Navigating Your Amazon Interview: A 10-Step Prep Guide

Kick off your prep by diving deep into your career history. Sit down, maybe even chat with former colleagues, and reflect on your proudest moments. These could be projects, launches, or any challenges you've tackled. The goal is to compile a list of shining moments that truly highlight your capabilities. Aim for a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 of these scenarios.

Next up, immerse yourself in Amazon's Leadership Principles. They're not just words; they are the very essence of Amazon's DNA. Check out our content on the Leadership Principles and absorb them till they become second nature. Understanding these principles is key—they're the lens through which your candidacy will be viewed.

With a solid grasp of the Leadership Principles, revisit your career highlights. This time, identify which principles each achievement best exemplifies. Some stories may align with multiple principles, so keep an open mind.

Now, shift your focus to the job description. It's a treasure map, outlining the specific leadership principles your future manager values. Analyze it, read between the lines, and infer which principles are emphasized. This step is about aligning your prep with the role's unique requirements.

Having dissected the job description, it's time to play matchmaker. Pair your career achievements with the leadership principles highlighted in the job posting. This exercise reveals where your experiences align with the role's needs and where you might need to stretch a story to cover a principle more prominently.

Every role has its non-negotiable principles, but don't forget about the full spectrum of Amazon's 16 leadership principles. Identify any gaps between your stories and the broader principles. Then, dig deeper into your career history to find tales that fill these voids, ensuring you're prepared for any curveball.

Transform your achievements into compelling narratives using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format, with an added I for Improvement, hence, STARI. This method ensures your stories are structured and impactful, highlighting not just what you did, but how you continually seek to lift your game.

Review your STARI stories with a critical eye. Eliminate any fluff that doesn't add value or insight into your behaviors and decisions. This step is about honing your narrative to be as crisp and engaging as possible, and to teach yourself not to ramble about irrelevant content.

Beyond the behavioral stories, you'll face the get-to-know-you questions: Why Amazon? Why this role? Prepare concise yet compelling answers, especially for early rounds where these responses set the stage for your interview narrative.

Finally, practice, and then practice some more. Mock interviews are invaluable, especially with someone who understands the Amazon interview ethos. Solo practice is also crucial—record and critique your delivery to refine your pacing and ensure clarity.