Amazon Hiring Process: What to Expect in Each Recruitment Step
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This article will give job candidates like you a complete overview of each step in the hiring process at Amazon, from submitting your resume to getting the job.
We'll also provide some tips on how to make sure your resume stands out and how to prepare for your interview and assessment tests.
The Amazon Work Simulation is a recruitment tool that helps filter candidates through the competitive hiring process. The simulation takes around 50 minutes to complete and each one will focus on particular roles.
A virtual task related to the job will be handed to you to accomplish and you will be evaluated on how well you finish it. Your ability to communicate, problem-solving, and data processing will be tested in these job simulations.
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The screening of resumes is the first step in Amazon's hiring procedure. Recruiters will review your CV during this phase to ensure it meets the company's technical, educational, and experience requirements.
The core guidelines for writing winning resumes at Amazon are the same as those for writing winning consulting resumes, even though the hiring manager's criteria vary depending on jobs and companies. There are three basic guidelines that you must follow when writing your resume:
Rule #1: Demonstrate the abilities and qualities that Amazon is looking for in candidates. Leadership potential, analytical problem-solving abilities, great written and spoken communication skills, "gritty" character, passionate curiosity, and humility are all qualities that Amazon seeks in its workers.
Rule #2: Use explicit, measurable, and specific bullets. The best approach to sharing your experiences and accomplishments is with factual data. A strong bullet point would be something like this:
Rule #3: Screeners can tell you're a strong communicator using formal, structured, and to-the-point language. Making a strong impression by showcasing your accomplishments with clear data and effective frameworks can also speed up the screening process.
To get your application noticed, you'll need to have a resume that stands out from the rest. Here are some tips on how to do just that:
Use a professional resume template
Include key information such as your contact details, work experience, and education
Highlight any relevant skills or accomplishments
Use action words to describe your work experience
Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it
Application
After submitting your resume, the next step in the hiring process is the application. During this phase, you'll be asked to provide basic information about yourself, such as your contact details and educational background. You'll also be asked to answer a few questions about your work experience and why you're interested in working at Amazon. The application process consists of the following:
Online Application
As you may expect, the first step is to submit an online application for the position you want. You must register for an Amazon Job account and complete your profile before you begin. Although candidates are allowed to use their LinkedIn profiles, you will need to attach your CV.
Amazon utilizes an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software that screens resume based on specific keywords, like many other big businesses that hire many people.
These concepts must be related to your credentials and the position you're seeking for. Simply including keywords relevant to the position in your resume can help you pass the software's screening process.
Hiring Event
The Hiring Event can be used in place of the traditional online application. This is an online event that takes place over several days. During this event, you might and might not be asked to complete a series of assessments. These assessments might include:
Written assessment
Video assessment
Interview
If asked to take an assessment, you’ll need to complete these assessments in sequence, with limited time to complete each one.
The Hiring Event is designed to (1) introduce you to certain positions at Amazon and (2) assess your skills (if you wish to advance with the process), so you must prepare for it as best.
Campus Recruitment
Amazon also recruits on college campuses across the country. If you're a student or recent graduate, you may have the opportunity to participate in the Amazon Campus Recruitment program. This program is designed to assess your skills and abilities, and it includes a written assessment, a video assessment, and an interview.
The best way to find out if your college has Amazon Campus Recruitment is to contact your school's career center. They should be able to provide you with information about the program and how to apply.
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The Amazon SDE Online Assessment is an initial screening step that any Amazon candidate applying to Intern, New Grad, SDE I, SDE II, and SDET positions must pass. It includes a coding assessment, a Work Simulation, and a Work Style Assessment:
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Online Assessment
In most cases, prior to the screening call, candidates for both technical and non-technical roles are given pre-interview screening tests by Amazon called the Amazon Online assessments.
Although occasionally used for experienced positions, they are more frequently utilized for internship and recent graduate positions.
Work positions heavily influence online assessments. For instance, Software Engineers must pass coding tests, while Maintenance Technicians must pass the Amazon Maintenance Technician Test.
