Amazon Project Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Table of Contents
- 1. Accomplishment Questions
- 2. Behavioral Questions
- 3. Career Goals Questions
- 4. Communication Questions
- 5. Competency Questions
- 6. Customer Service Questions
- 7. Experience Questions
- 8. Leadership Questions
- 9. Management Questions
- 10. Performance Based Questions
- 11. Problem Solving Questions
- 12. Scenario Based Questions
- 13. Scenario Based Project Manager Questions
Accomplishment
1. What was the best innovation you ever came up with in your professional life?
How to Answer
Amazon is big on innovation. Answering this question is your chance to show an ability to create solutions when there seem to be none. You'll also want to show that you can execute big ideas in the simplest way. When positioning your answer, emphasize your openness to trying new things, while keeping yourself grounded with facts and data.
Answer Example
"My first project management role was as part of the continuous improvement team at a call center. I was tasked to optimize processes between the sales center and customer care teams. Each team was using their own system separate from each other. Customers would call the sales number, even though they already had an existing order. The sales representative would then have to transfer the call by dialing out to the care team. This resulted in longer handling time for sales, which negatively impacted their stats and commissions, and customers frustrated from having to state their problem twice.
I had a two-part solution. The first part was to optimize the interactive voice response to pre-qualify callers and ensure they get routed to customer care if they had an existing order, and are not looking to add to or modify that order. The second part was to build a sub-team within customer care that processed these calls. As a result, the sales team's average handling time went down substantially, and we had 30% fewer complaints from customers about the transfer time."
Behavioral
2. Tell me about a time when you made a decision that you knew your superior would oppose.
How to Answer
By asking this question, the interviewer is gauging your level of ownership as a project manager. When responding to ownership questions like this, focus on proving that you can take initiative and can make difficult decisions. In addition, you will also want to show that you can be fully accountable in case your ideas fail. Cite concrete examples of ownership relevant to previous projects, and how your decisions impacted the project's success.
Answer Example
"Once I was working on a project with a very lean team. At a certain point, I needed an extra pair of hands to deliver a significant task. I soon found that the task would be a recurring one and my team was already struggling with their workload that I just could not afford to lose their morale. The standard procedure was to hire an intern but the task was far too complex for someone without the necessary experience. So, I filed an employee requisition form with HR. As expected, my manager stopped the hiring process for an employee when she found out and hired an intern. As a result, the intern had to be trained and their work had to be monitored carefully. All this time spent on holding the intern's hand led to the project being delayed by two months."
Career Goals
3. What do you hope to learn at Amazon?
How to Answer
This question shows that the company is looking for someone who is excited to expand their knowledge and skillsets. A successful answer shows that you are someone who constantly seeks to improve yourself and that you are curious about new possibilities. Further, let the interviewer know that you have done your research on the company's culture and that you look forward to being part of it.
Answer Example
"I thrive in an environment that allows me to improve my skills and learn new ones. Aside from mastering operational excellence on the job, I'd really like to get some formal training. So, I look forward to upskilling opportunities at Amazon and plan on building an upward career path within the company. I know that there's a workforce upskilling program, and I'm very excited to find out more about it."
Career Goals
4. Where do you see your career going in the next five years?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to learn that you are not only dedicated to a career path in project management but that you also look forward to contributing to Amazon's success. They aren't going to be interested in someone who is just looking to add experience with the company to their resume. Be honest but emphasize that you plan to continue building your project management skills. Along with growing your project management career, also show that you see yourself growing with the company.
Answer Example
"In five years, I see myself managing or training other project managers at Amazon. Throughout the years, I have moved up the ranks from a project assistant when I was fresh out of college to the multi-faceted project manager I am today. To date, I've worked in similar industries to yours, and in similar working environments. I was able to hone a lot of my technical expertise and now I'm ready to become part of something bigger. I believe that the company has a whole world to offer when it comes to opportunities. I'm excited to get a chance to make an impact."
