50 Amazon Interview Questions & Answers

This achievement sounds like something you should be very proud of - nice work, and great use of the STAR framework when forming your reply (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Having a question or two ready to ask makes it clear that you've given thought to how you would fit with the company you're applying to. I appreciate the question about their recent expansion into your country; however, I think you can clarify your workflow question further. Rather than talking about other companies paying more to get work done, consider focusing your question on productivity and efficiency by saving something like, "I've worked for companies with various workflows. How does Amazon balance workloads so that workflows are efficient and productive?"

While your example here is impressive and shows how you took the initiative to save time and work, this question does ask about frugality which usually refers to not spending a lot of money (or something not having a large economic cost). Do you have an example that you can cite that shows your ability to be cost-conscious in the workplace? If so, that might be more applicable in terms of the way this question is worded. Or perhaps include more information about how your VBA macro helped to save the company money? Just some food for thought!

It sounds like you really want to enjoy your work so that you look forward to it every day. If you value having fun at work, you can strengthen this answer by explaining what the benefits to you are such as lowering stress levels, encouraging productivity or creativity, and helping you feel more engaged.

Great! We can assume that the interviewer is looking for you to say that you are a calculated risk-taker so it's good that consider yourself to be one! Your example supports your assertion and shows you in a good light. Perfect.

This is a nice start! When answering 'when have you...' questions, it's best to provide a full story-based example. The STAR framework may be helpful for you here (Situation, Task, Action, Result). If you'd like to learn more, we have a guide here: Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method If you want to re-work the response, I am here to help :)

The fact that you look at scaling multiple times is an excellent touch that a company like Amazon would certainly appreciate. You do a great job explaining why you are a fit for the Amazon culture!

Excellent. Being respectful, curious, eager to learn, and an active listener are all great ways to build trust with new coworkers. You might also mention that you've done this successfully before and include a brief example to bolster your assertions.

Good personalization! What will it take, specifically, for you to earn this promotion? (i.e., additional coursework?)

I see where you're going here. Make your response even clearer by talking about the specific actions you're taking to improve your leadership skills such as advanced training, mentoring others, or taking on new responsibilities or challenges. If possible, you can also share the timeline for starting and/or completing the HR management master's program.

You certainly do have experience with Amazon Prime! Great answer. It's very helpful and genuine.

Excellent response! You truly understand the mission of Amazon and showcase exactly how you will uphold their mission, should you be the successful candidate.

This is a good start! I did notice that the part about how you embody these principles is generally missing. It seems you pivoted into giving more of an overall lesson (i.e., in the end, leaders are always learning...). Try to keep your response personal to you and your experiences. I have created a starter for you below.

"I was pleased to explore Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles. The three most related to me are Customer Obsession, Ownership, and Learn & Be Curious. I believe customers are the most important factor in any company's success. (Describe how you exude Customer Obsession. You could include a brief story of a time when you showed this trait). When it comes to Ownership, I have shown this trait during various tasks within different departments of my company... (such as? Remember, an interviewer wants to hear measurable results and actions). I commit to continual learning, and I am curious about innovations. For instance, I...(discuss how you have displayed learning and curiosity over the recent few months)."

Good start! Just a touch more detail in some areas, and you will have a very compelling response. I have offered a few suggestions below.

"Understanding the job description, I think the technical requirements Amazon would like to see are SQL and Tableau, as well as some knowledge of Python. I am highly skilled in SQL and Tableau, and I am developing myself in Python. Regarding the responsibilities, I have worked on similar kinds of responsibilities previously (Such as? Try to include measurable statements), so I am confident that I meet the strict requirements to perform in this role successfully."

Could you expand on these thoughts a bit further? Amazon places a lot of importance on 'invent and simplify,' so I suggest using more of their language when delivering your interview answers. For instance, you could incorporate thoughts from this clip taken from the Amazon careers site: "Invent and Simplify Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by "not invented here." As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time."

It is great to see that you found the Mock Questions answer examples useful yet could add location-specific details to highlight an area of potential growth. Good start! I suggest rewriting the response in your own words to personalize it to you.

These are all fantastic ways to deliver exceptional service! Here are some words from Amazon's Leadership Principles on Customer Service. You will want to consider adding in 'Amazonian' language into your responses: "Customer Obsession: Leaders start with the customer and work backward. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers."

Excellent! Your experience was very positive, and your answer is full of enthusiasm and lots of detail :)

Bringing Spiderman into the conversation will probably make the interviewer smile, and they will likely be impressed by your desire to practice servant leadership. You might also talk about how such a large company wields a lot of power and makes a great impact and that you will carry this knowledge with you (and allow it to influence your decision-making) if you are hired. Nice job!

If only every employer (boss) felt that way and acted on it! By discussing these behavioral science concepts, you give the impression that this is the way you choose to lead, which the interviewer will be happy to hear. You might also mention your desire to work for a company that abides by these concepts and strives to be a great employer.

