As a pioneering technological innovation leader, the company hires roughly 840,000 people worldwide. The amazon hiring process is rigorous and typically includes multiples of Amazon assessment tests and interviews. PM interviews are particularly quite tough; the job-specific and behavioral questions are challenging, Amazon-specific, and cover a wide variety of topics.
The great thing about working for Amazon is that it provides a wide range of opportunities, including full-time and part-time, salaried, and hourly positions. Regardless of place, Amazon seeks ambitious and inventive individuals to help them achieve their singular goal of becoming Earth’s most customer-centric organization, according to Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and former CEO.
At MentorCruise, a mentorship platform, our career coaches emphasize that proper preparation will make a huge difference in your ability to land any dream job. To improve your chances of success as a candidate for any role, we’ve put together a detailed guide on the overview of the Amazon hiring process. You’ll learn;
- Amazon’s approach to hiring
- Amazon application process.
- Amazon hiring process.
- Reasons why Amazon applications are rejected
- Best tips on how to get hired at Amazon
Amazon Application Process
Every Amazon team operates in its own style, and each will handle the hiring process differently.
However, several methods are used around the board. As an applicant, you should be aware of them as part of their Amazon application. They include:
Online applications. Include relevant keywords!
The first move, as you would expect, is to apply for your desired position online. To get started, you’ll need to create an amazon.job account and complete your profile. This will require you to upload your CV, although candidates are allowed to use their LinkedIn profiles.
In your resume or LinkedIn profile, you most importantly need to include relevant keywords to the job you’re applying for! Professionals will look through your applications for keywords and relevant experience.
Amazon is a recruitment giant that receives tons of applications from hopeful candidates from all over the world. In fact, at their Career Day 2021 event, over 1 million people applied for jobs at Amazon. With 50,000 job positions available at any given time, the competition is tougher than ever.
Standing out from a sea of applicants requires a strategy that will put your application in front of Amazon headhunters from the get-go. Even before a human recruiter has the chance to view your resume and evaluate you based on your experience, it will be screened by an AI.
Like many large companies that hire en masse, Amazon uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which is a software that screens resumes based on certain keywords. This means that at the very early stage of the Amazon hiring process, there’s already an obstacle that you must overcome.
To increase your chance of getting past this stage, you must use relevant keywords in your resume or LinkedIn profile. No one knows for sure what keywords the AI is looking for, but Amazon leaves some clues in their 14 leadership principles.
You must be able to connect these principles to your qualifications and the job you’re applying for. Simply adding job-specific keywords to your resume can help you get past the screening software.
In the Amazon application portal, there will be 3 choices pertaining to Amazon application statuses:
#1. Application submitted. In this Amazon application status, Amazon has received your application but has not looked through it yet.
#2. Under consideration. People are reviewing your application.In this Amazon application status, they may move you forward to the next stage or pass your resume to a more relevant team that can hire you.
#3. No longer under consideration. This means exactly what it means.
Unqualified candidates won’t be contacted and have the line “no longer under consideration”, and the application gets archived. This means that the hiring team did not deem you fit to go through the next round. If you get the dreaded “no longer under consideration” line but have relevant experience, it may be time to revise your resume.
If your Amazon application status status is ‘Amazon application under consideration,’ there’s a possibility that your application is moving forward in the process. However, don’t get your hopes up because the evaluation process and the application status can change at any time.
Amazon hiring managers are looking for job candidates who have both the requisite functional skills and a commitment to the company’s values. As a result, you’ll need to complete an Amazon online assessment in addition to your submission.
The types of tests you’ll take will vary depending on the position you’re applying for. But you’ll be asked to answer a series of job-specific questions, verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning tests, as well as situational judgment tests, are all standard.
The work descriptions and skill specifications on Amazon’s job postings are very comprehensive, so read them carefully. This should give you a fair idea of the kinds of exams you’ll be taking.
Also, your Amazon application will likely include one or all of the following;
- Workstyle assessment.
- Work sample simulations.
Work Style Assessment
The Amazon online test is developed to determine your professional style and how it aligns with the company’s Leadership principles. You’ll be sent a list of statements and asked to select the ones that best represent your working style.
Remember that Amazon’s Leadership Principles guide the company’s entire culture, so be candid. They’re searching for the right match, and if that’s not you, you won’t be happy working for Amazon. This exam session usually takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete.
Work Sample Simulations
These are role-specific assessments. You’ll be given a virtual task to complete that is relevant to the job. And they’ll judge how well you complete it.
These job simulations will test your interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and data processing. And the Leadership principles will have a significant effect on your performance. Depending on the difficulty, this segment can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.
If your application is approved and you pass your Amazon assessment tests, you’ll be invited to a phone interview.
The Amazon Hiring Process.
The Amazon position hiring process is lengthy and arduous. It runs from a screening call with HR through a series of interviews, writing tests, hiring, and offer meetings to reference checks.
