What questions will be asked in an Amazon interview?

In an Amazon interview, you can expect a combination of technical questions (if applying for technical roles) and behavioral questions based on Amazon’s Leadership Principles. Here's a breakdown of common types of questions:

1. Behavioral Questions

Amazon’s interview process heavily emphasizes behavior-based questions tied to the 14 Leadership Principles. These questions aim to assess how your past experiences align with Amazon’s core values.

• Example Questions:
  • "Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a team member and how you handled it." (Testing Earn Trust)
  • "Give an example of when you took ownership of a project." (Testing Ownership)
  • "Describe a time when you had to dive deep into data to solve a problem." (Testing Dive Deep)
  • "Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision with limited information." (Testing Bias for Action)
  • "Explain a situation where you innovated something for the benefit of the customer." (Testing Customer Obsession)

2. Technical Questions (For Technical Roles)

If you’re applying for a technical position (software development, engineering, etc.), you’ll face technical questions. These are often coding problems or system design questions that test your problem-solving skills and technical knowledge.

• Coding Interview Questions:
  • "Given a string, find the first non-repeating character."
  • "Write a function to reverse a linked list."
  • "Implement a stack using queues."

For coding interviews, Amazon often tests candidates on coding patterns like dynamic programming, trees, graphs, and arrays. You can prepare by mastering common coding patterns using 20 Coding Patterns to Master MAANG Interviews from DesignGurus.

• System Design Interview Questions (For Senior or Architect Roles):
  • "Design a system like Instagram that allows users to post photos, follow others, and like posts."
  • "How would you design a URL shortening service like bit.ly?"
  • "Design a global-scale e-commerce platform."

For system design interviews, you can check out System Design Interview Questions from DesignGurus or explore deeper concepts in How to Answer Any System Design Interview Question.

3. Leadership and Cultural Fit Questions

Amazon also asks questions to assess how well you’ll fit into their culture and if you embody their Leadership Principles. These questions might touch on how you handle challenges, leadership, and customer focus.

• Example Questions:
  • "How do you prioritize competing tasks?"
  • "What motivates you to do your best work?"
  • "Tell me about a time you had to earn the trust of a team."

4. Problem-Solving Questions

Amazon values candidates who can think critically and solve real-world problems. They often ask hypothetical questions to see how you break down problems and come up with solutions.

• Example Questions:
  • "How would you solve a situation where an important client is unsatisfied?"
  • "What would you do if your project is running behind schedule and your team is underperforming?"

By preparing for a mix of behavioral, technical, and problem-solving questions, you can improve your chances of succeeding in an Amazon interview.