Amazon Product Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Amazon interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 12 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Table of Contents
- 1. Accomplishment Questions
- 2. Behavioral Questions
- 3. Communication Questions
- 4. Compatibility Questions
- 5. Competency Questions
- 6. Creative Thinking Questions
- 7. Diligence Questions
- 8. Direct Questions
- 9. Diversity & Inclusion Questions
- 10. Education Questions
- 11. Experience Questions
- 12. Performance Questions
- 13. Problem Solving Questions
- 14. Scenario Based Questions
- 15. Teamwork Questions
Accomplishment
1. Please talk about your most significant accomplishment as a Product Manager and why you feel it is so substantial.
How to Answer
When the interviewer asks about your greatest accomplishment, they want to understand your work ethic and what professional achievements you value. When responding, show that you take pride in your work and display enthusiasm for your proudest accomplishment. Be sure to include details as to why you feel this particular accomplishment was so important to you and/or your employer.
This question is phrased as 'talk about your...' which is another way of saying, 'Tell us about a time when...' This means that the interviewer wants a specific story-based example from your work history. To craft a well-organized and engaging response, try using the STAR answer method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs 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 to achieve this accomplishment.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
At the end of your response, make a connection between your most significant accomplishment and the accomplishments you look forward to achieving as an Amazon Product Manager.
Answer Example
"(Situation) While working as a Product Manager for Company XYZ, we promoted two of my team members to Senior Developer titles. (Task) When I initially joined that particular team as their PM, I made it my goal to mentor the team members and helped them to achieve their most important career goals. (Action) I took my work as a mentor seriously and had weekly lunch and learns with the group to teach them about project management, acting as a leader in the workplace, and how to improve their communication. (Result) I'm proud of the impact I could make on my team, helping them better their life and career simply by conversing with them and sharing my knowledge. This mentorship approach is one that I am committed to delivering throughout my career since developing others will benefit Amazon as a whole while helping my team members to grow their career."
Behavioral
2. Tell us about a time when you disagreed with your manager. Why did you disagree, how did you state your case, and what was the resolution?
How to Answer
Amazon Product Managers are accountable to a variety of individuals. Although you may not always be on the same page with your leaders 100% of the time, the interviewer wants to know that you handle any disagreements with the utmost respect and professionalism. Getting along well with others puts you in a favorable position because it shows your desire to collaborate and highlights your ability to problem solve and produce excellent results, despite a challenging situation.
In your current position, you may have a great relationship with the people you report to. However, there will be times where you don't see eye to eye. Think of a conflict or disagreement you had with your manager, and you responded well, stated your stance very clearly, and perhaps even persuaded the manager to approach the situation from your perspective.
When asked a 'Tell us about a time...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs 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 to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
When forming your response, remember that one of Amazon's Leadership Principles is to 'Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit. Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.'
Answer Example
"(Situation) In my most recent PM position, my Senior PM believed that the company did not need to invest time or money into growing an email distribution list for a specific product we were rolling out. (Task) As a skilled Product Manager with product marketing training, I strongly disagreed but knew that I needed to state my case compellingly since this Senior PM was all about the numbers. (Action) I approached the topic gingerly and used hard data from previous cases. I then tied past results to the company's current business goals to show how a distribution list could benefit us in the short and long term. By removing emotion from the equation and focusing strictly on data from a couple of cases, I presented my viewpoint in a way that was hard to dispute. (Result) Ultimately, the Senior Product Manager gave my team the green light for piloting the program, and it was a great success. We built an email list of over 100,000 contacts, and our conversion rate ended up being 22% higher than we had originally forecasted."
Behavioral
3. Talk about a time when you failed to reach a work-related goal. How did you react?
How to Answer
Workplace goals, targets, and deadlines are not always met due to a variety of circumstances. The interviewer wants to know about such a time and, most importantly, how you reacted when the situation does not entirely go your way.
When answering this behavioral interview question, be ready to incorporate a specific story example rather than giving a general response to how you react to failure. This story-based approach can be achieved using the STAR answer method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information your interviewer needs 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 after you failed to reach your goal.
- Result: Last, talk about what you learned and how you transformed the situation into something positive.
You want to be honest about when you failed, but you also don't want to give such an extreme example that the interviewer determines you are not well-suited for a job at Amazon. To find a good balance, talk about a time when you failed to reach a goal but transformed the circumstance into a positive situation.
Answer Example
"(Situation) Earlier in my Product Management career with Company XYZ, my team was offered control of a unique product feature. (Task) As the PM, it was my job to calculate an appropriate project timeline before communicating a firm delivery date to the stakeholders. However, I succumbed to pressure from my leadership team to overshoot the delivery date and please the stakeholders. (Action) I convinced myself that we had enough developers to keep momentum on other projects while tacking this new product feature. I underestimated the depth of the work, and our team missed the deadline for the new feature by two weeks. Although the product feature launch was successful, I was ashamed of how the timeline panned out. I was so eager to prove myself as a new PM that I put the entire team's credibility at risk. (Result) I consider failure an important source for learning and gathering deeper insights. In this instance, I learned to become better at project estimates and make room for hiccups along the way. I learned to be a PM that does not go into a project overconfident on the timeline, causing the team to miss targets. Now, I am honest with my leadership team if I believe their expectations are too aggressive. If I see a project slipping, I express my concern to the development team right away and come up with a plan for us to stay on track. I am happy that I learned this lesson so early in my career. As a result, I am much more careful when giving project estimates, ensuring that my team meets their mark every time."
Behavioral
4. Would you ever hire someone smarter than you?
How to Answer
Amazon has many leadership principles. One philosophy related to hiring and nurturing a team is: 'Hire and Develop the Best.' Amazon describes this principle as, '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.'
