Amazonians have the unique ability to 'Invent and Simplify.' Tell the story of a time when you faced a complex challenge and found a simple solution.
Everyone has faced their share of complex challenges, whether at work, school, or other aspects of personal life. The interviewer wants to know that you can overcome complex challenges by simplifying the issue and looking for creative ways to find a solution.
Amazon's 3rd Leadership Principle is 'Invent and Simplify.' This principle states, '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.'
The interviewer would like evidence that you are an avid problem solver and a strong team player who continually keeps an eye out for potential improvements. Highlight these skills and the way that you embody the 'Invent and Simplify' Leadership Principle through a storytelling response. Amazon asks that when you answer behavioral interview questions, you try to follow the STAR answer method. 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.
Choose a real-life example of when you brought a simple approach to a complex problem. If you have related 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 & Task) One of the most complex problems I have encountered in my career so far was after I was promoted to Assistant Store Manager at Company XYZ. Shortly after my promotion, the Store Manager resigned with little notice due to a medical emergency. Her unexpected resignation and absence meant that I was the interim Store Manager until a suitable replacement could be found. I was well prepared for my responsibilities as the Assistant Store Manager; however, I had been counting on the fact that I would be trained and mentored by the Store Manager as I learned my new role. (Action) At first, I felt overwhelmed and began doubting myself. I had never completed inventory reconciliation, drawn up a staff schedule, or placed inventory orders. I had no idea what to do. Feeling the panic set it, I reminded myself of my smarts and resourcefulness. I thought to myself, 'what is the simplest thing you can do right now?' That's when I decided to call the manager of the store in the next region. I explained the situation to him, and he offered to coach me through my first week or two until a replacement Store Manager was found. He emailed me his schedule templates and shared his calendar, allowing me to see which activities he prioritized each day. This manager was my mentor for my entire two weeks as interim Store Manager. (Result) As a result, the situation ended up going much smoother than anyone expected. I was grateful for his help and thankful that I remembered to slow down and consider the path of least resistance when I felt overwhelmed. In this situation, I approached my new tasks step by step rather than looking at them as complex problems. Just as Amazon looks for leaders who have the ability to 'Invent and Simplify,' I showed an ability to be externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and refused to be limited by my own thinking."
