Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions 2024

Amazon, a company that started as an online bookstore, is now a global leader in technology, e-commerce, cloud computing, and entertainment.

With millions of employees worldwide, landing a job at Amazon means joining one of the most influential organizations on the planet.

Getting hired here isn't just another career step; it's a leap into an environment where innovation meets scale at a level few companies can match.

But here’s the kicker: Amazon behavioral interview questions are designed to test how well you embody these principles. They’re not your typical, run-of-the-mill "Tell me about yourself" questions.

You will be evaluated against Amazon's leadership principles—16 principles that guide everything from daily decisions to billion-dollar projects.

This blog is your guide to cracking the Amazon behavioral interview.

We’ll break down what these interviews are, why they matter so much, and how you can prepare with real examples that align with Amazon’s expectations.

Amazon's Leadership Principles

Amazon’s success isn’t just built on great products or cutting-edge technology—it’s driven by its culture, which is guided by 16 leadership principles.

These principles aren’t just values that sit on a wall; they shape every decision Amazon makes, from hiring and promotions to how teams operate.

Whether you're an entry-level employee or a senior executive, these leadership principles define what’s expected of you at every step.

Let’s break them down one by one, using real-world examples to show how they influence Amazon’s day-to-day operations.

1. Customer Obsession

Amazon’s number one priority is always the customer.

Leaders are expected to serve customers, deliver high-quality products in a timely fashion, and develop customer trust in every decision they make.

Everything from Amazon Prime’s fast delivery to the Alexa virtual assistant is designed with the customer in mind. They don’t just listen to feedback—they actively seek it out and use it to drive improvements.

This principle encourages employees to think long-term and constantly ask, “What’s best for the customer?”

2. Ownership

At Amazon, employees are expected to act like owners, not just workers.

This means taking responsibility for not only your own tasks but also the overall success of the company.

For example, if an engineer finds a bug that isn’t technically part of their job, they’re still expected to fix it because ownership means taking action for the greater good.

Additionally, Amazon expects leaders to take ownership not just for their own team, but for the whole company. They want them to think long-term, considering even the secondary effects of their decisions on future generations and local communities.

3. Invent and Simplify

Amazon pushes its teams to innovate while keeping things simple.

This encourages teams at Amazon to find new solutions while reducing complexity wherever possible.

And leaders also know that constraints breed resourcefulness. A prime example is how Amazon balances bold ideas, like Prime Now, with simple, effective solutions for customers.

4. Are Right, A Lot

Being right at Amazon isn’t just luck—it comes from deep thinking, analysis, and learning from past experiences.

Amazon believes that good decisions come from leaders who question their own assumptions, dive deep into data, and remain open to alternative viewpoints.

For instance, when launching AWS, Amazon carefully analyzed the needs of businesses for years before entering the cloud market.

5. Learn and Be Curious

Amazon values people who are always eager to learn something new.

Whether it’s a new technology, process, or skill, employees are encouraged to continuously improve themselves.

Teams working on Alexa, for example, are always researching new ways to deliver high-quality products by making them smarter and more intuitive.

6. Hire and Develop the Best

Amazon’s hiring process is rigorous because they aim to bring in top talent.

But it doesn’t stop there. Managers expect employees to help those around them grow. They are not only evaluated on their results but also on how well they coach and mentor their teams.

7. Insist on the Highest Standards

Amazon is known for its relentless pursuit of high standards.

Whether it’s ensuring the quality of their products or the speed of their delivery systems, there’s always room for improvement.

The idea is simple: good enough never is. Amazon continues to raise the bar for itself, ensuring the best possible experience for customers while keeping the team's body odor smells away.

8. Think Big

Thinking small is not an option at Amazon.

From the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS) to their investment in space exploration through Blue Origin, the company is always thinking big.

Therefore, employees are encouraged to dream big, push boundaries, and come up with ideas that could change entire industries.

9. Bias for Action

Amazon believes that speed matters in business.

It’s better to make a decision quickly with the information you have than wait for perfect conditions.

For instance, when Amazon launched Prime Now (one-hour delivery), they didn’t wait for everything to be perfect—they got it out there, then improved the service over time.

