

then when you get to the next role do

the same thing so that you can then

culminate in this role that you're

applying for and help the interviewer

see the journey of why

this role is now the right role for you

and you're the right person for this

role kind of the narrative arc as to how

you got to hear this place today looking

at this role so that's one strategy

the second strategy that you can deploy

let's call it as a project focus

strategy so again

go through your resume now in this sense

i don't think that it matters too much

if you go forward in time or backwards

in time but my suggestion is about

talking through your resume and skipping

over roles that aren't really that

interesting and don't have opportunities

for you to talk about your deliverables

and your experiences that relate

directly to this role but stop at

particular roles

in your career history where you do have

an opportunity to talk about specific

projects that number one were really

impressive number two that you really

enjoyed but most importantly number

three show a set of skills or

capabilities that resonate with the role

that you're applying for so that way yes

you're talking through your kind of

career history telling them about

yourself but you're very much focusing

on

evidence of your skill set

that justifies why you're a good fit for

this role so that's my second strategy

my third strategy and this is actually

one that i use myself

is

instead of actually going through your

career history

what you do is you literally talk about

yourself professionally

so

why do you do what you do

what do you love about

marketing finance solutions architecture

whatever it is what is it about those

roles that you absolutely love maybe

throw in a bit about how you found

yourself in that space in the first time

but what do you love about them what are

you particularly good at in them what

are your particular strengths

professionally and what do you

particularly enjoy about being a manager

or whatever it might be telling them

about the professional you and once

you've done that you can then bridge

those

kind of key highlights into

how your passion your skills um the

thing that kind of gives you fire in

being a professional relate to the role

that you are interviewing for today and

why that means that not only are you a

fantastic fit for this role but also

the company is going to be really

fantastic for you in terms of your

career evolution

don't make your answer run too long i

suggest no more than maybe one or two

minutes on this

so that's it those are my three big tips

if you found this useful please do drop

a comment in or give me a little thumbs

up as i said i am not a fan of these and

neither are colin and bill however i

think it's pretty inevitable that you're

gonna get something along these lines at

the amazon interview now what you need

to do is click on this link here and go

and grab yourself one of my free amazon

interviewers academy customer obsession

master classes

watch that and you will nail every

single customer obsession question asked

of you at your amazon interview or if

you'd like to do that later check out

this video here for more great amazon

interview bar raiser tips on interview

strategy