Some great reasons to hire someone smarter than you:
- Your team's problem-solving abilities become stronger
- It helps the company progress at a faster pace
- Your team's productivity levels will be stronger
- You and other team members have a better chance of learning from each other
The interviewer wants to know if you are confident enough to hire a person who you perceive to be smarter than you. This question has many layers, however. First, the term 'smarter' is relative. Where one individual may have stronger knowledge in a particular topic or task than you, they may not be more knowledgeable in another area. Be prepared to give a thoughtful answer that shows you are invested in making smart hiring decisions based on the company's betterment rather than on your own ego or feelings of security.
Answer Example
"I believe that smart leaders hire smart people who are right for the job. If that means the person is smarter than me in a particular area, I will absolutely hire them! Ego is not an obstacle for me in the workplace as I rarely benefit from being the smartest person in the room. Instead, hiring people that I feel are smarter than me is a wonderful way to expand my team's capabilities. Earlier in my PM career, I read a quote from Ewing Marion Kauffman who said, 'Hire people who are smarter than you. In doing so, you prevent limiting the organization to the level of your own ability, and you grow the capabilities of your company.' That piece of advice has stuck with me, and I believe this mindset fits Amazon's Leadership Principles very well, particularly when it comes to hiring and developing the best."
Behavioral
5. Would you ever make a critical decision without approval from your boss?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you may encounter situations where you need to make an executive decision. As your career progresses, the executive decisions you make will have a greater impact on your career, team, and company. The interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable making critical yet strategic and thoughtful decisions independently. Show that you can take independent action.
One of Amazon's leadership principles is 'Bias for Action,' described on the company website as: 'Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.' So, when it comes to making critical decisions without approval from your boss, the interviewer wants to know that if you would, it's because you felt that the decision would impact the business enough that you needed to take independent action.
If you have ever made a critical decision without your boss's approval, consider telling a brief story of the situation, the action you took, and why you did so. Also, be sure to include the results you were able to generate.
When making critical decisions without approval from your boss, express that you would take action if you felt the decision would impact the business positively. Otherwise, you can treat this question as a hypothetical query by expressing your stance and supporting it with why you would or would not choose to make a critical decision without approval from your boss.
Answer Example
"I have read Amazon's leadership principles thoroughly, and one principle that stood out to me was 'Bias for Action.' I understand that Amazon values speed in business. This company believes that many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. Since Amazon places a lot of value on calculated risk-taking, I say yes - I would make a critical decision without approval from my boss. This decision would come with some caveats, however. I do believe it's essential to involve all of the relevant people when facing a critical decision. I also know that I have strong decision-making and leadership capabilities. If the decision needed to be made quickly and waiting caused a negative business impact, I would take the lead and move forward based on my strong judgment and good instinct. Amazon desires its leaders to act on behalf of the company. I would take a calculated look at the worst-case and best-case scenarios to the most likely outcomes. I would also consider breaking the decision down into smaller challenges to see if I could make an executive decision based on one step rather than all. This approach could minimize the impact of a completely solo decision. If there were any other leaders available at the time who were lateral in seniority to my boss, I would consider consulting them if it were appropriate."
Communication
6. If hired as Amazon's newest Product Manager, how will you develop rapport and earn the trust of your new team?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to see that you have a plan to earn the trust of your new team members. Think about the best ways to win over your new co-workers once you are offered this Product Manager position.
Here are some ways that you can build trust with your coworkers as their new Product Manager:
- Avoid being a distraction or holding unnecessary meetings. Respect each team members' time.
- Treat everyone on your team the same, regardless of their job title.
- Do not complain about projects with the team members; rather, be an enthusiastic troubleshooter.
- If you make a mistake, own it and work hard to fix the situation.
- Be timely with your communication around project expectations and changes.
Walk the interviewer through your process for developing rapport and trust with others in the workplace. Give examples of your approach so that the interviewer can gauge if you will settle in well with Amazon's workplace culture.
Answer Example
"Since joining Company XYZ, I have been promoted three times, allowing me to join a new team every time. There are many people-focused approaches a new manager can take to build rapport and trust. My favorite approach is getting to know people personally by asking them questions about themselves, listening intently to their responses, and remembering the information they share, such as their spouse's name or hobbies outside of the workplace. In the work setting, I earn my team members' respect by holding only important and structured meetings not to waste anyone's time. I ask questions when I need clarity rather than pretending to know the answer. Also, I am highly focused on supporting diversity and inclusion efforts, an approach that my teams recognize and appreciate."
Compatibility
7. If hired as an Amazon Product Manager, how do you plan to promote operational excellence?
How to Answer
Operational excellence is a must for Amazon's Product Managers to strive for and achieve. In its PM job postings, Amazon mentions that you are expected to support the company's systems, processes, and designs in a way that promotes operational excellence. Operational excellence means that you are always striving toward continuous improvements. The interviewer wants to know specifically how you plan to promote operational excellence within Amazon. Outline for the interviewer what this means to you and give tangible examples of how you will work toward operational excellence if offered this job opportunity.
Answer Example
"As an organized and focused Product Manager, I understand the importance of clear, consistent systems and process and the part they play in continuous improvement efforts thus achieving operational excellence. Errors occur when a process is not right, and then it's tough to produce ideal results. I will work hard to generate and ensure consistent and correct processes. I will ensure that quality begins right at the core. When every part of the process is correct, we can achieve excellent quality in our products. I will keep an eye out for potential problems at all times so that if a mistake happens, it's immediately visible, and we can work toward repairing the issue. Also, I think systematically and with a broad vision. In my current PM position, our projects have dozens of components that are highly interconnected. I lead my team to focus on the fact that each part of the project works with another, so we keep a broad vision and constantly remind ourselves of the relationship between all project parts. Another way that I will promote operational excellence is to check in with my team daily to ensure that everyone is aware and invested in the project's plan and purpose. When we all work towards the same goal and mission, we move forward as one cohesive team. I will consistently lead the team in a way that aligns our goals and actions to Amazon and the project at hand."
