What questions does Amazon ask in an interview?

Introduction

Preparing for an Amazon interview means getting ready to tackle a mix of behavioral and technical questions designed to assess both your skills and how well you align with Amazon’s unique culture. Understanding the types of questions you might face can help you prepare effectively and boost your confidence. Let’s dive into the common questions Amazon asks and how you can excel in your interview.

Behavioral Questions

Amazon places a strong emphasis on its 16 Leadership Principles, which are integral to their interview process. Expect questions that explore how you've demonstrated these principles in your past experiences.

Customer Obsession

• Example Question: Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond to meet a customer's needs?
• Preparation Tip: Think of specific instances where you prioritized customer satisfaction and the impact it had.

Ownership

• Example Question: Tell me about a project you took full ownership of from start to finish.
• Preparation Tip: Highlight your responsibility, decision-making, and how you ensured the project's success.

Invent and Simplify

• Example Question: Describe a situation where you created a new way to solve a problem or simplified a process.
• Preparation Tip: Focus on your creativity and the tangible benefits your innovation brought.

Technical Questions

For technical roles, Amazon interviews include questions that assess your problem-solving abilities, coding skills, and understanding of system design.

Coding Problems

• Example Question: Write a function to reverse a linked list.
• Preparation Tip: Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode and consider enrolling in courses like Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions.

System Design

• Example Question: How would you design a scalable URL shortening service?
• Preparation Tip: Study system design fundamentals and take courses such as Grokking the System Design Interview.

Algorithm and Data Structures

• Example Question: Explain how a hash table works and provide a use case.
• Preparation Tip: Deepen your understanding of data structures and algorithms with Grokking Data Structures & Algorithms for Coding Interviews.

Sample Questions

Here are some additional questions you might encounter during an Amazon interview:

Leadership Principles-Based Questions

• How have you handled a situation where you had to make a difficult decision with incomplete information?
• Give an example of a time you failed and how you handled it.

Technical Questions

• Implement a binary search algorithm.
• Design a high-availability system for an online bookstore.

Tips for Success

• Use the STAR Method: Structure your answers using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to provide clear and concise responses.
• Align with Leadership Principles: Relate your experiences to Amazon’s Leadership Principles to demonstrate cultural fit.
• Practice Coding and System Design: Regularly solve coding problems and engage in system design exercises to sharpen your technical skills.
• Engage in Mock Interviews: Participate in mock interviews to receive feedback and improve your performance. Consider System Design Mock Interview and Coding Mock Interview sessions by DesignGurus.io for personalized feedback from ex-FAANG engineers.

Recommended Courses

Enhance your preparation with targeted courses from DesignGurus.io:

• Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions
• Grokking the System Design Interview
• Grokking Data Structures & Algorithms for Coding Interviews

Conclusion

Amazon interviews are designed to evaluate both your technical prowess and how well you embody their Leadership Principles. By preparing thoroughly for both behavioral and technical questions, leveraging the right resources, and practicing consistently, you can stand out as a strong candidate.