Communication
5. Tell me how you communicate with others. What kind of communicator are you?
How to Answer
Because Amazon is a massive company, project managers are expected to work cross-functionally and across locations, with stakeholders at all levels. An effective answer will give the interviewer a glimpse into your communication style. Specifically, they will be looking for someone who can show leadership and vary their approach. Keep in mind the variety of people you will be communicating with, and the reasons you'll be speaking with them.
Answer Example
"I'd like to think that I'm a versatile communicator. Whether I'm speaking with a regular customer who just wants to be assured that they'll get their order on time, or the CEO of a company who needs a report condensed into 15 minutes, I can communicate according to people's needs. The way I'm able to effectively relate with others is by paying a lot of attention on non-verbal cues, such as their body language, tone of voice, and word choice. I'll respond in a way that I think will get both parties what they need from the conversation. I also like to follow through with communication. For example, if I've emailed someone about a deliverable, I'll be sure to follow up appropriately. Sometimes that's in person, and other times it could be a simple nudge on instant messenger, and sometimes it's a quick call."
Competency
6. How experienced are you in using RAID analysis?
How to Answer
Project managers commonly use RAID analysis at the beginning of projects to assess risks and issues. You will want to show the interviewer that you know what it is and, if possible, walk them through a past project when you used RAID analysis. In addition, mention any software that you use to run this type of analysis.
Answer Example
"I always run a RAID analysis prior to starting a project. Doing so allows me to perform a broad environmental scan during the planning stage of the project so that I become aware of any potential issues or risks. I have used various programs to run RAID analyses; more recently I have used GroupMap. I like it from an organizational standpoint too because it encourages me to put everything relevant to the project in one place. Within my current role, I oversaw a marketing blitz for a new product. The RAID analysis I ran at the beginning of the project brought many risks, assumptions, and issues to light but, significantly, it showed me that we couldn't move the project along until our designer created all of our marketing material. I was able to identify him as a potential bottleneck; to resolve this I put strict deadlines and frequent communication efforts in place. Ultimately, the project was completed successfully."
Competency
7. How have you used project management methodology to improve the project success?
How to Answer
With a quick browser search, you will find that Amazon mostly follows agile, specifically scrum methodology, in its projects. Instead of getting lost on the details of agile or scrum, the interviewer will want to learn that you are able to evaluate success and iterate based on your evaluations throughout the project's lifecycle. Cite an example of a time when you were able to continually improve the process while undergoing it. An effective answer will draw on specific metrics.
Answer Example
"In my years as a project manager, I have always taken the time to regularly evaluate project success at every turn. The best example I can draw from is when I managed the development of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for the entire company. Individual modules for all five departments were to be developed, and the employee lifecycle of all 1300 workers would need to be managed through the ERP.
We started development with a recruitment sub-module. Once a functionality was ready for testing, we assigned one recruiter to use it for applicant processing. They used a checklist that gauged the quantitative and qualitative effectiveness of the functionality at hand. Before we moved on to the next sub-module, I organized a post-mortem meeting to go over our learnings and used those learnings to improve the development process moving forward."
Customer Service
8. Describe a time when you incorporated customer feedback into the implementation plan or in the way the business was run.
How to Answer
Customer obsession is at the top of Amazon's leadership principles. First, the interviewer will want to hear that you care about customers by recalling feedback that stood out to you in the past. Second, they will want to hear how you used that feedback in your implementation plan. When positioning your response, demonstrate empathy towards the customer, and speak about feedback in specific terms.
Answer Example
"During my time as a project manager at XYZ, I managed the development of the client's e-commerce website. Once the site was up, we continued to manage the back-end. The client had a very specific taste in aesthetics which did not translate well for the business. For example, they picked graphics that could confuse customers. I did a quick research about how their choices would negatively impact customer engagement and presented the facts to them. We reached a compromise for go-live, but the final product still bothered me.
So, in the first couple of months of the site being live, I plugged in a website heat-mapping tool that would monitor at which parts of the web pages customers dropped off. Long story short, I proved that customers were confused by the visuals. I proposed to run an A/B test with visuals that my creative director and I thought would be simpler, but still well-aligned with the client's brand. Our A/B test proved us right. In the end, we were able to persuade the client to change the graphics. In addition, we started implementing the same A/B process for other clients and it really helped the company establish authority in the web development space."
