Amazon Interview Questions
Prepare for 54 Amazon interview questions covering Leadership Principles and bar-raising scenarios.
Question 24 of 54
Amazon has 16 Leadership Principles. Name three of them and explain how you embody those principles.
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Amazon's leadership principles have been developed over the last 20 years. Jeff Bezos stated Amazon's mission was "to be Earth's most customer-centric company" in his first shareholder letter in 1997. Until 2021, there were 14 leadership principles, but two more were recently added, making 16. Familiarize yourself with each principle and how they define each one, as these are considered "an integral part of the fabric of Amazon's culture."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I have read through Amazon's leadership principles, and the ones that resonated with me most were earning trust, having a backbone, and delivering results. I wholeheartedly agree that a good leader will treat others respectfully, despite a difference of opinion. I am sure to see setbacks as challenges versus roadblocks. Lastly, I am unafraid to challenge a decision respectfully if I feel passionate about it."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I was pleased to see that Amazon has such solid leadership principles that are so well laid out. The three that stood out to me the most were customer obsession, ownership, and frugality. As a former business owner, I understand the importance of working with tight resources, even if they are not. This practice can encourage a lot of creativity. Customers are everything, so being obsessed with earning their trust will always work out in your favor. Lastly, I agree that a leader should act like an owner in every single way. Long-term thinking is important, as is jumping in wherever needed rather than acting as though it's not your job. Leaders are never above a task."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Ownership is the first one I readily identify with, as I have a lot of integrity, and take ownership over my responsibilities, my mistakes, all of it. Also, Hire and Develop the Best. I earned the nickname of coach early on, because I am always coaching others and helping them along. Developing my peers and my teams is something that comes naturally to me. Also, Dive Deep resonates with me. If I need answers, I will find them. If there is work to be done, I will set the pace. I love participating, and enjoy getting my hands dirty."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
When answering this question, try to go above and beyond by sharing more than three, showcasing your familiarity with what defines each principle. As they say on their site, "We use our Leadership Principles every day, whether we're discussing ideas for new projects or deciding on the best approach to solving a problem. It is just one of the things that makes Amazon peculiar." The leadership principles are Customer Obsession, Ownership, Invent and Simplify, Are Right a Lot, Learn and Be Curious, Hire and Develop the Best, Insist on the Highest Standards, Think Big, Bias for Action, Frugality, Earn Trust, Dive Deep, Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit, Deliver Results, Strive to be Earth's Best Employer, & Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility.
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Anonymous Answer
I was pleased to explore Amazon's 14 leadership principles. The three most related to me are Customer Obsession, Ownership, and Learn & Be Curious. Being customer-obsessed, I believe customers are the most important for the success of any company. Other than that, leaders should have Ownership. I have done so many different tasks within the different departments of the company. I believe ownership plays a vital role in learning and developing yourself. In the end, leaders are always learning new things and are curious about innovations. That's the crucial step to be successful.
Rachelle's Feedback
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)."
Anonymous Answer
My 3 favorite leadership principles are:
1) Invent and simply: When I was at _______, I invented new demos and redesigned existing ones to reduce complexity and simplify the messaging, resulting in intuitive and engaging demos that shortened sales cycles.
2) Hire and develop the best: I built two new teams at _______, hiring primarily for raw talent, then mentoring them to polish their skills. Some of my team members subsequently won global awards for their performance.
3) Earn trust: A key part of trust is shared goals. Life isn't a zero-sum game. So I primarily use a "giver" approach at work, helping others to be successful, even when it isn't my job or doesn't directly benefit me. For example, I helped a colleague unblock a project with a local bank. Some of the bank employees were blocking progress. My colleague came to me because I had helped him previously, even though it wasn't my job. Then I had to build trust with the bank employees, by listening as they described their problems, honestly accepting responsibility, and then committing to actions that would delight them. That project subsequently won an industry award, and a senior executive at the bank publicly thanked me for my contributions.
Marcie's Feedback
You have done an excellent job explaining how you embody three of Amazon's leadership principles. The examples you provide for each bolster your assertions that these principles matter to you. In addition, your 'giver' approach is interesting and really shows the type of person you are (a true leader who cares!), which will definitely impress the interviewer. Great response!
Anonymous Answer
The 16 leadership principles resonated with me and are clearly an important part of the AWS culture. Customer obsession, learning and being curious, and hiring and developing the best talent. Customer obsession - customers are at the heart of any business. Learn and be curious - never stop learning. and last, hiring and developing the best talent is critical to every successful organization.
Marcie's Feedback
It's great that those three leadership principles resonate with you, but can you talk more about how you embody them? Are you obsessed with making sure customers are satisfied? Do you always strive to learn new things? Have you hired and developed talent in the past that led to a great team? And then can you back up your claims with examples that show you're customer-obsessed, curious, and an advocate of hiring good people? Good job!
Anonymous Answer
The principles of Customer Obsession, Ownership, and Trust stand out to me because these three principles drive my behaviour when engaging with others. Customers can be anyone. When you help a colleague internally, they are an internal customer of your services. Being obsessed with customers requires humility and a willingness to serve in the best interest of others; by making the challenges of others your own and demonstrating a commitment to help to the best of your ability builds trust and respect and repeat business. You become the trusted advisor/trusted colleague. It's a great feeling.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent. You've done a wonderful job of explaining why the Customer Obsession principle resonates with you. Can you also delve deeper into why the Ownership and Trust principles speak to you? Nice job!
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