Amazon interview questions are designed by HR professionals to help them assess candidates seeking employment with this multinational technology company. They are guided by Amazon’s core values and principles, which revolve around customer obsession and passion for invention and excellence.
In this article, we’ll help you prepare for an Amazon interview by going through some of the most common questions you’re likely to encounter. We’ll examine everything from general questions to those about problem-solving, performance, and leadership before giving you interview tips at the end. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Key Takeaways
Amazon interview questions revolve around their four core values: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to excellence, and long-term thinking.
The questions can be broad and designed to assess your overall competence and cultural fit, as well as specific and technical.
You should use the proven STAR method to answer behavioral interview questions.
To maximize your chance of success, you should prepare the questions to ask interviewers and practice via a mock interview.
15 Amazon Interview Questions You Should Prepare For
We compiled a list of the most common Amazon interview questions and split them into distinct categories to help you understand them better and prepare for your meeting with recruiters.
General Interview Questions
General interview questions are designed to broadly assess your competence and interest in the company.
#1. Why do you want to work at Amazon?
Recruiters ask this interview question to see whether your professional goals align with Amazon's principles and values. They are looking for motivated individuals who are familiar with the company’s culture.
Here’s an example of a good answer:
Good Answer
“I’ve always admired Amazon’s focus on innovation and customer needs. Your ability to scale to a global level while still catering to the needs of an individual is inspiring. I would love to contribute to your organization and be a part of a culture that continuously strives to be better.”
#2. What is your experience with team collaboration?
This Amazon interview question is designed to gauge your collaboration skills directly. Considering the scale of the company, professionals at Amazon frequently work with individuals from other departments, making collaboration one of the most important soft skills.
Here’s how you can respond:
Good Answer
“In my previous role, I regularly collaborated with marketing and design teams, with occasional teamwork sessions with engineering teams. My role was to facilitate synchronization and resolve scope conflicts to ensure a smooth product launch. This approach helped us exceed user engagement goals by 37% three months after the launch.”
#3. Give me an example of a time you failed at something. What did you learn?
“Ownership” is one of Amazon's leadership core principles and the primary reason recruiters ask this question. They want to see whether you admit when you’ve made a mistake and learn from it.
Here’s a good way to respond to this question:
Good Answer
“During one of my previous projects, I underestimated how much time the team would take to test a mobile application. As a result, we encountered a one-week delay in the rollout.
I communicated my mistake to stakeholders and informed the team before creating a template QA timeline that factors in edge cases and variations. That helped us avoid multiple delays in the future.”
Problem-Solving Interview Questions
Here’s a set of Amazon interview questions designed to assess your ability to solve problems and overcome obstacles.
#1. Describe a situation when you faced a challenge at work.
This question probes into your problem-solving skills. Recruiters ask this question to determine how well you work under pressure, which often happens in a fast-paced environment at their company.
This is one of the behavioral interview questions, and the best way to answer it is by using the STAR method.
Let’s see that in an example:
Good Answer
“At my last job, we encountered a major setback due to a third-party integration failure. I contacted the vendor to pinpoint the issue and coordinated with them to develop a temporary fix.
We adjusted the timeline and communicated it to the client while implementing the workaround. The project was one week late, but the client appreciated transparency and continued working with us.”
#2. Tell me about a time you took a calculated risk. What was the outcome?
“Bias for action” is one of the core Amazon values. The company wants employees who can act quickly and decisively based on the information they have, even in the face of uncertainty.
Here’s an example of a good answer:
Good Answer
“In my previous role, we considered leveraging AI to automate parts of our customer support process. Before implementing the solution on a large scale, I suggested we test it on an FAQ category first.
The calculated risk paid off as we noticed a 55% faster response time over the period of 30 days. Moreover, the feedback from customers was overwhelmingly positive, so we expanded the solution across the entire website.”
#3. Describe a situation where you had to make a decision without sufficient information.
In dynamic and fast-paced environments like Amazon, professionals often have to make good decisions with limited data. This is another behavioral question for an Amazon interview that recruiters use to determine if you’re comfortable with such uncertainty and if you make sound judgments.
