How to Answer: Can you discuss a time you had to be frugal in the workplace?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Amazon job interview.
10. Can you discuss a time you had to be frugal in the workplace?
What You Need to Know
One of Amazon's Leadership Principles is 'Frugality;' they believe you can accomplish more with less. As Jeff Bezos puts it, "I think frugality drives innovation, just like other constraints do. One of the few ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out." Show your interviewer how your values already align with theirs by sharing some instances where you accomplished more with less in the workplace.
Written by Kevin Downey on January 25th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"I'd consider myself incurably frugal. But I don't look at frugality solely from a financial perspective but from every angle. I am frugal regarding time, effort, and how many people should work on a project or team. Whatever the cost, I am frugal and try to find the simplest way of doing everything. The way I see it, if people take shortcuts to do their work, the system or method is flawed. If taking shortcuts is necessary, we should be looking at how to make the shortcut the right way to do the job correctly. Because of that, I would say yes, I am very frugal in everything I do."
Written by Kevin Downey on January 25th, 2023
Answer Example
"My previous employer had a strict operating budget and decreased our office expenses by 50%. I used to send faxes through our fax machine, and we developed a paper and ink cartridge shortage when costs were cut. I started using a virtual fax system, which cut costs by 75%. That was only one way I was frugal, but it was the most cost-effective."
Written by Krista Wenz on September 20th, 2021
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