It's obvious you know the backstory on Amazon which the interviewer will appreciate. Have you followed Jeff Bezos' story since then? Perhaps conclude your answer with a tidbit about what he's up to now or talk briefly about when Amazon began to transition from a bookstore into what it is now. The more information you can provide, the more knowledgeable you will appear. Good job!

Giving yourself a rating of 8 out of 10 is a safe bet, and it's great that you're open to giving further information to the interviewer if they need it. If you believe you stumbled on any particular questions, consider asking if you can talk further about those topics so you can redeem yourself. Good job!

Great response! The most important aspect of this question is that you show how you are taking action to improve any area you feel you fall short.

It's evident that you place a lot of importance on confidentiality and integrity. Good, straightforward response!

Great! You are very willing, understanding, and sound highly cooperative :)

Great. This is an area that you can speak to knowledgeably. You can always expand by discussing why 5g is bigger than other breakthroughs to show a breadth of knowledge.

This is a solid beginning! This question can help give the interviewer insight into how you'd fit with the team or with the company culture. You can make your response more impactful by sharing why you chose to volunteer in a particular way or why you're drawn to donating to specific charitable organizations.

This response should be further developed to share who you know that currently works for Amazon, their role, and how this impacted your interest in the company.

"My sister-in-law is the HR rep for the Amazon Cloud division. She’s the one who turned me on to the position. She’s on a first name basis with Jeff Bezos and seems to understand him fairly well. Based on everything she’s said about the company over the years, it sounds like a great place to work. She even took me on a tour of the Amazon Spheres. Pretty amazing place."

Great start. You're telling the interviewer a lot about your work ethic and your bold approach. Can you expand on your ability to innovate or "pioneer"? Have you spearheaded any new project or tried a new approach that had a good result? Can you draw on that to help the interviewer see how you're a cultural fit with the company?

An initial reaction to being described as fungible might be negative as it gives the connotation that you're interchangeable or replaceable. However, your additional explanation shows that it was intended as a compliment and highlights your ability to handle whatever comes your way. Your answer is out of the box and interesting which will likely fascinate the interviewer. Great job!

Nice! Is there a particular genre of music that you like? What instrument(s) do you play? Do you use music to de-stress and relax? Giving more details will build out your answer and make it more meaningful to the interviewer.

Nice! You sound like a true Amazon fan, which the interviewer would love to see.

This is a great start! If possible, give a direct story related to diversity to keep your interviewer engaged. For instance, "While living in India, my school classrooms represented 13 cultures and four languages...what I learned from the experience was..."

This answer is a good start! You mention doing better and focusing more during your undergrad. I suggest including a positive statement around this time. Otherwise, you could signal your interviewer to view that time as underachieving. You should be very proud of your accomplishment during your Master's! It would be beneficial to discuss the action steps you took to achieve this high grade and speak in detail of the greatest lessons you learned.

This is a good answer, overall! It's great that you referred to the Amazon job posting, which is an essential component of answering interview questions with impact. If possible, add in some work accomplishments as they relate to each point. It's also essential to show AND tell :)

"My specialties include maintaining a safe work environment complying with OSHA, quality control, and efficient team leadership. When it comes to OSHA compliance, I...(discuss a related work achievement). In the area of quality control, I have...(discuss a work-related result). I have led in diverse, multi-industry environments, which will allow me to (address specifically how this will help Amazon). Also, I recently graduated with an MBA, where I learned a great deal about managing teams in...(specifically?). I see that you are looking for a (job title) who brings expertise in these areas, which I can confidently deliver."

Curiosity is an essential quality that rarely gets enough attention in an interview. I love that you brought it up. Good response, overall.

You set this answer up very well! It's great that you looked for a tool that would be helpful and at no financial cost to the company. Fantastic answer!

I think I understand what you're saying, but it's a bit contradictory since you begin by saying that you do not supervise anyone and then refer to 'my junior staff.' If you are helping, leading, and mentoring others in an unofficial leadership role, that's great! In that case, I suggest rewording your response so it's clear that you're going above your role's expectations to help others. I have provided an example for you below.

"Although my current role is not an official leadership position, I regularly go above and beyond to help less experienced teammates to understand their tasks. For instance, I recently helped a colleague...(tell a brief story, using the STAR framework, to describe your natural leadership tendencies)."

Your response here is heartfelt and sincere, which the interviewer will undoubtedly appreciate. Were you eventually able to breathe deeply and relax on demand? Has meditation been beneficial in your life? (On a personal note, I was recently asked to do the same by a new trainer I have, and I also have trouble simply breathing deeply! It's not as easy as it sounds :)

The interviewer should be happy to know that great leadership is so important to you. This is a thoughtful answer. Next, try also describing how you embody these qualities in your leadership approach.

Fantastic! In your situation, it was wise to do the research and then present your findings with data and information to support them.

This example shows the interviewer that you are a team player, coachable, and also able to coach others. Good work!