Compatibility
8. Amazon has 14 Leadership Principles. Name a few of these principles and explain how you embody them.
How to Answer
Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles are the pillars on which Amazon stands. Its leaders visit these principles when they approach problems and tackle new ideas. The principles briefly are:
1. Customer Obsession - Leaders start with the customers
2. Ownership - Leaders are owners
3. Invent & Simplify - Leaders expect innovation
4. Are Right, A Lot - Leaders are right, a lot
5. Learn & Be Curious - Leaders never stop learning
6. Hire & Develop the Best - Leaders raise the bar
7. Insist on the Highest Standards - Leaders have relentless standards
8. Think Big - Leaders create bold direction
9. Bias for Action - Leaders know that speed matters
10. Frugality - Leaders accomplish more with less
11. Earn Trust - Leaders treat others respectfully
12. Deep Dive - Leaders stay connected to the details
13. Have Backbone - Leaders respectfully challenge decisions
14. Deliver Results - Leaders deliver, despite setbacks
The interviewer wants to see that you have taken the time to learn Amazon's Leadership Principles and that they resonate with you. When giving your response, be as specific as possible regarding how you embody a few select principles. It's important that the interviewer can visualize your leadership approach in action and see that it aligns well with Amazon's principles.
Answer Example
"I was pleased to explore Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles and learn that many of them are principles that I actively embody in the workplace and my personal life. The three principles that I related to the most are Deliver Results, Earn Trust, and Learn & Be Curious. I believe that when I keep the momentum going at work, even if I face a setback, it sets an excellent example for my team. For instance, just last month, our team encountered a significant roadblock that could have caused a major issue with our client. Instead of showing discouragement, I held an open and honest meeting with the team, where we made a plan for tackling the issue head-on. We did not let the situation intimidate us and got back on track quickly. When it comes to earning trust, I am an ally to everyone. I place significant emphasis on inclusion, and my team members know they can come to me with any concerns they have. When it comes to learning and being curious, I encourage each team member's self-development and professional development. I commit to continual learning, and I am curious about innovations. For example, every month, I read two books; one to strengthen my abilities as a Product Manager and one to grow as a person. I encourage my team members to do the same. We often exchange books and reading suggestions which helps draw us closer as a team."
Compatibility
9. How does Amazon's leadership philosophy align with your leadership philosophy?
How to Answer
Amazon's Leadership Principles are clearly outlined on the company's website. You will not be expected to memorize each principle word for word; however, you should understand the basics of these principles so that you can express what they mean to you as a mindful leader. Amazon's leadership principles are the pillars on which Amazon stands. They visit these principles when they approach problems and tackle new ideas.
- Customer Obsession: Leaders start with the customers
- Bias for Action: Leaders know that speed matters
- Invent and Simplify: Leaders expect innovation
- Are Right, A Lot: Leaders are right, a lot of the time
- Think Big: Leaders create bold direction
- Frugality: Leaders accomplish more with less
- Insist on the Highest Standards: Leaders have relentless standards
- Ownership: Leaders act like owners
- Have Backbone: Leaders respectfully challenge decisions and commit
- Dive Deep: Leaders stay connected to the details
- Deliver Results: Leaders deliver, despite setbacks
- Hire and Develop the Best: Leaders raise the bar
- Learn and Be Curious: Leaders never stop learning
- Earn Trust: Leaders treat others respectfully
Answer Example
"I have read through Amazon's leadership principles, and a few that resonated with me most were earning trust, having a backbone, and delivering results. I wholeheartedly agree that a good leader will treat others respectfully, despite a difference of opinion. I am sure to see setbacks as challenges versus roadblocks. Also, I am unafraid to challenge a decision respectfully if I feel passionate about it. Other principles that stood out to me were customer obsession, ownership, and frugality. As a PM with my current company, I understand the importance of working with resources respectfully. In fact, practicing frugality can encourage a lot of creativity. Customers are everything, so being obsessed with earning their trust by creating incredible products will always work out in our favor. Lastly, I agree that a leader should act like an owner in every single way. Long-term thinking is important, as is jumping in wherever needed rather than acting as though it's not your job. As a leader, I never consider myself above a task. I am in the trenches with my team, an active participant every step of the way."
Competency
10. You are planning to add a new product to Amazon's portfolio. How do you approach conducting sophisticated quantitative and qualitative analysis?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager for Amazon, you will spend time performing critical analysis to build strategies that guide your team and projects. In simple terms, quantitative data is considered information that you can measure with numbers. For instance, the number of times customers used a certain feature. Qualitative data is more subjective and casual. For instance, it's data you gather from customer service tickets or during conversations. The interviewer wants to know more about your approach to gathering quantitative and qualitative data and how you use this data to help you in your strategic analysis and planning. Walk the interviewer through your approach with as much helpful detail as possible, allowing the interviewer to visualize your methodology.
Answer Example
"Depending on the situation, and what I am measuring, I will begin with either quantitative or qualitative data. For this answer, let's assume that there is quite a bit of uncertainty around the product and what customers really want to see. In that case, I would begin with quantitative analysis since the hard data will likely answer more questions for me from the start. I would build a survey to send out to our customers and perhaps perform some A/B testing. The answers we receive will show us what our customers are most excited about and what they are least engaged in. Next, I want to understand why the customer is leaning one way or the other. This is where I would begin the qualitative analysis. In my current PM role, we often take a select number of survey respondents and have a 15-minute call with them to uncover further why they chose the preferences they did. This softer information will help us to make sense of the survey results. Once the team has collected both hard and soft data, we can better analyze the results and make a balanced decision before moving forward on the project."
Creative Thinking
11. Describe the most innovative idea you have worked on during your Product Management career.
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know that you are a creative thinker and have work-based accomplishments that make you proud. They also want to see that you view innovation as a group effort rather than a solo accomplishment. As a leader for Amazon, you are expected to 'Think Big,' which, for the company, means that you will 'create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results' and you will 'think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.' Talk to the interviewer about the most innovative product you have worked on in your career. Be sure to outline your role in the project and your stand-out contributions. If you learned any stand-out lessons, consider discussing your biggest takeaways from the project.
