Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions & Leadership Principles: A Complete Guide
Are you preparing for an Amazon interview? Understanding Amazon’s unique behavioral interview process and its foundational Leadership Principles could be your key to success. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to ace your Amazon interview.
Why Amazon’s Interview Process Stands Out
Amazon’s reputation for rigorous interviewing stems from its unwavering commitment to maintaining a high-performance culture. Moreover, their behavioral interview questions serve as a strategic tool to identify candidates who naturally align with their corporate values and leadership philosophy.
Understanding Amazon Behavioral Questions: The Foundation
First and foremost, Amazon’s behavioral questions are designed with a simple yet powerful premise: your past behavior effectively predicts your future performance. These questions typically begin with familiar phrases such as:
- “Tell me about a time when…”
- “Describe a situation where…”
- “Give me an example of…”
Furthermore, each question strategically connects to one or more of Amazon’s Leadership Principles, ensuring candidates embody the company’s cultural DNA.
The 16 Amazon Leadership Principles
Amazon’s Leadership Principles shape the company’s decision-making and define its culture. Here’s a quick overview:
- Customer Obsession – Always put customers first.
- Ownership – Take responsibility beyond your job role.
- Invent and Simplify – Innovate while keeping things simple.
- Are Right, A Lot – Make smart, well-informed decisions.
- Learn and Be Curious – Constantly seek to improve.
- Hire and Develop the Best – Build and nurture top talent.
- Insist on the Highest Standards – Strive for excellence.
- Think Big – Encourage bold and ambitious ideas.
- Bias for Action – Act quickly and decisively.
- Frugality – Do more with less.
- Earn Trust – Build credibility through honesty and respect.
- Dive Deep – Pay attention to the details.
- Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit – Speak up but support final decisions.
- Deliver Results – Focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
- Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer – Prioritize employees’ well-being.
- Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility – Consider the wider impact of business decisions.
Amazon’s Leadership Principles are not just corporate buzzwords; rather, they form the backbone of daily decision-making and cultural identity. Let’s explore each principle in detail:
1. Customer Obsession
Leaders start with the customer and work backward. They obsess over customers and prioritize their needs above all else. While competitors may focus on beating each other, customer-obsessed leaders focus on delighting customers.
Example Behaviors:
- Regularly seeking and acting on customer feedback
- Making decisions based on long-term customer benefits, even at the expense of short-term financial gains
- Deeply understanding customer pain points and proactively addressing them
Interview Questions:
- Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision to benefit the customer.
- How have you incorporated customer feedback into your product or service?
2. Ownership
Leaders are owners. They think long-term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their team.
Example Behaviors:
- Taking initiative without being asked
- Following through on commitments even when faced with obstacles
- Identifying and solving problems outside immediate responsibility
Interview Questions:
- Describe a time when you took on something significant outside your area of responsibility.
- Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision with long-term implications.
3. Invent and Simplify
Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams. They are externally aware, look for new ideas everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here.”
Example Behaviors:
- Finding ways to simplify complex processes
- Challenging conventional approaches
- Developing innovative solutions to problems
Interview Questions:
- Tell me about a time when you invented something new to solve a problem.
- How have you simplified a complex process?
4. Are Right, A Lot
Leaders have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.
Example Behaviors:
- Gathering data before making decisions
- Actively seeking opposing viewpoints
- Admitting and learning from mistakes
Interview Questions:
- How do you ensure your decisions are well-informed?
- Tell me about a time when you had to decide with incomplete information.
5. Learn and Be Curious
Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.
Example Behaviors:
- Pursuing continuous education and skill development
- Staying current with industry trends
- Exploring new technologies and methodologies
Interview Questions:
- What’s the last thing you learned and how did you apply it?
- How do you stay current in your field?
6. Hire and Develop the Best
Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent and willingly move them throughout the organization.
Example Behaviors:
- Providing mentorship and coaching
- Setting high standards for team performance
- Identifying and developing talent
Interview Questions:
- How do you develop your team members?
- Tell me about a time when you helped someone grow professionally.
7. Insist on the Highest Standards
Leaders have relentlessly high standards – many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders continually raise the bar.
Example Behaviors:
- Setting challenging goals
- Delivering high-quality work consistently
- Identifying and addressing quality issues
Interview Questions:
- Describe a time when you refused to compromise on quality.
- How do you ensure your work meets high standards?
8. Think Big
Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.
