I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon (San Francisco, CA) in Jul 2018
Interview
Rude. I was instructed to be very familiar with the Amazon 14 Leadership Principles and be prepared to answer S.T.A.R.-type questions (to illustrate the principles?). Hiring manager asked me one question, "Tell me about a time you led a team."
Then she checked out. At first when she asked questions (and I was speaking slowly), she said it was because she was taking notes and I was speaking too fast. I slowed down more. She still kept asking questions, which ultimately made me believe she just wasn't listening. Also, as soon as she asked me to repeat something - and I would start talking - she would YAWN quite audibly. She yawned at least 20 times over our 30-minute call.
After asking me ONLY that one question (and clearly exhibiting TOTAL disinterest), she asked me if I had any questions. I said no - but what I should have said was, "If I get this job, do I really *have* to work with YOU?!"
It had 6 rounds- heavily focussed on leadership principles. they really do cross question almost every other example.......... You get multiple interviewers across the organisation. I thought- the questions were repetitive after one point.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Mention a time when you could give the customer what they asked for ?
I applied online. I interviewed at Amazon in Jun 2026
Interview
No HR screen; you answer those questions over email. You do a ridiculous project simulation where you answer emails. Paradoxically it’s interesting yet cheesy at the same time. Very unique but not that difficult. Then the first real interview. Rarely with the direct hiring manager; usually someone else in the org but not this direct team. So it’s useless to research the department. In fact, it’s better to prepare your strong STAR examples. They probe deep, which is fine. They heavily expect numbers. The more you can spout out random numbers (it’s okay, no one will verify) the better. The final round is more of the same — Just more STAR interviews, 2 per session, 4 sessions total. The people in this round are even more critical and harsh than the previous rounds. All done by people who have worked here for 5+ years and have never left — or if they did they came from another FANG company. So they’re all typically arrogant and jaded and negative or on the way to getting there. Finally they all have this weird verbal communication style where they just talk on and on like they expect you to interrupt them — but it’s an interview so you have to be polite can’t interrupt them. So like what the heck.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
A time you had to mediate a conflict between two stakeholders. A time you had to dig deep into the data.
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Amazon
Interview
1. Initial Screening: It begins with a recruiter sync.
2. The "Loop": It's a 5-to-6-round panel interview focusing on deep technical skills, system design, leadership principles, or domain expertise depending on the role.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe a time when you had to take a risk or make a decision with incomplete information.