How long is an Amazon job interview?

Amazon job interviews typically range from 30 minutes to a full day, depending on the stage of the process and the type of interview. Here's a breakdown of the different stages and their approximate lengths:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first interview, usually a technical phone screen or recruiter call, lasts around 30 to 60 minutes.

What to Expect:

• Recruiter Call: Usually 30 minutes, focused on discussing your background and the role’s requirements.
• Technical Phone Screen: Typically 45 to 60 minutes, where you’ll solve coding problems or answer technical questions live.

2. Online Assessment

If you’re asked to complete an online coding assessment, it usually takes 60-90 minutes. You can complete this assessment at your convenience within a specified time frame (usually a few days).

3. Onsite (or Virtual) Interviews

The onsite (or virtual) interview is the most extensive part of Amazon’s process and usually lasts a full day or around 4-5 hours. You’ll go through a series of 4-5 back-to-back interviews, each lasting 45-60 minutes.

What to Expect:

• Coding Interviews: Typically 2-3 rounds, each lasting about 45-60 minutes.
• System Design Interview (for mid-level and senior roles): Usually 60 minutes to design a scalable system.
• Behavioral Interviews: Each behavioral interview lasts around 45 minutes and focuses on Amazon’s Leadership Principles.
• Bar Raiser Interview: A key interview that lasts 45-60 minutes, where a Bar Raiser evaluates your cultural fit and overall performance.

4. Debrief and Decision

After the interviews, the interviewers meet for a debrief and typically decide within a few days to a week. You won’t be involved in this, but it’s part of the process.

Summary:

• Phone Screen: 30-60 minutes
• Online Assessment: 60-90 minutes
• Onsite/Virtual Interviews: 4-5 hours (with 4-5 back-to-back interviews)

The overall interview process for Amazon can be rigorous, especially during the onsite/virtual stage, but each individual interview is usually 45-60 minutes long. To be well-prepared for these interviews, consider taking Grokking the Coding Interview and Grokking the System Design Interview from DesignGurus.io, which can help sharpen your coding and system design skills.