Amazon Hiring Process: What to Expect in Each Recruitment Step [2026]
Ready to launch your career at Amazon? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Amazon hiring process in 2025, step by step.
From submitting your application to mastering assessments and interviews, you’ll discover proven strategies and insider advice to help you stand out and land the job you want.
Start preparing today and take your first step toward joining one of the world’s most innovative companies!
Watch the video below for a general Amazon hiring process breakdown or read our in-depth article on the subject. Take advantage of these resources to get ahead and prepare with confidence for every step of your Amazon journey!
Amazon's hiring process typically consists of the following steps:
The Amazon hiring process is known for being fast, often taking 2-3 weeks, but it can vary.
Amazon adheres to a "2 and 5" rule, aiming to deliver feedback within 2 business days following a phone screen and within 5 business days after an on-site interview. Senior-level roles or periods of high activity may extend this timeframe.
Typically, you can expect a response within 2 business days after a phone screen and a decision within 5 business days following an on-site interview.
So, how long does the Amazon hiring process take?
For most positions, the end-to-end process takes about 2-3 weeks, though duration may fluctuate due to role seniority, candidate volume, or scheduling conflicts.
If you have another offer, you may request to expedite the process. Delays do not necessarily indicate a negative outcome and can result from factors like recruiter unavailability.
While we obviously cannot go through every single position at Amazon, but here are a couple just to get give you a taste.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
Amazon's response time to job applications varies significantly, but it's typical to hear back within a week for an initial screening. However, specific timelines may fluctuate based on the role and application volume.
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.
From our vast experience in preparing Amazon applicants for their assessments, here are the most common Amazon pre-hire tests:
It typically takes about a week to hear back from Amazon after an online assessment (OA), though sometimes you’ll get a response even sooner.
Delays can occur due to the recruiter's schedule or hiring needs, but staying proactive pays off—don’t hesitate to reach out for an update if you haven’t heard back!
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.
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.
If you are invited to a virtual interview, such as an AI 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.
The behavioral interview 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The following steps are not part of the standard Amazon interview process, but you may encounter them depending on your application position.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How does Amazon Reject Candidates?
You'll get an email telling you the outcome if your application is rejected. Amazon rejects candidates based on not meeting the "bar" during the interview process, which can be due to things like technical skills, how you answer questions, cultural fit, or how you performed that day.
If you get a "not inclined no recycle," you’ll need to wait before applying again, but a "not inclined recycle" means you can try for other roles immediately.
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.
Discover more about Amazon’s recruitment process and positions on our main Amazon exams page.