Answer Example
"When I was working as a Product Manager for Company XYZ, one of the most exciting parts of my job was to come up with and pitch new product ideas. The most memorable, and I believe the most innovative, was Product XYZ (describe any features you can without breaking confidentiality or an NDA). The role I played as the PM was to perform the proper analysis to ensure it was a viable product, then shape the strategy and create the product roadmap. Then, I presented the plan to the stakeholders so they could see the entire outline of our proposed process. Once my team received the green light from all stakeholders, we went ahead with the project. The project took 18 months from start to finish and presented many exciting learning curves for me and my team, such as (discuss any obstacles you faced and what you learned)."
Diligence
12. When developing a new product or feature, how do you approach gathering and integrating customer feedback?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you may sometimes be referred to as the 'CEO of the product.' This adage hints that, as a PM, you have primary accountabilities to a product and its performance. The interviewer wants to hear evidence that you place importance on customer feedback and the needs of your internal or external customers. Speak in detail about your approach to customer feedback and implementation. Be as detailed as possible, ensuring that the interviewer sees you as an actionable Product Manager who has enthusiasm for delivering world-class products.
Answer Example
"Customer feedback is an imperative component to a products' success, so this factor is always top on my radar. In my current Product Manager position, Company XYZ approaches gathering customer feedback in a variety of ways. We often utilize focus groups; however, we don't lean on these focus groups as our only source when making decisions about a product. We also have a well-established support community made up of customers who are avid users. We ask for customer feedback early in the development process, and then we invite this support community to test new products throughout the different stages of development. It's important to take customer feedback with emotional intelligence. Rather than becoming defensive, my team and I listen and absorb the information. As the Product Manager, I practice self-awareness to avoid pushing my personal preferences onto the product. When we take on a new project, the team performs robust user testing. We also conduct customer interviews and perform market assessments. Then, after launch, we spend a great deal of time tracking the success metrics that we defined during the planning phase."
Diligence
13. As a Product Manager, how do you approach prioritizing tasks and product features?
How to Answer
Prioritization can be one of the most challenging aspects of your position as a Product Manager. When you and your team are faced with endless tasks and numerous product feature options, it's up to you to decide what gets tackled first. The interviewer wants to know the process you take when coming to decisions and conclusions.
Provide evidence that you are calm under pressure and that you have a reliable framework for triaging tasks and features when they may all seem urgent at first. Walk the interviewer through your prioritization process, showing that your approach is a good fit for Amazon. Keep in mind that Amazon ranks the satisfaction of its customers first, so this may impact your prioritization method when hired.
Some of the most common frameworks for task prioritization include:
- The MoSCoW method, which is an acronym for Must have (vital), Should have (priority), Could have (optional), and Won't have (scratch it!).
- The RICE scoring model, which is an acronym for Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort.
- The Kano model, which focuses on product features and how important they may or may not be (Delighters,
Performance Features, and Basic Features).
Answer Example
"Typically, when I am prioritizing tasks or product features, I will use the MoSCoW model. I have been trained in Agile methodology and lean toward this model because it focuses on both the project stakeholders' goals and the customer's needs. I also find it the easiest method to use when I need to explain my decision-making process to individuals outside of the technical aspects of the project. The first step is to ask if the product feature is a 'must-have,' vital feature. Then, I ask if it is a 'should-have,' which makes the feature a priority. Moving down the list, is I ask if the product feature is a 'could-have.' Perhaps it's optional or could be visited at a later time. Then, I can determine if the feature is a 'won't-have,' meaning it's time to scratch that particular idea. Then, my team will prioritize the must-have and should-have features. I am also aware of other methods such as the RICE scoring or Kano models. Could you share with me if there is a preferred prioritization model at Amazon?"
Diligence
14. Tell us about the last skill you taught yourself. Why did you choose to learn this skill, and how will it benefit you as a Product Manager with Amazon?
How to Answer
Continued education and learning is a critical skill for any professional. As a leader with Amazon, you must work to continue building your Product Management expertise. Consider the latest skill you taught yourself. Be prepared to discuss why you chose to build that skill and how it will benefit you in your new Product Manager role with Amazon.
As a Product Manager, some of the skills you may want to consider include:
- Interpersonal communication
- Research skills
- Timeline management
- Task delegation
- Strategic thinking
Answer Example
"I believe that one of the most important skills a Product Manager could possess is the ability to define a product vision and design a roadmap around that vision. For that reason, I decided two months ago to enroll in eCornell's Product Roadmapping course. The course focused on creating compelling roadmaps that articulate the plan clearly. Other focus areas included how to source ideas and present product roadmaps to stakeholders and other team members. The course was two weeks long, and I invested 20 hours of study into the program overall. Next, I plan to take eCornell's Product Management 360 Certificate Program. The initial Roadmapping course, along with this new PM certificate program that begins in June, will allow me to provide master-level skills to Amazon with even stronger expertise in product strategy, analytics, and innovation."
Direct
15. Why do you want to be a Product Manager with Amazon?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know why you are seeking a Product Manager position, specifically with Amazon. This question is not the opportunity to discuss why you are looking for a new job. Instead, the interviewer wants to see that you have enthusiasm and interest in the role and Amazon as a company. They want to hear that you believe in the company's mission and values and that you are ready to make a specific contribution to Amazon. The interviewer also wants to see evidence that there is a strong match between the job and your career goals.