Here’s how you can respond to this Amazon interview question:
Good Answer
“I was leading a marketing campaign launch when we encountered a sudden loss of a considerable amount of market and customer information. I leveraged previous campaigns and historical data to make an educated guess based on our highest-performing strategies. The end result was a successful campaign that exceeded initial projections by 23%.”
#4. Have you ever had to deal with an ambiguous situation? How did you approach it?
Recruiters ask this question to see whether you can take initiative when there is no set path to follow. More than that, they are indirectly assessing your leadership and critical thinking skills.
Here’s a good way to answer this question:
Good Answer
“In my previous role, I was in charge of a project that had ambiguous deliverables. I held a meeting with the team to collect all their questions and concerns before gathering clients and stakeholders to present them with our inquiries.
After one meeting, we clarified all ambiguities, defined the scope and measurable goals, and aligned the team. This allowed us to complete the project ahead of schedule.”
#5. Tell me about a time when you had to innovate or simplify a complex process.
“Invent and simplify” is another foundational principle of Amazon. They are always looking for professionals who can think outside the box and improve their operational efficiency.
Let’s see an example of a good answer:
Good Answer
“My previous employer had a manual inventory tracking system that wasn’t appropriately optimized and was causing frequent delays. I realized I could make a Python script to automate the process, reduce the costs, and minimize error rates.
After implementing the script, I reduced the update time by 75% and eliminated human error. The company ended up implementing the solution across all departments.”
Performance and Adaptability Interview Questions
Let’s check some of the questions designed to assess your performance and adaptability during the Amazon hiring process.
#1. How do you handle working in a fast-paced environment?
Amazon has a demanding pace, regardless of the specific role you’re applying for. Recruiters ask this question to determine whether you can keep up without burning out or reducing the quality of your work.
Let’s see an example of a good answer:
Good Answer
“I handle fast-paced environments by setting micro tasks and deadlines that allow me to complete them fully before moving to the next. I’m adept at various project management tools that help me organize my workload and focus on high-impact assignments.
I find it critical to stay calm under pressure and keep the big picture in mind while being solution-oriented on a small scale.”
#2. How do you prioritize tasks during busy times?
Recruiters ask this Amazon interview question to evaluate your prioritization skills. Working in a company that big usually involves making constant trade-offs. Recruiters want to see if you can do that efficiently and make smart decisions under pressure.
Here’s what a good answer looks like:
Good Answer
“During busy times, I prioritize tasks by using the Eisenhower matrix. This allows me to assess and sort every task based on its importance and urgency. Important and urgent tasks receive my immediate attention while I schedule and delegate the rest.
Since most of my previous roles involved teamwork, I also prioritize open and continuous communication with stakeholders to ensure everyone’s expectations are aligned.”
#3. What do you know about Amazon’s values and mission?
Amazon has a set of core values and leadership principles that its employees adhere to. Recruiters ask this question to see how well you understand these values and determine whether you’re going to be a good cultural fit for the company.
Here’s a good way to answer this question:
Good Answer
“Amazon’s core mission—to become the most customer-centric company in the world and not focus on the competition—deeply resonates with my values. I admire how your insistence on the highest standards and emphasis on continuous learning and curiosity aren’t just buzzwords but a genuine approach to running a business to serve customers the best.”
Teamwork and Customer Service Interview Questions
Now, let’s take a look at the questions designed to assess your interpersonal skills, whether through working in a team or interacting with customers.
#1. Describe a time when you provided excellent customer service.
A customer-centric company like Amazon always looks for professionals who go above and beyond when providing customer service. That’s why you want to prove your skills by giving a concrete example.
Let’s see that in a sample answer to this Amazon interview question:
Good Answer
“I was leading the development of a digital product for a client who had an urgent issue to resolve the night before a big launch. I addressed their concerns and coordinated with the engineering team to come up with a fix.
I stayed late to oversee the implementation, which resulted in a successful launch. The client later praised our support, signed a long-term contract, and referred us to their associates for two additional large-scale projects.”
#2. How would you handle a difficult customer?
This is one of the more common Amazon interview questions for sales associates. It probes into your ability to handle conflict and de-escalate situations. This is at the core of their customer-first philosophy.