The good news is that it is relatively consistent. Because you know the structure ahead of time, it’s much easier to prepare, and there are fewer surprises. This, however, doesn’t guarantee that the interview will be straightforward (far from it!), but it does imply you won’t be going into it blind. So what should you expect?
Interviewing at Amazon - The recruiting process.
First and foremost, you must comprehend the various stages of your Amazon interview process. Keep in mind that Amazon has a policy of only interviewing people they want to hire, so in some ways you already have a foot in the door, and the interviewing process will be in some ways to further assess your culture fit. Here’s what to expect in the interview process:
- Coordination of HR Recruiters
- One or two interviews over the phone
- Homework: write a one- or two-page essay
- Six to seven onsite interviews.
Coordination of HR recruiter and Phone interview
In most cases, the interview process begins with a phone call, video call or email from an HR recruiter. They want to make sure you have a shot at getting the job, so be prepared to talk about your background and why you’d be a good match at Amazon. They will then schedule the first interview, which will take place over the internet.
Senior members of the relevant team, including the hiring manager in charge of the recruitment, may usually conduct phone interviews with you. These discussions aim to ensure that you have the necessary credentials for the job. Common interview questions include: “Tell me about yourself” “Why Amazon?” “Tell me about a product or feature that you developed from beginning to end.” “Tell me about a time when you failed” are typical behavioral questions.
Leadership questions include: “What does customer obsession mean to you?” “What is a great customer experience?” “How do you foster customer trust?” “How do you deal with demanding customer requests?” “How do you nurture great customer service?”
When it comes to answering behavioral interview questions, the STAR approach is a verified winner. Be sure to demonstrate your interpretation of Amazon’s Leadership principles while addressing even the most specific interview questions.
Writing a test.
If you pass the phone interview, you’ll possibly be asked to write a one- to two-page essay in preparation for your on-site interviews on a subject like “What is the most creative project you’ve worked on?” or “Talk about an experience in which you were able to make your customers’ lives easier.” It’s important to keep in mind that interviewers will be interested in how your essay relates to leadership principles regardless of the subject or instructions.
Onsite interview
The next move is to spend a whole day at one of Amazon’s offices, where you will be interviewed six to seven times. These one-on-one interviews will last about 60 minutes. They will include various people from the team you’re applying to join, such as colleagues, the recruiting manager, and a senior executive. During the interview, each interviewer is typically given two or three leadership principles to concentrate on.
One of the last interviews will be with a “Bar Raiser,” as Amazon refers to them. These interviewers aren’t associated with the team for which you’re applying, and they’re more concerned with overall applicant quality than with particular team specifications. They undergo advanced training to ensure that Amazon’s hiring standards remain strong and do not deteriorate over time. They act as a major barrier between you and the work offer.
Hiring Meeting
After your interviews, the people you met with will gather in one room to discuss whether or not you should be hired. Usually, you’ll find out the outcome within a week of finishing the final interviews. There isn’t anything you can do at this stage, but if you haven’t already, give a thank-you note to everyone you met. Hold on to your seat!
Offer Meeting
If all goes well, HR will inquire about your present and estimated salary. They will give you a written offer based on this information and the job’s standard. Instead of a phone call, HR can invite the interviewee to their office for an “offer meeting” to explain the situation in person. This isn’t a meeting where you’ll be able to bargain.
Reference Check
If you’re applying for a high rank, Amazon will normally conduct one or two reference tests, and in some cases, more for senior positions. These are done over the phone by the HR manager or recruiting manager and last approximately 15-20 minutes. They will usually ask to meet with at least one former boss and one former colleague, or if you are in a management position, one of your former direct reports.
Amazon’s Hiring Process Timeline
Now that you know the intricate details of the application process at Amazon, you might be wondering how long does it take to get hired at Amazon?
There’s no quick answer to the question because the Amazon hiring process timeline varies depending on the position that is being filled. The higher the position you’re applying for, the longer the process. This is due to the number of interviews that need to be set up with the management.
For senior positions, the hiring meeting stage can take weeks or even months because the schedules of the higher-ups (i.e., vice-presidents and directors) must be in sync so that they can all be in the same room at the same time with you.
From application to job offer for a senior position, expect the Amazon hiring process timeline to be anywhere from three weeks to three months. For lower positions, you can expect the hiring process to be faster as there are fewer steps to take.
Possible Reasons Why Your Amazon Application Was Rejected
If you don’t make it to the Amazon jobs under consideration club weeks into your application, you can expect your application status to go to the dreaded “no longer under consideration” status.
Your Amazon application may be rejected for a number of reasons. It can be things that are outside of your control and have nothing to do with your skillset. Here are possible reasons why your application is not under consideration in Amazon.
1. Lack of work experience
Your application was rejected because the position you are applying for requires more experience than you have. This is particularly true for highly specialized technical skills.
