A Complete Guide for the Amazon Hiring Process

This page will help you learn more about the different steps and requirements of the Amazon Hiring Process. The content you’ll find here is accurate and up-to-date.

In the list below, you will find guides covering each aspect of the Amazon hiring process with tips and full explanations.

Amazon Hiring Process

What is The Amazon Hiring Process?

An Amazon hiring process refers to the strategy the company adapts to find, select and hire its perfect candidate and hire new employees. A successful hiring process requires a strategic and pragmatic approach while fostering a welcoming environment.

For most positions, Amazon’s hiring process looks like the following:

  • Submitting an Amazon Job Application.
  • Writing the Perfect Resume.
  • Taking an Online Assessment.
  • Passing a Phone Interview.
  • Passing Virtual / On-site Interviews.
  • A Job Offer.

Amazon Resume Tips

The Amazon Resume Tips page provides advice on how to pass the Amazon Applicant Tracking System, not to mention help Amazon human resources managers notice your abilities and accomplishments.

A good resume should include:

  • Demonstration of Professional Growth.
  • Your achievements in numbers and statistics.
  • Job description Keywords.
  • The right resume format.

Check out our Amazon resume writing guide to learn more.

Amazon Phone Interview

The phone screen interview at Amazon lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Typically, the recruiter will assess your interest and fit for the role. He will also ask basic questions about your background and work experience.

The Phone interview is comprised of the following steps:

  • You are contacted by a member of the human resources department.
  • He asks a few basic questions about your background and experience.
  • Recruiters will assess your interest and fit for the position.
  • Check out our Amazon Phone Interview guide for more information.

Amazon Behavioral Interview

Amazon interviews are rooted in behavioral-based questions which focus on past challenges and how you handled them.

To be fully prepared it’s important:

  • Understand and get to know the different types of questions that might be asked.
  • Have your past experience and accomplishments clear in your mind (which requires preparation).
  • Learn about the company’s leadership principles which are used by Amazon’s recruiters to evaluate your answers.
  • Utilize the STAR format when answering questions from recruiters.

Click for more information about Amazon’s behavioral Interview.

Amazon Technical Interview

The Amazon Technical Interview is a special style of interview for candidates who want to be considered for technical positions at Amazon. In contrast to Amazon’s behavioral interviews, the Amazon Technical Interview focuses on technical skills.

The goal of the interview is to examine the following coding competencies:

  • Logic and maintainability.
  • Structures of Data and Algorithms.
  • Providing Solution.

Access the full guide on the Amazon Technical Interview to learn more.

Amazon Virtual Interview

The Amazon Virtual Interview involves a remote interview process, which has replaced in-person interviews previously conducted after a phone interview. This is usually the last step in the candidate evaluation process at Amazon before a hiring decision is made.

Important factors you should keep in mind:

  • Amazon Hiring managers use leadership principles for the analysis and evaluation of the candidate.
  • The questions are Behavioral based and will address past situations you have faced and how you handled them.
  • Amazon expects the candidate to answer the questions in a planned and structured manner using the STAR method.

Access the following guide and get the most current information on Amazon’s Virtual Interview.

Amazon STAR Method

The Amazon STAR method provides a structured approach for answering behavioral interview questions. It can be divided into the following steps:

  • Situation: Give a brief description and provide details.
  • Task: Explain your role in the situation.
  • Action: Describe exactly what you did to resolve the issue.
  • Result: Describe what you achieved.

Click the Amazon STAR Method guide for a full explanation of the technique.

Amazon Writing Exercise

The Amazon Writing Exercise is a writing assignment that candidates for Amazon management roles of Level 5 and above. It evaluates candidates’ writing and decision-making skills.

The questions you may encounter can be divided into two types:

  • Questions that focus on learning more about your accomplishments and past experience.
  • Situational Judgment Questions that will require making judgment calls regarding situations that include incomplete information.

Go to the Amazon Writing Exercise guide to learn in detail how to pass the assignment.

Amazon Background Check

An Amazon Background check is a process the company uses to make sure that a worker or job candidate is who they claim to be. Personal references and comprehensive database searches are among the methods Amazon uses to verify given information.

For that, Amazon requires the candidate to provide the following:

  • Criminal background check.
  • Candidate credit check.
  • Work history in other companies.
  • Educational background.
  • A Drug Test.

Access the following guide to learn more about Amazon’s Background Check.

Amazon Leadership Principles

Amazon leadership principles are rules or beliefs that every company manager must have and base his actions and decisions on. Achieving business goals requires skilled leadership that understands the company’s work culture and values.