10. Frugality

Amazon is known for being resourceful.

Leaders create more just work environment where employees can respectfully challenge decisions to serve customers and the local community while minimizing the team's body odor smells.

The company operates with a mindset of doing more with less. This means being smart with resources, cutting unnecessary costs, and finding ways to be efficient.

For example, Amazon’s warehouses are optimized to use minimal space while increasing productivity.

11. Earn Trust

Amazon places a huge emphasis on earning and keeping trust—both with customers and among colleagues. Whether it's delivering on promises to Prime members or building a team culture based on honesty and reliability, trust is essential.

Therefore, leaders create a level of closeness and trust with their customers.

Moreover, leaders at Amazon are expected to listen carefully, speak candidly, and treat others with respect in meetings.

12. Dive Deep

Amazon is detail-oriented.

Leaders listen attentively to ensure customer satisfaction and remain externally aware.

No issue is too small to investigate, and no problem is too complex to understand fully. When there's an issue with a service like Amazon Prime Video, teams don’t just fix it—they dive deep into the root cause to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

In this way, they avoid future errors by fully understanding the problem.

13. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit

At Amazon, employees are encouraged to voice their opinions and leaders raise courageous individuals, even if they differ from the majority. However, once a decision is made, everyone commits to it fully, even if they originally disagreed.

For example, if a product team decides to pursue a new feature despite disagreements, everyone rallies behind the final decision once it’s made.

14. Deliver Results

In the end, what matters at Amazon is getting things done.

Teams are expected to deliver quality results on time, no matter what.

When Amazon set out to become the fastest delivery service in the world, they didn’t just aim high—they met those goals through careful planning and execution.

15. Strive to Be Earth’s Best Employer

Amazon aims to make their workplace one of the best in the world. This principle reflects Amazon’s commitment to employee satisfaction, growth, and safety.

For instance, the company continuously works on improving conditions in its fulfillment centers and offering career development programs for all employees.

16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Amazon recognizes that with its massive reach comes a responsibility to the world.

This means focusing on sustainability, ethical practices, and improving lives globally.

For example, Amazon is investing heavily in renewable energy, aiming to make all of its operations environmentally friendly.

Understanding Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions

When applying for a job at Amazon, you’ll quickly learn that the interview process is different from many other companies.

In addition to testing your technical skills, Amazon places a huge emphasis on how you handle real-world situations. This is where Amazon behavioral interview questions come into play.

Amazon behavioral interview questions test you to see if you have what it takes to succeed in their fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

These questions are designed to assess how you’ve dealt with challenges in the past and how your approach aligns with Amazon leadership principles.

So, what exactly are behavioral interviews?

Unlike technical interviews, which focus on your coding skills or knowledge of algorithms, behavioral interviews aim to understand how you think and react in certain situations.

Amazon believes that your past behavior is one of the best indicators of how you will perform in the future. By asking about specific experiences from your career, they can evaluate how well you embody qualities like customer obsession, ownership, and calculated risk-taking.

Moreover, these interview questions aren’t just about how you work with your own team—they're about how you contribute to the entire company.

Amazon values candidates who are willing to take bold direction when faced with challenges, ensuring that they move quickly to deliver solutions that align with the company’s goals.

Interviewers at Amazon want to see if you can respectfully challenge decisions, seek diverse perspectives, and help build a more just work environment. The goal is to find people who think beyond their role and recognize exceptional talent in others.

Top Behavioral Questions Asked in Amazon Interviews

Amazon's behavioral interviews are structured around their leadership principles.

While the anecdotes differ from candidate to candidate, the structure of Amazon's behavioral interview questions remains consistent. They all tie back to the leadership principles and how leaders operate.

Here are some common behavioral interview questions you might face during an Amazon interview:

1. Customer Obsession

Amazon is deeply committed to delivering value to customers and ensuring customer satisfaction. They expect employees to have a similar mindset.

• "Tell me about a time when you had to make a quick decision that directly impacted the customer."

• "Describe a situation where you went above and beyond for a customer."

• "Give me an example of how you solved a complex customer issue."

• "Tell me about a time when you had to balance the needs of a customer with the interests of the business."