Although you may be an excellent candidate with the right skillset, it’s possible that other candidates are more suitable because they possess the required level of experience. You may want to consider reapplying when you have more experience in the field.
2. The job position demands a higher level of education.
It’s possible that the job position demands a Bachelor’s degree or higher, which you don’t currently have. For higher job positions, Amazon is looking for someone with more complex expertise. This indicates that the job is difficult and may require more specialized skills and a higher educational requirement.
3. Skills and experience mismatch
Another possibility is that your application does not meet the company’s hiring criteria. This may be due to a mismatch between your skills and experience and the requirements of the position. Amazon may have decided that another candidate was a better fit for the position.
4. Mistakes in application
Amazon receives a large number of applications, that’s why they have a system in place to screen applicants before moving forward with the applications. So, if the documents you submit are incomplete or contain errors, chances are your application will be rejected at the onset. So, make sure you strictly follow Amazon’s application instructions to avoid rejection due to technicality.
5. Unsatisfactory answers to job interview questions
If you’ve made it past the Amazon under consideration status after your application is submitted, you’ll advance to a series of one-on-one interviews that will help recruitment managers and senior executives get to know you better and see if you would be a good fit for the position.
The interviewers would want to know about your experience and motivations. They are looking for a deeper understanding of who you are, beyond what can be gleaned from your resume. If you fail to give them satisfactory answers to their questions, they can decide not to move forward with your application.
Tips on How to Get Hired at Amazon
The competition for jobs at Amazon is incredibly tough, and the rigorous interview process is intense and nerve-wracking. You really have to jump through hoops to make the cut.
Many candidates have impressive academic backgrounds and are well-qualified, so it can be difficult for you to stand out from the crowd.
By following these tips on how to get hired at Amazon, you can increase your chances of acing the application process and securing a plum job position at Amazon.
1. Familiarize yourself with Amazon’s company culture and values.
You must be able to demonstrate how your skills and experience match those values on your CV and in interviews. More importantly, you should be able to articulate your ability to contribute to the company’s success. This will make Amazon hiring managers pay attention to your CV.
2. Tailor your resume to match the job requirements.
Create a strong resume that highlights your expertise as they pertain to the job you’re applying for. Look at the job description and job responsibilities and craft your resume to match every requirement of the job.
Highlight specific skills and work experience that are relevant to the position. You must tweak your general resume according to the requirements of the job. Never submit a generic resume.
3. Use relevant keywords in your resume and documents.
Including relevant keywords helps to improve the visibility of your resume as it makes it easier to scan and search, either by AI or humans. You’re essentially making your resume keyword optimized.
Hiring managers typically only spend a few seconds reviewing each resume, so they are looking for certain keywords to further expedite the process.
For example, if you are applying for a managerial position at Amazon, here are some relevant keywords that you can use:
- Market strategy
- Conversions
- Data-driven
- Process improvement
- Business results
- Return on investment (ROI)
- Product development
- Project management skills
- Cost-effective
- Business intelligence
- Sales targets
- Strategic
- Innovative
- Problem solving
With keywords, it’s much easier for your resume to be found by a recruiter or hiring manager who is looking for candidates with specific skills and qualifications that match Amazon’s job description.
4. Highlight your experience by using action verbs in your resume and interviews.
Using action verbs in your resume and during the Amazon job interviews is a way to effectively highlight your skills and abilities. By using strong, descriptive verbs, you can paint a clear picture of what you are capable of and what you have accomplished.
Amazon is looking for problem solvers and innovative individuals who can deliver results. The company is more likely to hire candidates who can think outside the box, are proactive in their work, can take on challenges, and solve business problems.
In order to compete effectively for a job at Amazon, you must be able to show and convince the hiring manager and directors that you have done something in your previous work that benefited the company, which you can replicate at Amazon.
Here are some examples of powerful action verbs that you can use to tell engaging stories about your experience and skills. They help propel and amplify your message.
- Designed
- Developed
- Launched
- Devised
- Built
- Engineered
- Automated
- Pioneered
- Formulated
- Spearheaded
- Resolved
- Initiated
5. Back your stories with data
You must be truthful in your answers to interview questions. This means you must be able to support your statements with data. Your stories and experiences must be presented in a measurable way. Being a data-driven company, Amazon will likely appreciate if statements are quantifiable.
For instance, if you talk about meeting sales targets, you should mention data points as proof of your achievements in that respect. The same goes for cost savings and return on investments.
Numbers carry a quantitative impact that can strengthen your position and increase the chance of getting hired at Amazon.
Get help with MentorCruise.
Proper preparation is the key to landing any dream job, and the best way to prepare is to work with a career coach.
Are you interested in winning a job or have an upcoming interview with Amazon? Then you need to prepare properly.
Our career mentors have a track record of hiring from different top technological giants amazon included. In just a few minutes, you can schedule a preparation session with top tech career coaching mentors.
