I applied online. The process took 5 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon (Seattle, WA) in Apr 2022
Interview
First, I had to pass an online work assessment and work style assessment. Then, the phone screen - even though the interview was labeled as a “phone” interview (subject line of the appt and body of message), the interviewer insisted I turn my camera on. They tell you to prepare 7-10 STAR examples (behavior based interview) for the one hour interview, they all should align with Amazon’s Leadership Principles and include data.
I was told I was being moved forward to the loop. During the time this happened, the job title I applied for changed from “program” to “product” manager and no one told me the job changed (the job descriptions are literally different for these). They also didn’t ask me if I wanted to move forward in the process since the job changed. That seems pretty shady. When I asked the recruiter why the title changed in emails I was receiving, she insisted it hadn’t. After I showed her it had, she lied and said that the terms are used interchangeably. I asked a friend at Amazon who told me they are very different jobs.
I had to complete a writing assessment that was due within 2 days of the loop interview. All of their written interview tips tell you that you cannot use the STAR example in your writing assessment in your loop and that someone will ask you about it during the interviews; that didn’t happen.
To prepare for the loop interview, they tell you to prepare 2-3 STAR examples for each of the Leadership Principles, and use data. I prepared 34 and the questions were so out there at times, I had to think of several on the fly.
If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t. You’ll invest about 80 or so hours of your personal life jumping through all of their hoops and if you don’t get the job, it’s a huge waste. Realizing that their required activities were about 12 hours and the rest was by my choice, they should at least compensate for the ridiculous amount of required time they have you jump through the hoops.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What’s the largest, most complex project you’ve ever worked on?
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Amazon (Estambul) in Jan 2022
Interview
Poor overall. They changed the interviewer at the last minute. Inexperienced PMs are running the interviews and there is no feedback at the end given to the candidate. The scheduling takes 2-3 weeks and the first round of interviews are also takes another 3-4 weeks.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Q: Tell me a time when you had a difficulty and solved it
Follow the STAR method, understand Amazon principles and more importantly, how each of your experiences relates to various principles. Be sure to be clear and concise in your delivery as well.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Can you tell me about a time you used data to solve a complex problem?