While your passion and excitement for the job are essential, it's always good to have some hard facts prepared as to why you want this Product Manager position with Amazon. Be ready to mention specific details of how you will contribute once hired. Take some time to think about your work-related passions and desires. Consider the ways that this job aligns with your career goals.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How will I contribute to this company
- What results have I created in the past, and could I repeat them here
- How has my education prepared me to succeed here
- How do my professional values match those of this company
- How will my personality complement the company culture
Answer Example
"I want to work at Amazon for many reasons; however, the most personal and compelling are [give one or two reasons why this job is a stand-out opportunity]. I have spent a lot of time researching and getting to know Amazon and [discuss your findings with enthusiasm]. This partnership would be mutually beneficial in the sense that [discuss how the findings tie to your career goals]. Should Amazon choose to hire me, I will contribute to [the original highlights you mentioned in the beginning] by [offer details on how you will contribute]."
Direct
16. How would you describe the Amazon business model?
How to Answer
Amazon is one of the largest online retailers on the globe. Amazon is primarily an eCommerce business model; however, the company has a diverse business portfolio with multiple revenue streams, including direct online sales, subscription services, AWS, third-party sellers, and more. The interviewer wants to know that, as an Amazon Product Manager, you understand how the Amazon business model works. Discuss what you know, and be sure to express a genuine enthusiasm for Amazon and its unique business model. If you apply to work in a particular Amazon department, try tailoring your response specifically to resonate with this department.
Answer Example
"One of the fascinating parts of working at Amazon will be my involvement in a company that has so many incredible revenue streams. I would primarily describe Amazon as an e-commerce business model; however, it's so much more. Aside from direct sales, Amazon offers numerous subscription services such as Amazon Prime, streaming media options, and app-based purchase options. Also, third-party selling is a fantastic way for Amazon to offer the widest range of products globally while carrying less slow-moving inventory than its competitors. What is most exciting for me is Amazon Web Services (AWS), where I am applying to work as a Product Manager. The concept of AWS offering reliable, scalable, and inexpensive cloud computing services to companies is incredibly innovative and a service that no company can beat. I appreciate that AWS is free to join, and businesses only pay for what they use. Amazon and the AWS model truly show what Amazon is all about, helping companies and people succeed. I have a genuine enthusiasm for the fact that fast-growing startups and existing enterprises can use AWS to innovate while also responding to their market faster and lowering costs."
Diversity & Inclusion
17. Amazon is proud of its culture of inclusion. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a lack of inclusion in the workplace? If so, how did you address the situation?
How to Answer
On Amazon's career website, the company states, 'Amazon's ability to innovate on behalf of our customers relies on the perspectives and knowledge of people from all backgrounds. We believe that building a culture that is welcoming and inclusive is integral to people doing their best work and is essential to what we can achieve as a company. We actively recruit people from diverse backgrounds to build a supportive and inclusive workplace. We take steps to ensure employees have a sense of belonging, value, and opportunity.'
Inclusion is different from diversity, and it's essential to be prepared to make the distinction. Diversity refers to 'what' the company is doing to create a diverse workplace, and inclusion is 'how' the company is developing a safe culture. The interviewer wants you to recount a time when you experienced firsthand or witnessed a lack of inclusion in the workplace. This question is not the opportunity to speak poorly of an employer or co-worker but instead spotlight how you address a workplace imbalance.
When responding to a question like this, it's best to give a specific story-based example rather than responding with a generalization. You can form your response using the STAR framework, an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This framework will allow you to keep your reply well-organized so that the interviewer can follow along with your story.
If you have not experienced this situation in the past, you can speak hypothetically, being sure to address how you would handle the issue and how you plan to support your co-workers in achieving equality in the workplace.
Answer Example
"(Situation) I worked for a company many years ago that did not have proper inclusion efforts for employees with physical disabilities. There was very little assistive technology, and accessibility was not a priority. (Task) As the Product Manager, it was up to me to spotlight these shortcomings and stand up for my talented team members. (Action) I brought my concerns to the Senior Product Manager in the form of a few critical points, and I provided a list of helpful resources. I explained that many companies are relatively aware that diversity is important, but this does not mean much without inclusion efforts as a follow-through. I spent time explaining the differences between diversity and inclusion. Together, we came up with a plan that would further support inclusion. (Result) In the end, our inclusion program expanded, and we made more effort toward creating a comfortable workplace for employees with physical disabilities. The company's head office was impressed with our plan, and they ended up deploying our ideas across all other locations."
Education
18. Amazon Product Managers should have a master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Engineering, or related discipline. Please walk us through your education.
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking for an overview of your education, which may seem redundant considering your degree is likely outlined on your resume. However, the interviewer also wants to know why you believe your education and training are relevant to this role.
Amazon expresses in its Product Manager job description that the company will accept a Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Business Administration/Management, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Engineering, or related discipline. Take a minute or two to walk the interviewer through your post-secondary education. Discuss your favorite or best coursework and where your skills shone through during this time in your life. Then, be sure to connect how your knowledge and experiences will add value to the Amazon team when they hire you for this Product Manager role.
Answer Example
"I graduated from USD with my Bachelor of Science, major in Computer Science. I received various scholarships due to my strong grades, and I was on the Dean's list for three out of four years. My best grades were in algorithms, trends in database technology, and information security. I also performed very well with learning complex concepts such as biometric security. My education helped build a strong foundation for my Product Management and helped me to develop strong professional discipline and interpersonal skills. I look forward to joining Amazon and leveraging my post-secondary experiences, along with the knowledge I have gained over the last five years in a high-demand PM role within a tech-startup environment."
Experience
19. Amazon Product Managers work to identify, develop and implement revenue-generating and cost-saving projects and programs. How will your Product Management expertise impact our business and overall customer experience?
How to Answer
A talented Product Manager can play a significant role in the success and productivity of a product roll-out. In addition, Product Managers play a significant role in connecting product development with sales and marketing departments, ensuring that each project generates optimal revenue and is delivered on time and within budget. As a Product Manager for Amazon, you will be highly involved in processes that bring new products to market or improve existing products. Talk to the interviewer about the specific impact you plan to make for Amazon when hired for this Product Manager role.