Experience
9. What do you do to prevent 'scope creep?'
How to Answer
Scope creep can be a real problem for project managers. It occurs when the project's objectives shift as it progresses, which can lead to the project going over its budget and/or timeline. The interviewer wants to be assured that you know how to recognize and handle scope creep. Talk to them about how you would prevent it from occurring and what you would do if it did happen.
Answer Example
"Scope creep can be a real problem that results in unhappy customers/stakeholders and a blown budget and/or timeline. In my experience, it tends to occur when there is a lot of client and/or stakeholder feedback that the project manager doesn't correctly manage. Feedback is good, but many times it comes along with additional requests. I've learned that the best way to handle these kinds of requests is to clearly explain to the customer or stakeholder how fulfilling a specific request will change the cost and timeline of the project. Then I only add this to the project scope if the client/stakeholder accepts these cost and timeline changes. I also make sure that the scope of the project is definitively spelled out at the beginning of the project and that I keep track of the smaller tasks and goals as they are achieved so we don't veer off-course. In the instances when scope creep does occur, I move quickly to establish and communicate new expectations."
Experience
10. Recall a time when you had to leverage data to make or influence a decision.
How to Answer
Demonstrate your ability to deep dive. As a leader, you are expected to have your finger on the pulse when it comes to data and details. Cite an example of a time when you investigated a problem and used metrics to solidify a decision. It may help to present your answer in a structured format, for example, that of a case study: an executive summary, analysis, proposed solutions, conclusion, and implementation.
Answer Example
"Once, I managed the revamp of a client's website. Ultimately, the goal was to increase the rate of converting site visitors into buyers. We were at a standstill because of creative differences between the client and our content strategist on the brand messaging. The client was married to the messaging that they'd had since the business started. The content strategist thought the messaging was outdated, and that it did not give the audience an accurate or engaging impression about the brand.
I proposed to run a marketing survey. The goal was to present the target audience with both messaging options. Then, they would rate both on different qualities, including their likeliness to purchase. The results were astoundingly in favor of our content strategist's message. In the end, the client relented and admitted that pushing their old messaging was really more of a sentimental thing. To be certain, we ran an A/B test on both options and proved that the new message was more effective in converting visitors."
Experience
11. What common risks have you encountered in previous projects and how do you handle them?
How to Answer
By asking this question, the interviewer is assessing your competence in identifying events that may negatively impact the project in the future. Talk to the interviewer about specific risks that you are confident you were able to mitigate or plan against. Further, demonstrate that you were able to successfully follow through on your mitigation plan.
Answer Example
"The most common risk that I always keep my eye on is going over budget. For example, I was managing the implementation of a new service offering. The project was already pre-defined and it came with a budget breakdown and activation schedule for every sales area. These numbers were based on five-year-old census data. As soon as I saw this information, I immediately brought up the risk that these outdated numbers could pose. In my experience, census numbers have always been lower than actual. This could mean that if we actually had more prospective customers than expected, we would need to hire, train and manage more salespeople, produce more marketing and sales collaterals, among other things. Fortunately, we had some time to run it by our CFO and we increased the budget by 20%. When we ran the numbers after the first month of sales, we found out that it would've cost us at least 50% more if we didn't plan accordingly."
Leadership
12. Tell me about your favorite manager (anyone you directly reported to). What qualities did they have that really stood out to you?
How to Answer
By asking this question, the interviewer is looking at how your leadership style is influenced by others. This question also determines your attitude towards leaders, as well as the type of personalities you work well with. When positioning your response, keep in mind the type of working environment Amazon has, and address the expectations outlined in the job description.
Answer Example
"My favorite manager was my team leader at a call center. I was working the phones, which was a very stressful job. Whenever I had a difficult call, he pulled me off once the call was done, and he let me vent. When we hit above our target metrics, he made sure to give us kudos. And, whenever we got bad reviews, he would do one-on-one coaching. After a while, I got consistently high marks. My team leader started letting me coach other teammates while he observed. Eventually, he recommended me for promotion. He really proved that a great leader is someone who produces other great leaders. I try to follow his the same style as a leader."