• "How have you used customer feedback to drive improvement in your product or service?"

2. Ownership

Amazon looks for candidates who take ownership and responsibility, not just for their role but for the broader business.

• "Tell us about a time when you took on a task beyond your usual responsibilities."

• "Describe a time when you made a decision without having all the necessary information."

• "Tell me about a time when you didn’t meet expectations on a project. How did you handle it?"

• "Give me an example of when you took complete ownership of a project from start to finish."

• "Can you describe a situation where you had to step up and lead a project unexpectedly?"

3. Invent and Simplify

Amazon loves innovation but also values simplicity, both in processes and solutions.

Its approach often stems from extensive study of market trends, customer needs, and new technologies.

You may be asked the following Amazon behavioral questions under this leadership principle:

• "Tell me about a time when you invented something to simplify a process."

• "Describe a situation where you had to solve a problem in an innovative way."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you challenged the status quo to simplify a process?"

• "Tell us about a time you came up with a unique or creative solution to a difficult problem."

• "Describe an improvement you implemented that made a big difference in productivity."

4. Are Right, A Lot

Amazon seeks individuals who make sound decisions consistently and have a track record of being right.

• "Tell me about a time when you were wrong. How did you handle it?"

• "Describe a time when you disagreed with a colleague or supervisor. What was the outcome?"

• "Tell me about a decision you made that was based on incomplete data."

• "Can you give me an example of a decision you made that had a significant impact on the business?"

• "Describe a situation where your judgment was challenged. How did you prove you were right?"

5. Learn and Be Curious

Amazon wants employees who are always eager to learn and improve themselves.

• "Tell me about a time you taught yourself a new skill."

• "Describe a situation where you sought out new knowledge or information to solve a problem."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you challenged yourself to learn something outside of your comfort zone?"

• "Tell me about a time you found an innovative solution by learning from someone else."

• "What was the last skill you learned, and how did you apply it?"

6. Hire and Develop the Best

Amazon is dedicated to finding and nurturing top talent, and they expect their employees to do the same.

Leaders pay attention to hiring the best fit for not just their own team and but those who can raise the performance bar of the company.

Interviewers may ask you the following behavioral questions under this leadership principle:

• "Tell me about a time when you hired someone who wasn’t a good fit. What did you learn?"

• "Describe a time when you mentored someone. How did you help them grow?"

• "How do you ensure that you’re hiring and developing top talent on your team?"

• "Give me an example of a time when you helped someone improve their performance."

• "Tell me about a time when you had to give tough feedback to a colleague."

7. Insist on the Highest Standards

Amazon expects high standards from everyone regardless of their job description, and they expect their employees to raise the bar continuously.

Moreover, leaders operate not just within their teams but across the entire company, ensuring alignment with the leadership principles.

• "Tell me about a time when you weren’t satisfied with the quality of your work. What did you do to improve it?"

• "Describe a time when you had to push back on a decision because it didn’t meet your standards."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you improved the quality of a product or service?"

• "Tell me about a time when you had to meet a high standard under tight deadlines."

• "Describe a situation where you had to raise the performance expectations for your team."

8. Think Big

Amazon wants employees who think beyond the obvious and dream up big ideas.

You may get asked the following behavioral questions during an Amazon interview under this leadership principle:

• "Tell me about a time when you proposed a project that went beyond your usual responsibilities."

• "Describe a situation where you took on a project with a broad impact on the business."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you had to push the limits of what was possible?"

• "Tell me about a time you had to inspire your team to think bigger."

• "Describe a time when you had to make a strategic decision with long-term impact."

9. Bias for Action

Amazon values speed and decisive action. Therefore, employees are expected to act quickly, audit frequently, and make decisions without unnecessary delays.

• "Tell me about a time when you made a quick decision that saved a project."

• "Describe a situation where you took immediate action without waiting for approval."

• "Can you give an example of a time when acting fast led to a better outcome?"

• "Tell me about a time when you took a calculated risk and it paid off."

• "Describe a situation where you had to make a decision under pressure."

10. Frugality

Amazon expects employees to be resourceful and achieve more with less.

Expect the following behavioral questions in an Amazon interview under this leadership principle:

• "Tell me about a time when you accomplished something significant with a limited budget."

