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Amazon Leadership Principles Mock Interview

Question 2 of 30 for our Amazon Leadership Principles Mock Interview

Amazon was written by on February 13th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 2 of 30

Tell me about the last time you went the extra mile.

"They assigned me to do research for an upcoming project. My instructions explicitly instructed me to perform specific research along certain parameters. Yet the research I conducted sparked a few outside-of-the-box questions, and since I have an inquisitive nature, I couldn't help but answer them. At this point, I identified another opportunity to over-deliver. Even though my instructions were specific, I couldn't leave these findings on the table. If I did, I'd leave this opportunity for a competitor to identify, and what good would that do us? So I compiled my report and included an extra chapter with these additional findings and their implications. My senior leaders applauded my extra efforts and ran with them."

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How to Answer: Tell me about the last time you went the extra mile.

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Amazon job interview.

  • 2. Tell me about the last time you went the extra mile.

      How to Answer

      When answering this question, try to convey that your go-to work standard is going above and beyond. Showcase your passion for your work, and explain that you are never satisfied with the status quo. Jeff Bezos says, "If entrepreneurs and inventors follow their curiosity and they follow their passions, they're never satisfied." Think of an example where you truly shined and showcased your drive and dedication. You want this example to demonstrate when you went beyond your work standard of above and beyond.

      Written by Kevin Downey on February 13th, 2023

      What You Need to Know

      Jeff Bezos founded Amazon's leadership principles around his philosophy, which led to Amazon's overall success. This question centers around their leadership principle, "Think Big," where they state, "Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers." When performing your work, you could simply deliver what was asked of you rather than going the extra mile. Jeff Bezos further elaborates, "The common question that gets asked in business is, 'why?' That's a good question, but an equally valid question is, 'why not?'"

      Written by Kevin Downey on February 13th, 2023

      Answer Example

      "They assigned me to do research for an upcoming project. My instructions explicitly instructed me to perform specific research along certain parameters. Yet the research I conducted sparked a few outside-of-the-box questions, and since I have an inquisitive nature, I couldn't help but answer them. At this point, I identified another opportunity to over-deliver. Even though my instructions were specific, I couldn't leave these findings on the table. If I did, I'd leave this opportunity for a competitor to identify, and what good would that do us? So I compiled my report and included an extra chapter with these additional findings and their implications. My senior leaders applauded my extra efforts and ran with them."

      Written by Kevin Downey on February 13th, 2023

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Working on my capstone project, my team and I were asked to identify 10 million $ worth of inefficiencies in our client processes. We ended up discovering more about 50 million $ worth in total. I was personally in charge of their travel processes. Using Excel and data mining software I realized first that I had data traceability issues, so I got very invested and started digging deeper. I explored every single nook and cranny of their processes. At the end of my exploration, I discovered 30 million $ worth of processes inefficient. Based on my discovery, I then went ahead and created a list of solutions that the client could use to solve this problem and the sponsor was very happy about it."

      Jaymie's Feedback

      This is a good example of a time when you exceeded performance expectations. Your tenacity, perseverance, and commitment to delivering results are evident in your response!

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