Answer Example
"I recently read in a survey from '280 Group' that effective product management from a fully equipped Product Manager can increase a company's profits by more than 34%. This number is pretty incredible, and it also shows me how critical my role is as a PM with working hard to achieve cost savings while making decisions that are focused on generating revenue. As an experienced and calculated Product Manager, I will dedicate myself to impacting Amazon's business and the overall customer experience. Just like I have generated exceptional results with Company XYZ, I will carefully identify new product opportunities, develop methods for streamlining project processes, and keep a keen eye on opportunities to save resources while optimizing revenue-generating opportunities."
Experience
20. How strong is your knowledge of the product lifecycle process for retail and in-stock third-party merchants?
How to Answer
A significant part of Amazon's business model includes retail sales and selling fast-moving third-party merchants' products. The interviewer wants to know how well-versed you are with the product lifecycle for retail (or e-commerce) in general, as well as products from third-party merchants.
Be sure to tailor your answer to showcase your depth of knowledge in the business area where you will be focusing as a Product Manager. For instance, if your interview is for a PM role where you are rolling out products for third-party merchants, try to focus the bulk of your response on your third-party merchant knowledge and experience.
Answer Example
"While completing my degree, I focused a great deal on the management of Retail Product Lifecycle. I am very familiar with the stages of the product lifecycle, particularly with private label product management. This private label experience that I bring will help Amazon's third-party sellers as they approach a competitive landscape where they must know about their market, the demand and understand product competition. Proper product lifecycle management is also critical to preventing deadstock, a situation that does not benefit anyone involved in the product delivery or merchant process. The 4 stages that I understand are introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. I believe these stages apply to nearly every product on the market. Some move more quickly through these stages than others, especially if they are a product such as a specific app or game. Other products are evergreen and will move through this lifecycle much slower. I look forward to using my knowledge in the PM role to help Amazon's third-party sellers succeeded by better understanding how their product will perform in growth, how to understand market saturation, how to price by demand and quality, and how to best avoid under and overstocking."
Experience
21. Amazon Product Managers work to maximize efficiency and support operational excellence. Please share your favorite approach to optimizing your team's efficiency.
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you must be a well-equipped leader, ready to ensure your team is working at ultimate efficiency, ensuring product deadlines are met on time and budget. The interviewer would like to see that you can adapt to Amazon's unique environment where efficiency, creativity, and ambiguity are the norm. Share with the interviewer your favorite approach for maximizing team efficiency. Describe the approach, where you learned the method, and talk about a time when this approach generated a successful result.
Answer Example
"Delegating to the strengths of my team is undoubtedly my favorite approach to maximizing my team's efficiency. Learning to let go and delegate tasks is one factor to efficiency; however, delegating to strengths is even more impactful. As a Product Manager for the past eight years, I have tried many different approaches to optimize time and work as efficiently as possible. Time and time again, I have found the best approach to be the proper delegation of tasks. Delegating seems like a simple task; however, it takes a lot of practice and consideration to be executed properly. I always encourage my team to collaborate, and I actively empower every member to show the team where they can shine. When everyone is focused on tasks that highlight their greatest skills, we generate results faster and with higher quality outcomes. I believe this approach is well-suited for the team culture at Amazon, where the focus is on hiring and developing the best. When I recognize a team member's talent, and I am ready to delegate to those talents, we will generate much higher quality results for the company and its customers."
Experience
22. We are seeking candidates with at least two years of experience in business analysis or product management. Please take a few minutes to walk us through your resume and related experience.
How to Answer
In most of its Product Manager job postings, Amazon asks for 2 years of product management experience with accountabilities, including strategic quantitative and qualitative analysis in a cross-functional enterprise environment within retail, e-commerce, consulting, finance, operations, or the tech industry. They are looking for a candidate with experience and results supporting and improving business operations related to program, process, or product management.
Take some time to walk the interviewer through your related work experience, bringing your most notable achievements and successes to life. Highlight the experiences that you believe will be most interesting to the interviewer and most relative to the department you are interviewing with. If you have a lot of work experience, briefly describe your work history, starting at the least recent position, and outline a couple of stand-out and relevant achievements from each role.
Answer Example
"After graduating with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Education, I furthered my training by completing two certifications. One in Marketing & Communication and the other in Project Management. Since my education and training were so robust, I was fortunate to get an excellent opportunity right out of school to be a Product Manager for Company XYZ in their e-commerce division. I worked for Company XYZ, first as a Junior Product Manager for 3 years, and then earned a promotion to Product Manager. This intermediate PM role is the position I have operated in for the past 4 years. In total, I have functioned successfully in a Product Manager position for 7 years. During this time, the bulk of my focus has been on creating new digital products that help our small business partners and third-party vendors boost their customer conversions and improve customer lifetime value (CLV). I work cross-functionally with a global team of engineers, sales, and marketing professionals, collaborating every step of the way and ensuring smooth product roll-outs. When I read the job description for Amazon's Product Manager, I saw a clear connection between the work I currently lead and the accountabilities in this role. I look forward to growing my experience with a global leader like Amazon, where I can take on additional responsibilities, lead a larger team, and take responsibility for digital product launches that positively impact people around the world."
Experience
23. How well versed are you with financial analysis and P&L management?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you will be accountable for participating in strategic financial decisions. Many of those decisions will be related to a project's budget. This is one reason why a strong foundation of financial analysis and profit and loss (P&L) management will be a beneficial addition to your resume.
If you have a firm understanding of financial analysis and P&L management, discuss your level of understanding (perhaps you hold an intermediate, advanced, or expert understanding). Provide the interviewer with details of the related accountabilities you have held in the past. It's also wise to include an example of a time when your keen financial analysis skills and attentive approach to P&L management made a positive difference on a project.
If you are not as well-versed in financial analysis and P&L management, you can express that you are actively working to strengthen your knowledge in these areas. Give a tangible example of the action you are taking to support your response further.
