Culture fit is important to us at Amazon. How would you describe your personality?
Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has called Amazon "the best place in the world to fail." As Amazon states on their website, "Building the future is inspiring and fun, but it's not easy. Amazon employees aren't just encouraged to come up with the next big idea, they're empowered to own and build it. Being a builder comes with an appetite for risk taking." They also refer to themselves as 'peculiar,' saying, "we don't mind being called peculiar. We have our own way of doing things. We're obsessed with customers, we see beauty in simplifying the complex, and we're comfortable being misunderstood. That might sound unorthodox, but our unusual approach and our culture - focused on removing obstacles so builders can build."
"I would describe myself as a customer-obsessed do-er. I like to give and receive feedback, which I implement immediately. I am adaptable and not stuck on particular rules. I believe in flexibility and creativity while remaining considerate to my employer and coworkers."
"I believe my personality will fit well with the Amazon culture since I am an independent decision-maker who widely accepts and implements feedback."
"I'd say that I am an oddball that marches to the beat of my own drum. I always look at things sideways or upside down, trying to view things from every angle. I'm not afraid to fail. I count on failing most of the time until I don't, and I live for that 'aha' moment. I am driven, determined, and have a unique perspective that drives my success."
Perform as much research as possible to get a firm grasp on their work culture and the kinds of employees they are looking to hire. Explore their blog, where they cover this very topic on occasion. Then closely examine yourself and your professional career and map out how well you are already aligned with their work culture. Amazon prides themselves on finding passionate 'builders' with leadership potential and emotional maturity. These are people who aren't afraid of hard work. Jeff Bezos says they are always looking for builders, and those who are passionate about their work are hard workers who go the distance.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Being a curious, organized, and passionate about technology individual, I like to build ideas for the future and not for the present. I always think about what I'm doing right now and then scale it multiple times. My creativity helps me think out of the box, and to do that, I usually push my boundaries. I feel that I can bring my voice to your team and embrace its challenges.
Rachelle's Feedback
The fact that you look at scaling multiple times is an excellent touch that a company like Amazon would certainly appreciate. You do a great job explaining why you are a fit for the Amazon culture!
Anonymous Answer
I believe in giving and taking feedback. I see myself as a fit in the culture because I always tend to improve based on feedback. Feedback can come from peers, managers, or customers.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's wonderful that you are ready and willing to take feedback! Besides this, to dig in even deeper, are you able to describe your personality traits and how they fit into Amazon's culture?
Anonymous Answer
I am a do-er with a great focus on my client (either those would be internal or external to the company), with strong stakeholder management skills who remain flexible to adapt to their needs. I like leveraging technology and being creative on my day-to-day as a way of always seeking improvement.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a positive start! It shows that you can take initiative and have developed strong customer-focused skills. Make this answer even stronger by telling the interviewer how you use technology or creativity to drive continuous improvement in your daily workflow and by sharing what personality traits inspire you to do so, such as openness, resilience, kindness, optimism, etc.
Anonymous Answer
Being customer-obsessed, curious, and passionate, I like to give and receive feedback. My creativity helps me think out of the box, and to do that, I usually push my boundaries. I like to brainstorm and I never start anything without a plan. I have the feeling that I can bring my voice to your team and accept its challenges.
Amanda's Feedback
Your response makes it clear that you thrive in collaborative environments. You can strengthen your answer even more by talking about a time when these characteristics - creativity, openness to feedback, strategic thinking, customer focus - benefited your work team or a specific project. Share how leveraging these characteristics helped you or your team achieve a positive result.
Anonymous Answer
I tend to be fairly reserved initially. But I am project-driven. Give me a project that needs to get done, I'll give it my all.
Amanda's Feedback
Interviewers ask this question because your personality can be a strong indicator of how well you'll get along with other company members. Your answer reflects that you're a dedicated employee with a very strong work ethic, but there is typically much more to your personality than just your work ethic. Consider giving the interviewer more insight into what motivates and inspires you by mentioning the qualities you feel best represent you and of which you are proudest. You can also review the job description or posting to pull out the required soft skills or qualities that align with your personality, which makes you a more valuable candidate.
Anonymous Answer
I would describe myself as a customer and user focus designer. I like to give and receive feedback, which I implement immediately. I am adaptable and not stuck on particular responsibilities. I believe in flexibility and creativity while remaining considerate to my manager and my colleagues.
Chad's Feedback
It is great to see that you found the Mock Questions answer example useful as a framework for your response, yet were able to revise it slightly to ensure it is true to your personality. Good job!
Anonymous Answer
I would say my most relevant features are ownership, getting things done, creativity and learning. A big thinker and team player that does not have other ambition than to get the job done with the highest standards.
Stephanie's Feedback
These are excellent personality traits! To take your response up a notch, I suggest providing a specific example (or two) of how these qualities show up in your work. For example, you mention being creative. How does your creativity present at work? Can you provide a specific example?
Anonymous Answer
I'm not a business-as-usual person. I'm always looking for ways to improve what exists and I question the unspoken assumptions in what we do. I have a bias to act. Sometimes this could mean an incremental change, such as adding coloring to the problematic section of a diagnostic plot. But other times it's inventing and simplifying, such as when I designed and added a bias metrics wizard to the product because users were too confused to make a choice from a drop-down list.
Marcie's Feedback
Have you researched the company culture at Amazon? If so, make sure your response includes aspects of your personality that align with the company's culture so the interviewer recognizes that you'll fit in well. Otherwise, your response shows that you're an out-of-the-box thinker who likes to act, which is awesome. The examples you include definitely strengthen your answer as well. Great job!
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