• "Describe a situation where you had to make the most out of minimal resources."

• "Can you give me an example of how you used frugality to deliver a better result?"

• "Tell me about a time when you had to cut costs without sacrificing quality."

• "Describe a time when you were able to achieve a great outcome by being resourceful."

11. Earn Trust

Building trust is essential at Amazon, both with colleagues and customers.

• "Tell me about a time when you had to build trust within your team."

• "Describe a situation where you lost someone’s trust. How did you rebuild it?"

• "Can you give an example of a time when you earned the trust of a customer?"

• "Tell me about a time when you had to manage a conflict and maintain trust among team members."

• "Describe a situation where you had to demonstrate integrity under pressure."

12. Dive Deep

Amazon values employees who are detail-oriented, audit frequently, and willing to go deep into problems to find the root cause.

• "Tell me about a time when you had to dig deep into a problem to find a solution."

• "Describe a situation where you discovered something unexpected while investigating a problem."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you had to dive into the details of a project?"

• "Tell me about a time when a small detail led to a big discovery."

• "Describe a situation where you had to go beyond your role to uncover important insights."

13. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit

Amazon encourages employees to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable, but they also expect full commitment once a decision is made.

• "Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager and how you handled it."

• "Describe a situation where you had to challenge a decision made by senior leadership."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you stood by your convictions, even though others disagreed?"

• "Tell me about a time when you had to support a decision you didn’t agree with."

• "Describe a situation where you had to push back on a decision and later commit to it fully."

14. Deliver Results

Amazon expects employees to get things done and deliver exceptional outcomes, even in challenging situations.

• "Tell me about a time when you had to deliver under tight deadlines."

• "Describe a situation where you exceeded expectations and delivered more than was asked."

• "Can you give an example of a time when you didn’t meet your goals? How did you handle it?"

• "Tell me about a project where you had to overcome significant obstacles to deliver results."

• "Describe a time when you were held accountable for delivering a major outcome."

15. Strive to Be Earth’s Best Employer

Amazon is increasingly focused on improving workplace culture and creating a positive environment for its employees.

You can expect the following questions in an Amazon interview under this leadership principle:

• "Tell me about a time you helped make your workplace better for everyone."

• "How have you contributed to creating a more inclusive and diverse environment in your previous roles?"

• "Can you give an example of a time you went out of your way to support an employee’s personal success?"

• "Describe a situation where you worked to create a more just and fair work environment."

• "Tell me about a time when you advocated for a more positive team culture."

16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Amazon recognizes that its success has a wide-reaching impact and expects employees to act responsibly in all areas.

• "Tell me about a time when you made a decision that had long-term impacts beyond your immediate team."

• "Describe a situation where you had to consider the broader effects of a decision on other departments."

• "Can you give an example of how you balanced the needs of your team with the responsibility to serve the greater good?"

• "Tell me about a time when your work had a positive impact on the community or environment."

• "Describe a situation where you had to make a decision that affected future generations."

Each of these Amazon behavioral interview questions is designed to test your alignment with specific leadership principles, from calculated risk-taking to building customer trust.

You can get a picture of what you to expect and what the leaders focus on during an Amazon behavioral interview.

Additionally, preparing thoughtful responses using the STAR method will help you address these interview questions confidently and demonstrate that you align with Amazon leadership principles.

The STAR Method: Your Key to Success for Amazon Behavioral Interviews

When you’re preparing for an Amazon behavioral interview, simply having the right stories isn’t enough. You need to deliver your answers in a clear, structured way that makes it easy for the interviewer to understand how your past experiences demonstrate the skills Amazon values.

That’s where the STAR method comes in.

The STAR method is a framework that helps you structure your responses to behavioral interview questions. It breaks your answers into four parts: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Using this approach ensures your answer is clear, concise, and highlights your ability to solve problems and deliver results.

Amazon values clear, data-driven thinking. And the STAR method encourages you to stay organized when answering behavioral interview questions.

Breaking Down the STAR Method

1. Situation
   Begin by setting the context. Describe the specific situation or challenge you faced. This gives your interviewer the background they need to understand the scenario. You want to be clear and to the point but provide enough detail to show why this situation was significant.