Answer Example
"While earning my Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management, I learned about financial analysis as it relates to business marketing. I also learned how to read financial statements such as profit and loss statements correctly. As a Product Manager, I believe it's essential that I read a P&L statement and make sense of costs and expenses incurred during a project. This data will help me better understand the company's ability to generate profit from the product we are focusing on. Overall, I consider my financial analysis and P&L knowledge to be intermediate. I plan to learn more and grow my knowledge base by continually educating myself on financial analysis. For instance, I have recently applied to Harvard Business School Online course called 'Leading with Finance.' This course stands out because it will equip me with a stronger foundation of knowledge of financial principles, understand my employers' market, create and assess value, and communicate financial decisions to stakeholders. I look forward to starting this course and coming to Amazon with a stronger knowledge in identifying ways to create and measure value to evaluate and pitch-worthy products."
Performance
24. How do you measure customer satisfaction after launching a new product?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, there are many ways to measure customer satisfaction post-launch. The interviewer wants to know which metrics you track. The way you respond to this question should show the interviewer that you are diligent and outcome-focused. It's important that, as a PM, you are place value on gathering important user feedback on your product. This information will help you and your team to solve any problems that arise quickly. Direct customer feedback is also helpful when approaching your team and stakeholders about any suggested product changes or pivots. Perhaps you look at:
- Customer Conversion Rate
- Churn Rate
- Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)
- Daily Active Users (DAU)
- Monthly Active Users (MAU)
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)
Whatever your preferred methods for measuring customer satisfaction, be sure to highlight the importance of understanding and listening to your customers after a product launch. Show the interviewer that you are interested in understanding the customer, what they love, and where they might be dropping off.
Answer Example
"Feedback from customers is constructive and important. The data from customers post-launch helps my team, and I discover where and how we can improve and resonate most with our target customer. One of my favorite ways to measure customer satisfaction is through NPS scores. By sending out a simple customer email survey and asking, 'How likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?' and offering a 1-10 option, we quickly collect valuable customer satisfaction information. After answering, we segment our customers into 3 categories: Detractors, Passives, and Promoters. Detractors will rate the product a 1-6 out of 10. We then know that these customers dislike part of the product or have an overall issue with it. Passives will rate the product a 7 or 8 out of 10. This segment is more likely to use the product but will not be loyal to it. Those who rate the product a 9 or 10 out of 10 are the Promoters. These customers are more likely to recommend our product. Using Net Promoter Scores, we can quickly assess whether the product is being embraced. I like this method as it's more of an average and helps the team focus on who to survey further based on an extreme dislike and an enthusiastic love of the product."
Performance
25. How do you maintain the highest standards during project delivery?
How to Answer
Amazon places great focus on setting standards of excellence in all areas of its business. The interviewer wants assurance that, when hired, you will put significant effort and enthusiasm into helping the company maintain these standards of excellence.
Share with the interviewer the steps you take and the consideration you put into maintaining high standards as a Product Manager. Take the interviewer through a detailed journey of your process on the job, highlighting how your high standards have benefitted project delivery in the past. Then, assure the interviewer that you are ready to do the same as an Amazon Product Manager.
Answer Example
"The Amazon development team is built of world-class developers, designers, engineers, data scientists, researchers, and more. Rest assured, I will always put a premium effort forward to ensure that projects are delivered with the highest quality standards. To ensure that the highest standards are built and maintained during a project, I utilize numerous checklists and procedures that I consider non-negotiable. For instance, since the term quality can be subjective, I make sure that the project's quality criteria are incredibly clear from the start. I repeatedly reinforce with my team the need for quality at every stage. Sometimes shortcuts are attractive, but I ensure that we never trade quality for time. I am hyper-aware of threats such as scope creep, so I never let my guard down when it comes to changes in requests. I also perform quality audits along the way to ensure we are on track for every project milestone. When we can identify defects right away, the project can remain on track. The more closely we follow the project roadmap, the smoother the outcome."
Problem Solving
26. How do you break down a complex problem into manageable pieces?
How to Answer
Breaking down problems into smaller parts is an essential skill as a Product Manager. Amazon PMs often come across unexpected issues, and the core of the problem is not always obvious at first glance. The interviewer wants to know that you are a talented problem-solver who can look at a potentially overwhelming issue and address it quickly and efficiently, assuring your team doesn't get stuck on a project. Describe your approach to problem-solving and explain how you take a complicated issue and break it down into manageable pieces to reach a solution.
When you answer, remember that one of Amazon's leadership principles is Bias for Action, where the organization believes that 'Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.' By having a Bias for Action, you can prevent 'analysis paralysis,' ensuring that you are ready to solve complex issues. Explain to the interviewer your approach to dealing with (and solving!) complex issues that arise in the workplace.
Answer Example
"When I face a complex problem, I first look at the overall problem and the situation. Next, I consider the outcome we want to achieve. Then, I take stock of the resources available to the team and the amount of time that we have to find a solution to the problem. Next, I make sure that all roadblocks are considered before ever entering solution mode. I also look at all potential sub-problems that could be encountered. Then, I engage the appropriate members of my team and share the information that I have gathered. Discussing one sub-problem at a time, the team and I break down the overall complex issue and develop a set of manageable solutions. Of course, considering Amazon's leadership principle of Bias for Action, I understand it's important to react quickly. With my approach, I find that issues are addressed promptly, and the team can consider additional potential problems. I find this method of problem-solving to be very proactive, team-based, and actionable."
Scenario Based
27. Amazon's Leadership Principles includes 'Frugality - Accomplish more with less.' Talk about a time you discovered a way to save on development costs.
How to Answer
There are numerous ways that Product Managers can save on development costs. As a PM for Amazon, you are expected to be frugal, efficient, and work cost-effectively. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you used creative thinking to drive down development costs or generate other savings on a project.