Leadership
13. How would your previous stakeholders and team members describe you as a leader?
How to Answer
This is a general leadership question, but the interviewer is looking for you to address specific aspects in your answer. Because of Amazon's size, you'll want to address your ability to manage projects smoothly across multiple groups and locations. A successful answer will have the underlying tone that you can make decisions quickly in a high-pressure, dynamic environment.
Answer Example
"If you were to ask my colleagues about my leadership style, they'd say that I'm an empathetic facilitator. I try to always be sensitive to everyone's needs from project sponsors, stakeholders, and other co-workers. They would say that I do my best to get them all the resources they need to get their jobs done. I'm also the glue that keeps everyone together and keeps the morale up. They'd also say that I'm the person they'd go to first whenever a fire starts and trust me to put it out."
Leadership
14. Tell me about any experience you have overseeing remote teams.
How to Answer
Nowadays it is very common for a project manager to work with teams who are located elsewhere, especially when working for a global organization like Amazon. The interviewer wants to know that you are capable in this area. Provide examples of times when you've successfully led remote workers. If you haven't yet done this, talk about how you would handle it. Be sure to mention how you would communicate with and oversee remote teams if hired as an Amazon Project Manager.
Answer Example
"There have been many instances during my career where I've had the opportunity to lead remote teams. I'm fully comfortable doing this. Most importantly, I make sure to use an online project management program that is accessible to everyone, no matter their location. This helps me to make sure every team member is aware of my expectations for them and allows me to track their progress. I've learned to be flexible in terms of when the work happens as people who are located elsewhere might have different schedules and/or be in a different time zone. And communication is vital; I schedule short virtual huddles to keep workers who are outside of the office apprised of deadlines, resource availability, etc. I use Zoom, Skype, and even Facetime to communicate with them in addition to sharing Google documents."
Management
15. Tell me about the most notable risk you have identified in a project?
How to Answer
Risk management is a vital skill in project management. The interviewer will want to learn about how well you can identify risks ahead of time, and use your resources to mitigate these risks. In positioning your response, recall at least one instance and explain why you think it shows your competency in risk management. Keep the leadership principles in mind and tie your answers back to them as appropriate.
Answer Example
"My most memorable example of risk management is the first time I encountered scope creep in a software development project. The development team had an internal meeting without my knowledge and the lead developer made the decision to add a feature. Unfortunately, this wasn't part of the original plan and therefore wasn't budgeted. Once I found out, I reviewed the requirements with the lead developer right away and we identified that we couldn't afford the time and money it would take to implement this feature. We made a compromise to revisit the feature for version 2. As a result, we were able to deliver version 1 on time."
Performance Based
16. What do you do to ensure your project is on or below budget?
How to Answer
Amazon leaders don't get extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense. When crafting your response, demonstrate how well you can plan and how you incorporate budget monitoring when project scoping. Mention common reasons for projects going over the budget, as well as ways that you have prevented budget overruns.
Answer Example
"In my experience, planning beats mitigating, when it comes to budgets. It's always best to over-project the budget at the beginning by accounting for common budget overrun culprits like longer-than-expected labor hours, or unforeseen changes. This way, I have a Plan B or Plan C when they do come up. When they end up worse than projected, I can inform stakeholders as soon as I identify the risk. At the beginning of a project, I don't know what I don't know, so the best I can do is look at similar projects and prepare a plan for the worst-case scenario."
Performance Based
17. How do you measure your own success as a project manager? What key performance indicators are most important to you?
How to Answer
There are many different ways project managers measure their own success, but you can categorize most KPIs under four general categories: financial, customer, process, and personal development. Choose two or three that speak directly to Amazon's leadership principles. The interviewer will want to learn more about how well you understand each of these key performance indicators and their relevance in your role as a project manager.
Answer Example
"I can speak to my own success measures at a very high level. In terms of the financial success of projects, I keep off-track tasks, do-overs, and scope creep items to a minimum. Depending on the industry I'm in, I would assign a maximum number per week or month to keep myself accountable and avoid further issues. Second, my main metric in keeping my customers happy, whether they're internal or external, would be feedback. For external customers, a regularly scheduled qualitative survey usually works. For internal customers, it's usually a working feedback process between me and stakeholders, as well as between me and task owners. I think that if communication is effective and open, their level of confidence in me will show."