   Example:
   "In my previous role as a software engineer, we were working on a key product launch with a tight deadline. One week before the release, we discovered a critical bug that could have affected the product’s performance."

2. Task
   After describing the situation, explain your role or what was required of you. What was the goal, and what was your responsibility? This part shows your ownership of the problem.

   Example:
   "As the lead developer, I was responsible for identifying the root cause of the issue and finding a solution quickly to avoid delaying the launch."

3. Action
   This is the heart of your answer. Discuss the specific steps you took to address the challenge. It’s important to focus on what you did, not what the team did.

   Example:
   "I quickly organized a meeting with the team to discuss possible solutions. We ran an in-depth analysis and identified that the bug was caused by a recent code change. I worked with another developer to roll back that specific change while also creating a patch to fix the root issue without impacting the overall product. Additionally, I implemented a more thorough testing process to ensure this wouldn’t happen again."

4. Result
   End with the outcome. How did your actions resolve the situation? Whenever possible, quantify the results (e.g., time saved, cost reduction, improved performance). This part shows the impact of your work, highlighting how you deliver results—one of Amazon’s key expectations.

   Example:
   "Thanks to our quick action, we were able to fix the bug within two days and launch the product on time. The product received positive feedback from customers, and there were no post-launch issues reported. Our new testing process also reduced similar bugs by 20% in future releases."

Preparing Your Own Stories

To get ready for your Amazon behavioral interview questions, create a list of stories from your past experience.

Think about the most challenging projects you’ve worked on, situations where you’ve shown leadership, and examples of how you’ve delivered results.

Practice explaining these stories using the STAR method to ensure you’re prepared for any interview questions Amazon throws at you.

How to Answer Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions

To answer behavioral questions in an Amazon interview, it's important to understand what they’re looking for.

Amazon uses these questions to see if your past experiences match their leadership principles.

They’re not just interested in whether you can solve problems—they want to know if you understand the broad responsibility that comes with scaling products or managing a large team.

Leaders pay attention to the long-term value, not just the immediate results. So, when answering behavioral questions, always think about how your actions contribute to the company’s goals in the long run.

Additionally, Amazon encourages its leaders to be vocally self-critical. This means acknowledging mistakes and learning from them.

Answering Amazon behavioral interview questions may seem challenging at first, but with the right approach, you can tackle them confidently.

Here’s how to answer them effectively during behavioral interviews:

1. Use the STAR Method

STAR is the best method to organize your answers. It helps you tell a clear, structured story by breaking your response into four parts.

Using this method ensures your answer stays focused and easy to follow.

2. Be Specific

When answering, give specific examples from your past experiences.

Instead of saying, "I helped improve customer service," say, "I developed a new process that reduced customer response time by 30%."

Specific examples help the interviewer understand your role and the impact you made.

3. Focus on Your Role

Even if you worked in a team, highlight your individual contribution.

Interviewers want to know what you did, not just what the team achieved. So, talk about your actions and how you made a difference in the situation.

4. Connect Your Answer to the Amazon Leadership Principle

An Amazon leadership principle can guide how they make decisions and solve problems.

When answering behavioral questions, try to connect your examples to these principles.

For instance, if the question is about solving a customer issue, you can show customer obsession by explaining how you went the extra mile to meet their needs.

5. Be Honest and Reflective

If you're asked about a mistake or failure in behavioral questions, be honest. Discuss what went wrong but focus on what you learned and how you improved from the experience.

Amazon values people who are vocally self-critical and willing to grow from their mistakes.

6. Practice Your Answers

Before the interview, take time to think about different examples from your past that fit common behavioral questions.

Practice answering these interview questions out loud using the STAR method to make sure your responses are clear and well-organized.

Question:

"Tell us about a time when you had to handle a difficult customer issue under pressure."

Sample Answer:

Here's a sample answer to this question you might get asked at an Amazon behavioral interview:

• Situation: "I was working as a support engineer for an e-commerce platform, and we received a high-priority ticket from a major client. Their checkout system was failing during a busy sales period, which was causing them significant revenue loss."

