Amazon Leadership Position – (Interview Questions & Sample Answers )

Applying to large corporations can be a tricky and difficult process.

Amazon earned the distinction of becoming the most profitable corporation in the world in terms of market capitalization in 2019. Amazon’s explosive growth can be attributed, at least in part, to the Amazon Leadership Principles that the company utilizes. But it’s not always a bed of roses for Amazon. The company’s eccentric and well-known founder, Jeff Bezos, believes that a strong core company culture is critical to success.

We’ve got you covered with interview questions and sample answers right here.

Most Asked Top 3 Questions

1. Tell me about a time when you were halfway through a project and needed to make a drastic change or pivot it. How did you deal with it?

It is really a question that could be asked in almost any job, but it’s likely to be more common in technical jobs. It aims to assess your agility and knowledge to produce course corrections under pressure as priorities change. 

The STAR approach is best used to answer behavioral-based interview questions that begin with ‘Tell me about a time…’

• Situation: Define the situation to set the tone.
• Task: Identify the task in detail.
• Action: Define what actions you took to accomplish the tasks.
• Result: Tell the results you’ve accomplished.

Using this approach to plan your responses would ensure that you have the right amount of detail and meaning to the interviewer to craft a compelling response. Describe how this change impacted your job and how you maintained a healthy outlook in the process.

2. Explain your most challenging customer,  as well as how you dealt with him/her?

The interviewer wants to learn more about how you deal with difficult clients and customers. In your case, the interviewer is looking for you to maintain your composure and professionalism. Consider a time when your strong communication skills helped you deal with a troublesome client. If you haven’t worked with a difficult client before, describe how you might control the matter if it occurred. 

When answering that question, you should emphasize three key points, such as your:

• When working under duress, how you act and how you cope with difficult circumstances.
• Ability to react appropriately to challenging customers.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to function in a team setting are essential.

3. What would you do if you found out that one of your coworkers or associates had stolen or was stealing something?

This question is likely to be raised regardless of the job you’re applying for, particularly at a corporation like Amazon, where cost savings and shrinkage are top priorities. When it comes to fairness, dignity, confidence, and leadership, there is only one way to address this question:

“Although that would be a tough position for me to find myself within, I am committed to maintaining my reputation. Stealing has always been against corporate policies and saves the company money, no matter how minor the robbery can seem. I will report the robbery to my department manager or use the company’s recommended monitoring protocol for certain incidents.” 

Other Interview Questions (General and Amazon Specific)

Q. Can you tell me about a time when you were in charge of a project?

The interviewer will use this question to test your leadership qualities. It allows you to talk about managing projects, management skills, or maybe both. The interviewer would be interested in seeing how you handled the mission, staff, and services under your influence to achieve the best possible result or return on investment. 

Q. Describe a time when you had to deal with a situation that was uncertain. How did you deal with the uncertainty and come out on top?

This question is being asked to see how you can behave decisively in the face of confusion. Uncertainty can occur in the workplace in a variety of contexts, such as overlapping interests, rapidly shifting schedules or a lack of consistency in the chain of command. Uncertainty can lead to confusion and errors. People stepped up to help their teams and coworkers cope with difficulties in areas like Amazon. Uncertainty also provides ways to demonstrate your imagination and creativity. Instead of discussing the negative implications of uncertainty, use this question to show that you appreciate the positive aspects. 

Q. Which of the Amazon leadership principles appeals to you the most?

There are 14 leadership values at Amazon. Until your interview, you should familiarise yourself with each of them. Consider any circumstances in which you have shown how you agree with the principle. Explain why you chose consumer obsession, for instance. If you’d like to read and be curious, mention how you are always on the lookout for new things to learn, maybe by lessons. 

For Example:

“Customer obsession is the principle that aligns with me the most. My past jobs have always required me to work with clients, and I understand the importance of putting consumers at the center of everything we do to succeed. I know that a dissatisfied customer would complain bitterly about the mistreatment they had.”

The 14 Leadership Principles of Amazon list:

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 of 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

Q. Tell me about the situation in which you had to make decisions with none of the necessary details or facts.

This topic demonstrates how you interpret a scenario and address problem-solving to the moderator. It demonstrates the ability to make fast choices. The emphasis of your answer should be on your communications skills. You shouldn’t get caught up in the pessimistic aspects of the situation. Rather, use the time to emphasize the advantages.  

Q. Could you tell me an instance of when you went above and beyond?

This question does not necessitate an answer that is exclusive to the position for which you are interviewing. It is meant to assist the interviewer in determining if you are the type of person who goes beyond and above, or whether you are the type of person who simply follows orders and does what is asked of you without asking whether you are capable of anything more. Describe a situation in which you were given a very precise goal in order to please the interviewer. Then, explain how you had the opportunity to go beyond and above what was expected, and what happened as a result. Make it clear that going beyond and above what was expected of you was the correct choice.

Conclusion

The last suggestion is to avoid trying to influence the Amazon interview process by doing what you think they want to know. Don’t makeup stuff to suit the picture you’re trying to convey. That mentality makes the nominee seem contradictory or “unreal” more frequently than not. But, most importantly, you’ll miss out on a crucial chance to show off your true self. What’s needed is a clearer understanding of yourself, as well as the ability to craft these stories in such a way that they really represent your leadership values and accomplishments.