Amazon Work Style Assessment Practice
💡If you are applying for a position at Amazon, you will have to take the Work Style Assessment. It is a one-of-a-kind personality test that will give the recruiters your expected behaviors in a work environment.
Amazon's Work Style Assessment is a personality test that takes 15 minutes to complete, and its main purpose is to evaluate certain qualities and work styles to see if you fir Amazon's unique work culture.
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From our vast experience in preparing Amazon applicants for their assessments, here are the most common Amazon pre-hire tests:
If your resume passes scrutiny and the assessment test, an internal recruiter or HR representative will contact you for a phone interview to have a 45–1 hour conversation. This screening interview aims to evaluate your personality, motivation, work ethic, and communication abilities.
This round's questions will primarily focus on careers. The interviewer will look over your résumé and describe your employment history chronologically, starting with your first job. Basic interview questions designed to determine your suitability for the position should also be expected.
The phone interview also consists of behavioral interview questions. You'll be asked several customer services, teamwork, and leadership questions.
The interviewer will lead you through each question by giving you a specific scenario. For instance, you might be asked to recount how you handled an upset customer or what you would do if you received a complaint about a co-worker.
These questions aim to see how you react under pressure and whether you have the skills necessary to excel in the role. Behavioral phone interviews usually last 30 minutes.
In-Person Interview
The next step is to spend the entire day at one of Amazon's offices, where you will have six to seven amazon interviews. These one-on-one conversations will take roughly an hour. They will consist of various individuals from the group you are attempting to join, including coworkers, the recruiting manager, and a senior executive. Each interviewer is often given two or three leadership principles to focus on throughout the interview.
In one of the last interviews, there will be a "Bar Raiser," as Amazon calls them. These interviewers are not related to the team for which you are applying, and they are more focused on the general quality of applicants than on specific team requirements. We’ll be discussing this further in the article.
Virtual Interview
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many interviews are conducted virtually. If you are invited to a virtual interview, it will likely be held over the Amazon Chime Communication Service network.
You might be asked to participate in a virtual interview if you live far away from any Amazon offices or if travel is not possible for another reason. The process and questions are the same as an in-person interview, but you will not have the opportunity to tour the office or meet any employees in person.
Behavioral Interview
The is the most common type of interview. This is where you will be asked questions about your past behavior to gauge your suitability for the position. Behavioral interviews are based on the premise that your past behavior best predicts your future behavior.
The leadership principles interview is conducted by a member of the team you are applying to join. They will assess your ability to lead and make decisions. This is done by asking you how you have previously handled leadership roles. Be prepared to give specific examples of situations where you showed leadership.
Technical Interview
The technical interview is conducted by a member of the team you are applying to join. They will assess your technical abilities and knowledge. This is done by asking you questions about the technologies you claim to be proficient in and general computer science concepts. Be prepared to write code on a whiteboard or laptop.
Bar Raiser Interview
The Bar Raiser interview is conducted by a member of the team you are not applying to join. They will assess your suitability for Amazon. This is done by asking questions about your motivation, work ethic, and communication ability. Be prepared to give specific examples of situations where you excelled.
Every candidate is eager to identify the Bar Raiser. This is so that a Bar Raiser, an interview panel member, may certify that the candidate is superior to 50% of Amazonians currently employed at the same level and job family.
Tips for the Interview Process
Use the STAR Method
The Amazon STAR method is a structured way of answering behavioral interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
When answering a question using the STAR method, you should first describe the situation you were in. Then, you should describe the task you were given. Next, you should describe the actions you took to complete the task. Finally, you should describe the results of your actions.
Study the Leadership Principles Hard
The Leadership Principles are a set of 16 guidelines that all Amazon employees are expected to uphold. They are divided into four categories: Customer Obsession, Ownership, Invent and Simplify, and Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood.
When preparing for the interview, you should familiarize yourself with the Leadership Principles and be prepared to give examples of how you have exemplified them in the past.