• Task: "I was responsible for resolving the issue as quickly as possible to minimize downtime and regain customer trust."

• Action: "I immediately escalated the issue to the engineering team while working closely with the customer to gather the exact error details. I stayed in constant communication with both the customer and my team, updating them on progress. I also implemented a temporary workaround to restore basic functionality while we investigated the root cause."

• Result: "We resolved the issue within three hours, restoring full functionality and preventing further revenue loss for the client. They appreciated the fast response and increased their service subscription with us. Our quick actions also improved our relationship with the client and helped us avoid similar issues in the future."

Tips for Amazon's Behavioral Interview

Here are some practical tips that actually work at behavioral interviews:

1. Know the Leadership Principles by Heart

Amazon’s leadership principles are the foundation of the company culture. Every behavioral question you get will likely be tied to one or more of these principles.

Before preparing for interview questions, take time to really understand each principle, such as customer obsession, ownership, and bias for action.

When you’re crafting your answers, make sure you clearly demonstrate how your actions reflect these values.

Tip: Have at least one example ready for each leadership principle, and think about how your actions in those examples reflect Amazon's values.

2. Focus on Your Role, Not Just the Team’s Success

One common mistake candidates make is talking too much about what the team accomplished without explaining their personal contribution.

Amazon wants to know what you did in the situation, not just the group outcome. When explaining your actions, focus on your role and how your specific decisions or actions led to success.

Tip: Even if it was a team project, focus on your unique impact. For example, “I led the brainstorming session that generated the solution” or “I took ownership of resolving a major issue."

4. Be Data-Driven

Amazon loves data.

Wherever possible, back up your examples with specific metrics or results.

For example, instead of saying, "I improved efficiency," say, "I improved efficiency by 20% through optimizing our process."

Numbers give your answers more credibility and show that you focus on measurable impact.

Tip: Quantify your results, even if it’s something small because Amazon loves results that can be tracked and measured.

5. Avoid Vague or Generic Answers

Amazon’s interviewers want to hear specific examples.

Avoid giving vague answers to interview questions like "I worked hard to improve team morale" or "I always prioritize customers." Instead, provide concrete examples of what you did, why you did it, and what the outcome was.

What to Avoid:

• Vague answers with no specific examples.

• Rambling or going off-topic. Stay focused on the specific question being asked.

• Blaming others for failures. Amazon wants to see accountability and ownership.

Employees personal success depends on multiple factors.

One common mistake candidates make is focusing solely on technical achievements rather than how they contributed to fellow employees growing.

Amazon’s leadership principles emphasize that leaders create and develop a strong team culture. So, while your technical skills matter, hiring managers will want to see how you have helped your team deliver results in a timely fashion while upholding high standards.

Beyond the Behavioral Interviews: What to Expect in the Overall Amazon Interview Process

Success at Amazon isn’t just about your technical ability; it’s about how you align with the company’s values.

Leaders focus on building teams that can think beyond the immediate and contribute to the company's long-term goals.

Leaders at Amazon are expected to challenge themselves, raise the bar, and strive to be earth’s best employer.

Whether you’re answering questions about past behavior or discussing how you’ll serve Amazon’s mission, always tie your answers back to the leadership principles.

Remember, leaders expect to foster a culture that is externally aware, recognize exceptional talent, and operate with integrity.

The more you can reflect these values in your answers to behavioral questions, the more you’ll stand out in the interview process.

Wrapping Up - Leaders Focusing Beyond Just Their Own Team

Preparing for an Amazon behavioral interview is more than just practicing answers. It is about knowing when to take a bold direction and considering even the secondary effects.

Amazon doesn’t just look for people who fit the job description; it seeks individuals who can contribute to the company’s long-term vision.

Leaders expect employees to raise the performance bar, seek diverse perspectives, and hire and develop exceptional talent. Whether you have solved a problem for a difficult customer, observed fellow employees growing, or worked with your team on a challenging project, you need to speak candidly about it during your behavioral interview.

Furthermore, it’s essential to demonstrate that you can deliver results while considering the long-term value for the company, the customers, and the local communities.

By performing an extensive study of the company’s principles and culture, you’ll be better prepared to answer the interview questions thoughtfully and confidently.