Problem Solving
18. Describe a time when you were able to remove a serious roadblock preventing your team from making progress.
How to Answer
With this question, you are being assessed on your ability to roll up your sleeves and remove obstacles, even when something is not your job. In your answer, explain what the roadblock was, why it was a roadblock, and the steps you took to eliminate it. Then, describe how you were able to deliver results successfully because of your decisiveness.
Answer Example
"Once I had a team member who was running behind on a deliverable that was the first significant milestone for the project. Without it, a budget would not even be submitted for approval. The team member confessed that they had not even started with the task at all and that it would be impossible to deliver on time. I followed up immediately and assessed how much time it would take to complete, and what skill set the task required. Then, I assigned two people to divide the sub-tasks between the two of them. The original task owner would then oversee the quality of the deliverable. We still missed the deadline, but I was able to give all the stakeholders and sponsors a heads-up in real time. "
Problem Solving
19. How do you handle the escalation of an issue and when might you do this?
How to Answer
There are going to be times as an Amazon Project Manager when there is a conflict that you are unable to resolve. During times like these, you may have to take the issue at hand to another entity higher up the chain. Explain to the interviewer the process you follow in situations like this and what would provoke you to do so in the first place.
Answer Example
"There have been multiple times throughout my career when I've encountered two parties who disagreed with each other. In fact, it happens all the time! Many times resolution can be found after I encourage respectful discussion and compromise. Other times, I have to bring in a stakeholder to hear both sides and make the final determination. I would only escalate the issue is if there is a resource conflict. For example, if employees are being pulled off project work to handle operational work instead. Naturally, this kind of issue can threaten the project's timeline so, in this case, I would reach out to a stakeholder to explain the urgency and importance of the project and to agree on a workable solution, which might be gaining a replacement or accepting a change in the project's timeline. Whatever the outcome, it's also up to me to communicate these changes and/or solutions to everyone."
Scenario Based
20. Tell me about a time you disagreed with your superior. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
At Amazon, leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. The interviewer will want to hear how you showed conviction in your decision. They will also want to hear that you were determined to commit wholly to that decision.
Answer Example
"One time at X Consultancy, we were reviewing options for the project management tool. The tool we were using at the time was very affordable, but it also had very limited capabilities. For example, we still had to collaborate with clients and task owners through email, chat, and through the shared drive.
Our operations director proposed an alternative. After going through the features of the tool, I still found it lacking. In my experience, giving task owners the ability to do 90% of task management within the PM tool really helped expedite the workflow. For instance, if a deliverable needs to be reviewed by the task owner's superior, then the PM tool should have the functionality to attach files and add comments. So, I did my research and found two better options. I pitched both and supported my proposal with testimonials from users which highlighted how the tool helped their team's productivity. I also ran it by the production team, and they loved my picks. The operations director wasn't happy, but I was able to convince leadership to go with one of my picks. I made my case because, since I would be one of the everyday users of the tool, I should also be more attuned with the ins and outs of the tool's functionalities. At the end of the first year using the tool, our productivity went up by 12%."
Scenario Based
21. Recall a time when you received difficult feedback as a project manager. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
At Amazon, being able to earn your team's trust is paramount in being an effective leader. When positioning your answer, expound on the actions you took after receiving the feedback, rather than being consumed by the details of the feedback. Think about how you were able to grow from the experience, and hold yourself and your team to the highest of standards.
Answer Example
"I've been told by colleagues that I can appear to be overly rigid during project meetings. For instance, I'd strictly follow the agenda down to the number of minutes spent on each item. Unfortunately, this didn't give everyone the chance to express their ideas and they would leave the meeting feeling unheard. After receiving the feedback, I realized that my job wasn't to enforce deadlines; it was to facilitate a smooth workflow for everyone and ultimately get the best results out of every task. I learned to be more flexible in meetings. Instead of getting fixated on getting a lot done, I focused on getting clear, actionable steps and corresponding task commitments from the team."