Here’s a good way to respond to this question:
Good Answer
“I take the time to listen to the customer’s concern, genuinely understand the issue, and empathize with their situation. I once dealt with an intense customer dissatisfied due to a late shipment of one of our products.
After acknowledging their concerns, I created a replacement order with expedited shipment and added a discount for the customer. This turned the situation around, and an irate customer became a long-term buyer.”
#3. Describe a time when you disagreed with a team member or a manager.
One of Amazon’s leadership principles is “Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit.” They want professionals who can challenge decisions they disagree with, back up their reasoning with arguments, and commit to a solution.
Here’s an example of an answer that shows a candidate’s ability to disagree in a healthy and productive manner:
Good Answer
“During one of my previous projects, a manager insisted on rushing deployment when we weren’t prepared. I gathered sufficient data to present the risks and propose a different solution. We agreed to launch a limited beta version instead, which validated some of our concerns and helped us fix an issue before the official release.”
#4. Tell me about a time you had to motivate a colleague.
This question helps recruiters assess your informal leadership skills. It’s also a common Amazon interview question for managers.
Here’s a good way to respond:
Good Answer
“In my previous company, a colleague was feeling discouraged after having their project shelved. I went to lunch with them and helped them reframe the situation, gather the knowledge acquired, and present it to upper management regarding a new project.
Their confidence and motivation returned, and later on, they succeeded in landing a lead role on the project.”
12 More Questions You Could Be Asked When Interviewing for Amazon
The Amazon interview format is called an “interview loop,” during which you meet numerous professionals from various spheres, each with different questions that asses distinct aspects of your skills and qualifications.
Here are examples of additional questions you can encounter when applying to work for Amazon based on their values.
Let’s start with questions about leadership and ownership:
Questions About Leadership and Ownership
Tell me about a time you led a project from start to finish.
Have you ever had to deliver difficult feedback to a colleague?
Describe a time when you helped someone on your team develop.
Here are some examples of Amazon interview questions on the topic of customer service:
Questions About Customer Service
Have you ever anticipated a customer's need before they asked?
Tell me about a time when you had to balance business needs with customer desires.
How do you apply customer feedback to your work?
Now, here are the questions about innovation and problem-solving:
Questions About Innovation and Problem-Solving
How do you remain creative when solving problems?
Have you ever implemented or improved a process to save time or money?
Have you ever solved a problem that no one else thought of?
Finally, here’s a group of Amazon interview questions about executing and bringing results:
Questions About Executing and Bringing Results
Tell me about one of your biggest goals and how you achieved it.
How do you track your progress and measure success?
Have you ever missed a deadline? If so, what happened, and what did you learn from it?
3 Tips for Nailing Your Amazon Interview
Let’s wrap up this comprehensive guide with three Amazon interview tips and tricks to help you ace the meeting:
Interview Tips
Understand Amazon’s values. Amazon bases its philosophy and interviews on its core values and leadership principles. Taking the time to meticulously read and understand them will help you provide answers that align with their standards.
Conduct a mock interview. One of the best Amazon job interview tips (and tips for any job interview, for that matter) is to practice answering the questions aloud before meeting the recruiter. You can do it in front of a mirror or ask a mentor or friend to help recreate the situation as closely as possible so you can find areas where you can improve.
Prepare questions for interviewers. Interviewers can ask if you have any questions for them, typically toward the end of the meeting. This is your chance to show genuine interest in the role and the company. The key is to prepare questions that show curiosity and alignment with their culture while not being answered with a simple online search.
Pro tip: To ensure that you land a job interview in the first place, you can use our resume builder to grab the recruiter’s attention. It comes with professional resume templates and examples, along with intuitive controls and a robust AI assistant. Use it to craft a job-winning resume—whether for a customer service or managerial position—in minutes!
Final Thoughts
Familiarizing yourself with the most common Amazon interview questions is one of the best ways to get ready for a recruiter. When responding, be mindful of the things Amazon truly values, such as a customer-focused approach, ownership, innovation, and results.
You can save this Amazon interview preparation guide and refer to it whenever you need a refresher. Don’t forget to practice in front of a mirror or with a trusted person, prepare questions for interviewers, and even wear an appropriate outfit. Best of luck!