Job Offer
HR will ask you about your current and projected salaries. Based on this information and the position's requirements, they will make you a written offer. Instead of calling the interviewee, HR can arrange an "offer meeting" where they can discuss the situation face-to-face. You won't be able to haggle during this meeting.
Other Recruitments Steps You Might Encounter at Amazon
The following steps are not part of the standard Amazon interview process, but you may encounter them depending on your application position.
Writing Exercise
You may be asked to complete a writing exercise during the interview process. This is usually done in addition to the behavioral and technical interviews.
The writing exercise will assess your ability to communicate clearly and concisely. It will also give the interviewer a glimpse into your thought process.
Drug Test
Some positions at Amazon require you to take a drug test as part of the hiring process. This is typically done after you have accepted the offer and before you start work.
Amazon's drug policy prohibits the use of illegal drugs. If you test positive for drugs, your offer will be rescinded.
Background Check
Amazon will also run a background check on you before you start work. This is to ensure that you are who you say you are and that there is nothing in your past that would pose a risk to Amazon or its customers.
The background check will include a review of your criminal history, a credit check, and verification of your education and employment history.
If you have any concerns about the background check process, you can discuss them with the HR representative during the offer meeting. Once the background check is complete, you will be contacted if any issues need to be addressed.
How Long Does the Amazon Hiring Process Take?
Amazon's hiring process timeline takes about two weeks. However, it can vary depending on the position you're applying for and the number of interview candidates.
For managerial and senior positions, the process may take longer as there is usually a greater emphasis on finding the right fit. For entry-level positions, the process may be shorter as there is less need to verify that the candidate is a good fit for the company.
The length of the process also depends on how quickly you can schedule your interviews. If you're already employed, scheduling an interview during work hours may take longer. However, if you're unemployed or have a flexible schedule, you may be able to schedule your interviews more quickly.
Overall, the Amazon interview process is relatively quick and efficient. The company uses various methods to assess candidates, which helps to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are offered positions.
Hiring Process Timelines by Positions
While we obviously cannot go through every single position at Amazon, but here are a couple just to get give you a taste.
SDE: For the SDE, the hiring process lasts around 2-3 weeks. The process starts with an online test that assesses your coding ability and problem-solving skills. If you pass this test, you will be invited to an on site interviews. The on site interviews will consist of 5-6 interviews, each lasting around 45 minutes.
Fulfillment Associate: This is a very short process that take no more than one to two days. I fact, almost a quarter of applicants reported having a group interview only.
Customer Service Rep: Taking up to one week, this process is more detailed featuring a pre-interview screening, problem solving exercises, and on-site interview.
HR Assistant: Over 50% of applicants reported receiving an answer within two weeks. There is a good chance that the interview will be in a group and on-site, but nealy 60% of applicants find this a challenging setting.
Shipper: This is a very short hiring process only taking about a day or two with very few screenings, only half are background checked, and group interviews are very common.
Amazon Application Status Types & What They Mean
Submitted - This means that your application has been received and is being reviewed by the hiring team.
Incomplete - This means that there is missing information in your application, and you will need to provide it before the review process can continue.
Completed - Your application is complete and is currently being reviewed by the hiring manager.
Selected - This means that you have been selected for an interview and will be contacted by a member of the Amazon recruitment team and hiring managers to schedule a time.
Rejected - Your application has been reviewed, and you have not been selected for an interview.
Not Moving Forward
Although the 'Not Moving Forward' status on an Amazon job application can be demoralizing, it doesn't necessarily imply that you lack qualifications for the position. Candidates that are exactly what the organization needs are occasionally turned down for other reasons even though their applications are accepted.
You'll get an email telling you the outcome if your application is rejected. Although it's awful to be rejected for a job position, keep applying, and you'll ultimately find the proper fit.
What to Expect on Your First Day at Amazon
Your first day at Amazon will be a mix of orientation and training. You will learn about the company's culture and values and the policies and procedures you must follow. You will also receive job-specific training to teach you how to perform your duties.
After orientation, you will be assigned to a team and begin working on your assigned tasks. You will be expected to work independently and be allowed to show your skills and abilities.
