Would you rather work with people you are smarter than or work with people smarter than you?

The interviewer wants to know if you are confident enough to work well alongside a person you perceive as smarter than you. This question has many layers, however. First, the term 'smarter' is relative. An individual may possess stronger knowledge of a particular topic or task than you, but they may not be more knowledgeable in another area. Give a thoughtful answer that shows you are happy to work with other people without allowing your ego or feelings of insecurity to get in the way.

Amazon's 6th Leadership Principle is 'Hire and Develop the Best.' This principle states, 'Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take their role in coaching others seriously. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.'

Talk to the interviewer about your preference, and be sure to make a connection between your reasoning and Amazon's Leadership Principles.