When you answer this 'Talk about a time...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs 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 to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
Answer Example
"In some instances, driving costs down by 10% or so can be a straightforward task accomplished by repurposing small design features or streamlining team tasks. However, when costs need to be driven down immediately and significantly, it requires well-thought strategic moves. I have been a Product Manager with Company XYZ for 5 years. Over this time, I have seen development costs increase up to 4X, with the cost of labor, materials, and production climbing at a steady rate. This year I decided it was time to make some significant changes and help the company generate stronger profits. After analyzing data from the previous years' projects, I saw that my biggest opportunity was in automating engineering changes. Engineering change requests were stacking up, and I knew there had to be a better way to approach these requests. After calculated research, I landed on introducing Cloud PLM software. Cloud PLM allows every team member and all of our projects' stakeholders to access product data and insights in a single view. It keeps our data up to date and ensures that everyone is on the same page with changes. Since implementing Cloud PLM, our projects are completed 35% faster and with far fewer mistakes. Because of this change, we are on track to lower product development costs by 27% over the next 12 months. Company XYZ has benefitted greatly from the keen eye I keep on development costs and project budgets, and I am eager to embody the leadership principle of frugality within the Amazon team."
Scenario Based
28. How would you approach making a decision if sufficient data was not available to support your decision?
How to Answer
Product Managers often need to make decisions in ambiguous environments. So, the purpose of this question is for the interviewer to assess your analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The interviewer wants to know how you would handle making a leadership decision when you may not possess all of the data you would typically have access to.
Show that you use logic to make sound decisions and that you are capable and confident in decision-making in ambiguous work environments. Talk about the approach you would take in this hypothetical situation. Walk them through your process and include relevant details about how you would assess the situation and come to a well-supported decision.
Answer Example
"When I face a decision, and the data is insufficient, I will first do a deeper dive to see what areas of the project feel ambiguous. Then, I will consider the impact of these points and check for any potential connecting points or areas where I can use particular data to make an educated estimate. Even if I can narrow down a knowledge gap, it can be helpful when approaching an overall decision. Then, using the data that I do have, I would approach my team so that we could work together to present the information we have in a way that leads to a well-educated decision."
Scenario Based
29. Please walk us through a time when you nearly missed a deadline. How did you pivot your approach to ensure success?
How to Answer
Deadlines are often critical in product management; however, so is product quality. The interviewer wants to hear evidence that you can turn a project around when a deadline is looming. They also want to know that you can maintain product credibility during these times. Show the interviewer that you can cope well with the external pressures of a looming deadline.
When asked a 'Walk us through a time when...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs 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 to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
Answer Example
"I fully believe that as a Product Manager my job is to assess and manage risks rather than take them. This mindset also applies to projects where we are close to missing a deadline. (Situation) Last quarter the team was working on a global roll-out for a significant product feature update. We were on track until we reached some bugs that presented significant threats to the project timeline. My team and I thought we had tested the product thoroughly enough, and we were not expecting any new issues, at least not major ones, to pop up. (Task) The time came where we were to present the product to the stakeholders. We realized that some of the code quality was poor, which was a situation that would be time-consuming to fix, but we could not ignore the issue. We knew that our stakeholders would consider the issue a deal-breaker, but I had to be honest with them. (Action) I held a discussion explaining the trouble that we ran into. One option was to scratch one of the product features to focus on the MVP and ensure it was perfect by the deadline. The other option was to extend the deadline by one week and move forward with all features as originally planned. The stakeholders agreed that we would roll out the product with a perfect MVP and add the scrapped feature to the next version. (Result) In the end, the product was a great success, and we received excellent feedback from our customers. Now, we are working diligently to introduce a product update with the originally missing feature."
Teamwork
30. Amazon Product Managers work cross-functionally on global roll-outs with internal and external teams. Talk about your cross-functional work experience and how it will benefit our team.
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know that you have experience succeeding in this type of environment. For example, Amazon expresses in its Product Manager job postings that the successful candidate will work cross-functionally with internal and external teams, including software development engineers, operation managers, finance, supply chain, leadership, and sellers, to implement features for global roll-outs. If you have experience working for a larger company, you have likely collaborated on a project with teams from another department.
Succeeding in a cross-functional work environment takes excellent interpersonal skills, clear communication, superb organization, and strong task prioritization skills. Your ability to work with cross-functional teams will be a significant asset to Amazon, especially in a Product Manager role. In addition, your ability to work well with multiple job functions, departments, and stakeholders is a significant factor in your success. Think of a time when you had to collaborate with the members of other teams and functions. Share any challenges that came up for you, how you handled these, and what you learned from the experience.
Answer Example
"I have worked in cross-functional agile teams most of my career. Immediately after graduation, I joined Company X as a Junior Product Manager. We had teams across the globe, giving me my first taste of working with teams across numerous time zones. It was a challenge at first; however, I quickly caught onto the team dynamics, learned who was available during what time of day. I learned to arrange my tasks around other people's availability, ensuring that our time differences did not result in project delays. For example, there were many times that I would jump on a video call at 10 PM so that I could reach some of our engineers located in Dubai. I found the collaboration to be exciting because we accomplished so much as a team. In my previous PM position with Company Y, most of our team members were local, which presented different cross-functional team challenges since we all worked in tandem on the same 9-hour schedule. I found that projects often saw more delays since our workday was more compact. In my current position with Company Z, we have a global team. Many of our engineers and researchers are located in Noida, Melbourne, and Singapore. I much prefer a global team, and these positive experiences will ensure that I will bring a strong enthusiasm for collaboration to Amazon's world-class team. Specifically, I have learned to build a team based on trust, communication, respect, and empathy. Despite distance or scheduling, I concentrate efforts on getting to know everyone on the team personally. I treat each person as a unique individual and value one-on-one relationships. As a PM, I am also a team motivator, so I put effort into ensuring that everyone on the team knows how their special contribution makes a difference in the project. Regardless of my team being 6 people or 60, I will ensure that the team chemistry remains strong."