Amazon Business Specialists must show bias for action and understand that speed matters in business. Tell me about a time when you had to take a calculated risk.
Amazon's 9th Leadership Principle is 'Bias for Action.' This principle states, 'Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.'
The interviewer wants to know that you can take calculated risks in the workplace. They also want to see that you understand the difference between a calculated risk and a risky choice. A calculated risk is one you take after considering what is at stake then concluding that the risk is worth the potential benefits. A risky choice is a decision made hastily without much consideration for near-certain consequences.
Show the interviewer that you are thoughtful and strategic when approaching decisions while also avoiding overthinking the situation and suffering from 'analysis paralysis.' Highlight the fact that you favor taking action, working fast, and accepting that some decisions may be incorrect and need to be reversed. Essentially, you're okay with being wrong and going back to the drawing board; however, you would not put the company or your team at extreme risk.
This behavioral-based interview question requires a story-based answer. Choose a real-life example of a time when you calculated the risk around a decision and made your move. Amazon asks that you try to follow the STAR answer method when you respond to behavioral interview questions. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Situation: Provide the contextual information the interviewer needs to know to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took in this story.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific, measurable outcomes that resulted from your actions.
If you have work experience, it's best to provide an example from your professional life. If you are new to your career, consider an example from your post-secondary education, a team sport, volunteer commitment, or a club-based activity.
"(Situation) I currently work for Company XYZ as an Inside Sales Assistant. We are in our busiest business quarter and have found ourselves understaffed after two Outside Sales Reps moved to a competitor without notice. Because of this, many of our clients are not receiving the level of service they have come to expect. (Task) As an Inside Sales Assistant, my call volume has increased significantly, and I've had numerous conversations with clients threatening to close their accounts. Noticing the strain this situation was having on the business, the clients, and the team, I knew it was time to take action. (Action) I approached my manager and gave him three solid reasons why I should be put into the field as an Outside Sales Rep. I explained that many clients have been calling and expressing their frustration with the lack of service they have been receiving. I knew that I could rescue some of these accounts, helping us reach our sales targets by the end of the quarter. My manager gave me one client account to take as a test. I immediately called the client, set up a face-to-face meeting, and spent the day developing my pitch. (Result) When the time came to meet this client, I was very well prepared and showed a genuine understanding of her business needs. This client was so impressed that she gave us an additional 200,000 in annual business. When I arrived back at the office, my manager was very impressed and decided to give me another client account to turn around. My request to be put into an outside sales role with little training was a calculated risk. I could have blown it with the client, but we were going to lose them anyway. I knew the potential reward would be greater than the potential risk, so I took the chance, and it was well worth it! I appreciate that Amazonians are encouraged to show a 'Bias for Action.' I agree that speed matters in business, and I value the fact that Amazon encourages calculated risk-taking."
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