Scenario Based
22. How do you handle it when one of your team members makes a mistake?
How to Answer
It's inevitable that people on the teams you are overseeing during a project will occasionally make mistakes. The interviewer wants to know how you, as an Amazon Project Manager, will manage these kinds of situations when they arise. Your answer should show them that you are professional, tactful, respectful, and ethical, keeping Amazon's core values in mind. Provide real-life examples if possible.
Answer Example
"There have definitely been times when I've had to talk to a team member about disappointing work behavior and/or an error that they made. I start by observing and gathering evidence myself so I can provide the individual with immediate feedback so they have the opportunity to fix the problem. If the issue persists, I request a private meeting where I aim to be respectful and professional; I never want someone to feel falsely accused. I listen and try my best to understand their perspective. Then I explain to them why I would like to see a change in their behavior or a fix made to correct their mistake. Together, keeping the focus on how we can best complete the project in a timely and outstanding manner for the client, we create a short-term action plan. This generally leads to a change in the person's behavior. If it doesn't, I approach their manager and we consider what course of action needs to be taken to remedy the problem. At all times, keeping the project on track and the customer happy is of the utmost priority."
Scenario Based
23. You're given a chance to pick a failed project and do it over. Walk me through your plan for success.
How to Answer
There is a multitude of reasons a project fails. In this question, the interviewer is assessing your ability to remove yourself from a situation to analyze it thoroughly. When positioning your response, think about how you would remain objective in your analysis. A successful answer will demonstrate how you are eager to learn from your mistakes and can focus on delivering the best results.
Answer Example
"I would pick a previous project that failed because of the lack of prioritization. At the onset, leadership told us that this was going to be an open-ended pet project. They also had a few creative ideas for us to explore. I would assign team members tasks, but those tasks kept getting pushed down to prioritize other projects that were more profitable for the company. It finally got shoved after several months. In retrospect, I should have put my foot down at the beginning and asked for an ROI analysis to see if it was worth starting the project at all. There was no business case or clear goals. The problem was that I was too new to the company that I didn't feel confident asserting myself. I've since learned to bring up any disagreements I had with leadership, as long as I'm able to use numbers to support my case."
Scenario Based
24. Two project team members are not seeing eye to eye on a decision point. How will you handle the conflict to keep the project on track?
How to Answer
In working environments like Amazon's, you are bound to work with team members who have strong judgment. When positioning your answer, clearly express that you are well-skilled in mediating conflict before it can impact the project's success. Cite an example of a time when you had to mediate between team members. A successful answer should address how you were able to steer your team towarding delivering results despite the disagreement.
Answer Example
"As a project manager at XYZ, I managed the development of a client's new website. The creative director and web developer had a disagreement about the website menu design. I met with them separately to understand their points of view. In the end, was able to find a middle ground between aesthetics and function. I did this by tying everything back to the target metrics we set with the client at the beginning of the build. Thankfully, they both took an objective approach and we were able to get back on track."
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Stephanie's Feedback
Scenario Based
25. Your team is starting to lose confidence. How do you show them that you have their back?
How to Answer
With this question, the interviewer is assessing your ability to lead and influence. As with any other issue that arises in a project, you are expected to conduct a root-cause analysis. An effective answer will demonstrate how well you can gather the necessary feedback from the team, solve it effectively, and improve the situation, even when you identify yourself as the problem. In your answer, demonstrate how you can motivate a team by providing specific examples of actions that will boost their morale.
Answer Example
"I'll immediately gather everyone for a team meeting. In this meeting, I'll give everyone the time and space to air out their challenges and concerns. I'll listen and empathize with them and assure them that I will do everything I can to get them what they need to complete their tasks. I'll also ask them for feedback about my performance as a leader and act on that feedback. As tasks are completed, I'll post shoutouts in the group chat to boost their morale. I'll also hold individual catch-ups regularly, even if it's just for 15 minutes at a time so that we can put out small fires before they catch on."
Scenario Based
26. A team member has just told you that they are not 100% satisfied with their deliverable and will need another week to complete. How would you handle this situation?
