Interview questions for Amaon
Description
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos believes that the answer to these three questions helps hiring managers zero in on new talent that meets the company’s exacting standards, which in turn will improve the overall talent pool in the long run. Bezos himself has been very hands-on with the Amazon hiring process, personally interviewing every single employee throughout Amazon’s early years, according to Wired magazine. Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, selling everything from books to shampoo, and lots of people want to work there. The first session with them is a behavioral interview. It is led by a manager (or HR specialist) who represents the department where you will work (sales, marketing, testing, development, finance, warehouse, etc).
Screening interview, which is done over the phone. They do sometimes one, and sometimes even two sessions on a call (two are typical if you apply for a technical job).
Behavioral interview (in the company, in one of their centers, or sometimes with one of the recruitment agencies that work for Amazon). During the pandemic, Chime interviews has replaced most face to face interviews.
Second face to face interview (consisting mostly in technical questions or practical tests, and typical when you apply for a technical position).
1. Do you know our CEO? How do you pronounce his name?
Tip: It is “Bay-zohs,” not “Bee-zos”.
2. How would you solve problems if you were from Mars?
The interviewer wants to see if you can think out-of-the-box. Consider sharing a personal anecdote that shows how you came up with a creative solution to a customer problem, improved an internal process or made a sale via an innovative strategy.
3. Why do you want to work at Amazon?
In an ideal case, you should refer to two things in your answer:
First one is explaining what you like about Amazon, something that makes the company special in your eyes.
But you shouldn’t say just that they are the biggest online retailer or a leader in innovation, or that they placed second on the list of best employers in the States. Try to pick something specific that will make your answer stand out.
For example a certain technology they have in place and you’d like to work with, or a certain product, software, platform you’d love to help develop, because you see the potential and value for the final customer.
Alternatively you can talk about your loyalty to their brand. You do your shopping with Amazon, you bought their stock when you had some cash, you are a customer of AWS, or you self published a book on their platform, etc.
4. What would you do if you saw someone being unsafe at work?
Tell the interviewer that you have a duty of care to yourself and your work colleagues. Under these circumstances, you will let the person know that the way they are working can lead to an accident. If you know a safer way to do the job, you will suggest it. Otherwise you will contact your supervisor.
5. Who was your most difficult customer?
Share an anecdote where you managed to solve the problem. Emphasise how you stayed calm and diffused the situation. Ex: In my previous role, a customer was upset that a product they ordered was put on backorder unexpectedly after they made their purchase. They needed a functional version of the item as quickly as possible, and the possibility that that wouldn’t happen increased their stress levels, leaving them just shy of hostile. To resolve their issue, I began by listening to their concern, rephrasing what was being shared, and asking clarifying questions to ensure my full understanding. I then reassured them that I’d work with them to find a solution.
6. Why Amazon is the Best Place to Work?
• Great place to work:
• Good for those who like building things:
• Workplace is lackluster:
• Good company for those who are hard-working:
• Gives you great opportunity to learn:
• An innovative company that is perfect for geeks:
7. What would you do if you found out that your closest friend at work was stealing?
Your loyalty – to the company and your friend – is being questioned. Say you’ll consider the nature of the offence before deciding how to proceed.
8. Can you tell me about a time when you were more than halfway through a project and had to pivot quickly due to an unexpected change? How did you handle it?
While developing a new system for an employer, a requirement came in late. Since the project was rapidly nearing completion, integrating the feature became a challenge. The point in development where it would have been addressed typically had already passed.
Some other questions
Describe a situation when you had to motivate someone in work.
Tell me about a time you had to work hard to please a client.
Tell me about a time that you dealt with a hostile customer.
When given an unfamiliar task, how do you ensure you handle it properly?
If you are given two conflicting priorities from two separate managers, how do you figure out how to proceed?
Give me an example of when you received criticism. How did you respond to the information?
What metrics do you use to drive positive change?
If a supervisor asked you to do something unsafe that went against policy, what would you do?
Describe a time when you sacrificed short term goals for long term success.
Very good written article. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.