How to Answer Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions

Introduction

• Presenter: Kevin Wei, Product Manager
• Purpose: Tips for nailing Amazon behavioral interviews

Understanding Behavioral Interview Questions

• Definition: Focus on past behavior and performance
• Purpose: Reveal candidates' skills and predict job performance
• Emphasis at Amazon: Fit with company culture and leadership principles
• Examples:
  • "Tell me about a time you made a difficult decision."
  • "Describe a simple solution to a complex problem."

Common Mistakes

• Lack of structured or organized answers
• Rambling and not setting the right context
• Inability to provide the desired answer

Solution: The STAR Method

• S - Situation: Describe the context
• T - Task: Elaborate on responsibilities
• A - Action: Specific steps taken
• R - Result: The outcome of actions

Preparing for Behavioral Questions

• Leadership Principles at Amazon:
  1. Customer Obsession: Focus on customer trust and satisfaction
  2. Ownership: Long-term thinking, not just personal tasks
  3. Invent and Simplify: Encourage innovation and simplicity
  4. Are Right, A Lot: Strong judgment and instincts
  5. Learn and Be Curious: Continuous learning and improvement
  6. Hire and Develop the Best: Raise performance and develop talent
  7. Insist on the Highest Standards: High quality and continuous improvement
  8. Think Big: Bold directions and innovative thinking
  9. Bias for Action: Valuing speed and calculated risks
  10. Frugality: Achieve more with less
  11. Earn Trust: Respectful and candid communication
  12. Dive Deep: Attention to detail and thorough analysis
  13. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit: Challenge and commit to decisions
  14. Deliver Results: Focus on key business inputs
  15. Strive to be Earth's Best Employer: Empower and grow employees
  16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility: Consider world impact

Sample Behavioral Questions for Leadership Principles

• Provide examples of past experiences related to each principle
• Prepare stories that demonstrate alignment with principles

Final Tips

1. Don't Repeat Stories: Use varied experiences
2. Share Trade-offs: Discuss pros and cons
3. Be a Good Storyteller: Include conflicts and resolutions

Conclusion

• Recap of behavioral questions and leadership principles
• Encouragement to prepare using tips and STAR method
• Call to action: Like, subscribe, comment for more content

Good luck with your Amazon interview!