How to Answer
In project management, perfection is the enemy of completion. By asking this question, the interviewer is finding out your ability to negotiate with team members when the project timeline starts to get compromised. Provide concrete examples of how you would reason with the team member without coming off as bureaucratic.
Answer Example
"This has happened to me a few times. I successfully handled it by immediately conducting a work session with the designer to understand where they were coming from. Their concern was that the work was inadequate in their eyes and not representative of his quality of work. I didn't necessarily agree about the quality, so I went over the project's target metrics with them and showed them that we were on par. I then continued to explain that if we aim for perfection, we wouldn't only miss the deadline, we would also go over the budget. So, we agreed on a hard deadline. We still went past the due date, but only by two days. Even with the extra hours, we were able to stay within budget."
Scenario Based
27. You have been tasked to manage expansion into a completely new market. What are your first steps?
How to Answer
When crafting your response, cover the budget and timeline first. Keep in mind that the company values frugality, speed, and quality. In your answer, clearly outline your expertise in project scoping. Drawing on previous experience in which you reached harmony in maintaining the budget, timeline, and quality can help make your answers more realistic.
Answer Example
"First, I would find out the budget for this expansion and its target launch date. Then, I will look for any precedents -- any previous projects that may have similar milestones. This will also help me make better decisions based on the project outcomes. If none, I can start from scratch by identifying and meeting with the main stakeholders and build the project scope from there. With each milestone I identify, I will aim to present estimated costs and turnaround times at the onset."
Scenario Based
28. Your project is slated to have three phases over three years. Each phase will have the same milestones, just different locations. Stakeholders are likely to change. How will you ensure consistency across three phases?
How to Answer
In this example, consistency will rely heavily on a repeatable process. You are being assessed in your competence to document processes properly. Assure the interviewer that you understand the importance of process documentation, specifically process mapping. You will want to identify the parts of a process map and provide other process documentation examples as required.
Answer Example
"Because each phase has the same project milestones, it will be much easier for me to plan for consistency. As I work with the stakeholders in building the project plan, I will extract elements for process mapping. My objective would be to document the process based on Phase 1. I can identify actions, decision points, expected input, output, as well as owners. During the course of the project, I can take out elements that won't need to be repeated for Phases 2 and 3. At the end of the project, I can expound on the map and write a playbook."
Scenario Based Project Manager
29. After a few project meetings, you're finding that there aren't any concrete steps from stakeholders, just a lot of ideas. How will you manage execution?
How to Answer
It's the PM's job to paint a realistic picture of the project's needs and requirements. With this question, the interviewer is gauging your ability to devise an implementation plan amidst a sea of ideas. To answer this question successfully, outline how you would trim down to the essentials without discouraging stakeholders from sharing their ideas. Amazon values speed, and calculated risk-taking, so demonstrate your ability to make quick decisions with the information available to you.
Answer Example
"This sounds like everyone is stuck in analysis paralysis. My first step would be to meet with each stakeholder individually. In these meetings, I let them know that while I value their ideas, there need to be concrete tasks. I'll ask for specific steps and respective owners. Once I have everyone's list, I'll distill the plan and take out any task that doesn't directly impact the success of the project. Then I'll gather the team again, present the plan and run the schedule by them."
Scenario Based Project Manager
30. Tell me about a time when you challenged the status quo. What did you do to change it? Were you successful?
How to Answer
This question is aimed to assess your ability to effect change. In your response, show that you can present facts to support your case. The interviewer will also expect you to outline a tangible plan. When crafting your answer, keep in mind one of the company's leadership principles: bias for action.
Answer Example
"This has happened to me before at XYZ where they only followed the waterfall method because they need budgeting to be predictable. I was assigned to manage the in-house development of a workforce management system. Because this was going to be their first development project for the company, I thought that it would be best to keep the process agile. Even though I was hired for my experience in software development, that doesn't mean that I can predict an exact timeline. I still needed to familiarize myself with the company's specific needs. So, I mocked up an agile workflow with regular budget reviews and presented it to the team. I included projected outcomes. Fortunately, I was able to convince everyone to run agile just for this project."