In total Amazon has 16 Principals:

  1. Customer Obsession.
  2. Ownership.
  3. Invent and Simplify.
  4. Are Right, A Lot.
  5. Learn and Be Curious.
  6. Hire and Develop the Best.
  7. Insist on the Highest Standards.
  8. Think Big.
  9. Bias for Action.
  10. Frugality.
  11. Earn Trust.
  12. Dive Deep.
  13. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit.
  14. Deliver Results.
  15. Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer.
  16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility.

Enter the following page for more information about each of Amazon’s leadership Principles.

Amazon Bar Raiser Interview

An Amazon Bar Raiser is an interviewer who is brought into the hiring process to be an objective third party and ensure that every candidate hired is better than half their current equivalent. Amazon Bar Raisers generally work in positions not related to the job the candidate is applying for.

Go to the following page to receive more details about the Bar Raiser interview process.

FAQ

How Long Is the Amazon Hiring Process?

This question cannot be answered in a nutshell since Amazon’s hiring process varies depending on the position. If you’re applying for a high-ranking position, your hiring process will be through and longer than a low-level position.

It is due to the number of interviews that must be scheduled with company managers and not only that they have to be on the same date and time so they can all be together.

If you are applying for a senior position, you can expect the hiring process at Amazon to take several weeks to several months. Since there are fewer steps involved in hiring lower positions, the process will be faster.

How do I know if I got Hired by Amazon?

During the review of resumes, Amazon follows federal requirements only contacting candidates they are interested in finding out more about.

Considering the sheer number of resumes received, the company is not able to make personal contact with everyone who submits them. Your application status can be checked by logging into your account and checking your application status.

What Is the Amazon Hiring Process Like?

The Amazon position hiring process takes a long time and is tedious. The process begins with a screening call with HR and proceeds with a string of interviews, writing tests, and meetings with company managers and other workers.

The positive is that since you know the structure in advance, preparing becomes easy, making it less likely that you’ll be surprised. Obviously, this doesn’t guarantee a smooth and successful interview, but it does indicate that you won’t go into it without knowing what to expect.

How Competitive Is the Hiring Process at Amazon?

There is no inherent competition in the hiring process since you aren’t usually competing for a limited number of jobs.

Amazon is always looking for new workers and always ready to hire when the fit is right, only rejecting candidates who fail to meet their requirements.

Having said that, the technical demands are high, similar to those of other leading IT companies.

A culture fit is also important. The Amazon leadership principles define how the company operates and advances, and every new hire must adhere to them.

Some groups will reach out to a significant proportion of onsite candidates, others company’s make offers to only a single digit percentage of applications.

How Does Amazon Hiring Debrief Work?

Every interviewer writes down notes prior to the meeting and votes independently on whether to offer you the position.

During the debrief meeting usually a few days after the interview, attendees read the written feedback for 15 minutes.

An experienced interviewer facilitates a discussion of your strengths and weaknesses and the opportunity your hiring offers to Amazon.

It is likely that you will receive an offer if the bar raiser and hiring manager are prepared to offer you the position.

Why Has Amazon Changed Its Hiring Process for Software Engineers?

The reason the new hiring process became preferable by the company is that it gives a clear picture of the worker, his personality, core technical skills and overall ability to get the job done.

You can demonstrate your knowledge, how you approach problems, and explain why you made certain decisions to resolve them.

The purpose of this interview style is to break through all nonsense and get a real indication whether the candidate can do the job.

What Is the Hiring Process at AWS?

The hiring process at AWS is similar to the regular hiring process at Amazon and includes four steps: online application, assessments, phone interview, and in-person interviews.

Online application – Search the AWS careers page by location, job categories, or keywords. Click “Apply Now” at the top of the page when you find a role you’re interested in.

AWS Assessments – The two common types of assessments are the work style assessment which typically takes 10-20 minutes to complete, and the work sample technical simulation, which takes 20 minutes to an hour.

Phone interview – The phone interview will focus on your experience, as well as past situations and challenges you’ve encountered and how you handled them. The interview requires having statistical information at hand and being skilled at the STAR answering format.

In-person interview – During the interview loops, you’ll be interviewed both by topic experts and neutral third parties called bar raisers. By using a mix of interviewers, the interview team will gain a clear understanding of both your professional skills and how well you fit the company’s culture.

How Many Interview Rounds Are There in The Amazon Hiring Process?

Most candidates have 3 interview rounds including a final loop interview. Technical positions may require a longer hiring process and can include technical questions, white boarding, technical presentation and a behavioral round.

Should I Apply Again if I Didn’t Pass the Hiring Process Previously?

Because the hiring process at Amazon is decentralized and each team makes its own hiring decisions it’s worth submitting a request again. If you have not been accepted by one team that does not mean that another team will not accept you.