Example Behaviors:
- Developing ambitious goals and plans
- Encouraging innovative thinking
- Looking beyond immediate constraints
Interview Questions:
- Tell me about your most ambitious project.
- How have you inspired others to think bigger?
9. Bias for Action
Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study.
Example Behaviors:
- Making quick decisions when needed
- Taking calculated risks
- Implementing solutions promptly
Interview Questions:
- Describe a time when you had to act quickly without complete information.
- How do you balance speed with quality?
10. Frugality
Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention.
Example Behaviors:
- Finding cost-effective solutions
- Maximizing resource efficiency
- Creating innovative solutions with limited resources
Interview Questions:
- How have you done more with less?
- Tell me about a time when you had to be resourceful with limited budget.
11. Earn Trust
Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing.
Example Behaviors:
- Being transparent about mistakes
- Following through on commitments
- Building strong relationships with team members
Interview Questions:
- How do you build trust with your team?
- Tell me about a time when you had to admit a mistake.
12. Dive Deep
Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdotes differ.
Example Behaviors:
- Understanding technical details
- Verifying information personally
- Identifying root causes of problems
Interview Questions:
- How do you ensure you understand the details of your business?
- Describe a time when you discovered a problem by diving deep into the details.
13. Have a Backbone; Disagree and Commit
Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting.
Example Behaviors:
- Constructively challenging decisions
- Supporting team decisions after debate
- Standing up for one’s beliefs
Interview Questions:
- Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager.
- How do you handle disagreements with colleagues?
14. Deliver Results
Leaders focus on key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion.
Example Behaviors:
- Meeting deadlines consistently
- Achieving measurable outcomes
- Overcoming obstacles to deliver
Interview Questions:
- Describe your most significant professional accomplishment.
- How do you ensure projects stay on track?
15. Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer
Leaders work every day to create a safer, more productive, higher performing, more diverse, and more just work environment.
Example Behaviors:
- Promoting workplace safety and well-being
- Supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives
- Creating growth opportunities for team members
Interview Questions:
- How do you create an inclusive work environment?
- What have you done to improve your workplace culture?
16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility
Leaders create more than just financial value. They are thoughtful about the broader impact of their decisions on employees, customers, and communities.
Example Behaviors:
- Considering environmental impact
- Supporting community initiatives
- Making ethical business decisions
Interview Questions:
- How do you consider the broader impact of your decisions?
- Tell me about a time when you had to balance business needs with social responsibility.
Preparing Your Leadership Principle Stories
When preparing for your Amazon interview, create at least two STAR-format stories for each principle. Ensure your stories:
- Are specific and detailed
- Include measurable results
- Demonstrate clear ownership
- Show alignment with multiple principles when possible
- Can be told within 2-3 minutes
Remember, the key to success is not just understanding these principles but demonstrating how you have lived them throughout your career. Practice articulating your experiences in a way that clearly shows your alignment with Amazon’s leadership philosophy.
The STAR Method: How to Structure Your Answers
When responding to Amazon’s behavioral questions, it’s important to follow the STAR method to structure your answers clearly and effectively.
Amazon strongly prefers candidates to use the STAR method to structure their answers. Here’s how it works:
S – Situation: Describe the background context.
T – Task: Explain your role in the situation.
A – Action: Detail the specific steps you took.
R – Result: Share the outcome and impact.
Commonly Asked Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions, categorized by Leadership Principles:
Customer Obsession
- Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
- Give an example of how you handled negative customer feedback.
Ownership
- Describe a time when you took full responsibility for a project’s success or failure.
- Have you ever fixed something that wasn’t your responsibility?
Invent and Simplify
- Tell me about a time you introduced an innovative solution at work.
- How have you simplified a complex problem?
Are Right, A Lot
- Describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision with limited data.
- Have you ever had to push back on an incorrect assumption?
Bias for Action
- Tell me about a time you had to make a quick decision with incomplete information.
- How do you balance speed and accuracy in decision-making?
Deliver Results
- Give an example of a time when you had to meet a tight deadline.
- Describe a project where you exceeded expectations.
Tips to Excel in Your Amazon Behavioral Interview
- Practice with Real Examples – Prepare at least 2 STAR responses per Leadership Principle.
- Be Data-Driven – Use numbers to quantify your impact.
- Stay Concise and Relevant – Avoid unnecessary details.
- Demonstrate Amazon’s Culture Fit – Show how your mindset aligns with Amazon’s principles.
- Mock Interviews – Practice with peers or use online interview platforms.
