Hello everyone aiming for a global career! Amazon is a world-leading innovation company and a great place to work if you want to pursue personal growth in a challenging environment. This time, I will thoroughly explain how to prepare for an Amazon interview.
Interviewing at Amazon is a little different from other companies, and has its own unique challenges. With a deep understanding of Amazon's corporate culture and values, and proper preparation, you can approach your interview with confidence.
Features of Amazon interview
Amazon's interview process is unique in that it is evaluated based on its unique leadership philosophy, “OLP.” OLP stands for Our Leadership Principles, and is a 16-point code of conduct based on the idea that all Amazon employees are leaders. During the interview, your ability to act and think in accordance with OLP will be evaluated, so it is important to understand it thoroughly in advance.
Amazon interview flow
Amazon interviews generally proceed as follows.
- personnel screening
- First selection
- Final selection (Loop interview)
In the Loop interview for the final selection, multiple interviewers conduct interviews at once. Amazon's unique third party called a "bar raiser" also participates and evaluates from an objective perspective.
What is Bar Raiser?
Role and position
A third-party interviewer who acts as the final quality guarantor and determines whether a candidate is in the top 50% of existing employees. They have no vested interest in their department and have stronger veto power than the hiring manager.
Three focal points in the interview
| focus | Check point of view | example signal |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OLP fit degree | Can specific episodes be compared against the 16 principles? | STAR includes numbers/reflection |
| 2. Depth of thinking | Why? Logic that doesn't waver even after digging three layers | Get instant metrics with Dive Deep Questions |
| 3. Long-term scalability | Leadership image during expansion | You can even talk about the team blueprint for 5 years from now. |
Possible questions (example)
- your achievementsscale 10xWhat is the first process of cutting?
- When your beliefs conflict with the consensus of your team,data and emotionsHow did you balance it?
- What I learned from my biggest failure in the past,Improvements taken in the last 6 monthsHuh?
- without destroying the organizational culturecontinue to raise the highest standardsPlease tell me the specific method.
- Considering social impact,I decided not to hireDo you have any examples?
Pitfalls & workarounds
| Pitfall | typical pattern | Evasion action |
|---|---|---|
| numbers are thin | “I worked hard/improved” only | Before/After metricsbe sure to add |
| self-defensive | Blame others for failure | Self-blame + learning + prevention of recurrencetalk about as a set |
| Lack of long-term perspective | Focus on completing the task at hand | Presenting ownership after 3 years |
| excessive coordination | Can't show backbone | Conflict of opinions → after conclusionFully committedemphasize |
What is Amazon's OLP?
OLP is a key element of Amazon's corporate culture. OLP is a common metric held by Amazon employees around the world, and is used as a metric in business meetings and when making important decisions. It is also used for employee performance evaluation and human resource development. In Amazon's recruitment process, emphasis is placed on whether the applicant is a person who embodies OLP. During the interview, questions will be asked about past experience in accordance with the OLP, and applicants will be required to explain their experience in relation to the OLP.
There are 16 OLPs in total, and the following four are particularly important. Among them, the most important is Customer Obsession, which means putting the customer first and listening to what the customer has to say before acting. However, the OLPs that are emphasized for each position are different, and it does not mean that other OLPs are not important, so it is necessary to read through all 16 and understand them.
We have organized the 16 Leadership Principles that Amazon emphasizes in hiring, along with their English names, Japanese translations, and the core points that interviewers actually want to measure.
| # | OLP (English) | Japanese translation | Key points that the interviewer sees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Obsession | Commitment to customers | The starting point for statements and judgmentsAlways customer valueIs it? |
| 2 | Ownership | ownership | Even outside the areatake responsibilityAttitude and judgment from a long-term perspective |
| 3 | Invent & Simplify | Invention and simplification | processboldly scrape awayIdeas and implementation ability |
| 4 | Are Right, A Lot | high judgment | data + intuitionDecision-making with both wheelsand learning speed when missing |
| 5 | Learn & Be Curious | learning and curiosity | Outside of existing skillsstep out independentlyBehavior history |
| 6 | Hire & Develop the Best | Hiring and training excellent human resources | Recruitment criteriahigher than memaintain and systemize the growth of others |
| 7 | Insist on the Highest Standards | uphold high standards | without compromisepolish the detailsAttitude and corrective process |
| 8 | Think Big | think big | 10x scale visionrealistic roadmapcan you draw |
| 9 | Bias for Action | Action first | 70% informationImmediate execution → verificationtrack record |
| 10 | Frugality | frugality | constraintssource of creativityExample of changing to |
| 11 | Earn Trust | Gaining trust | Transparent information sharingand the speed with which they admit their mistakes. |
| 12 | Dive Deep | dig deep | KPI'sroot cause behindSkills to pursue with data |
| 13 | Have Backbone; Disagree & Commit | advocate and cooperate | with evidenceOpposition → Full implementation after decisionconsistency of |
| 14 | Deliver Results | produce results | Even under headwindsBalancing deadlines and qualitypower to cut through |
| 15 | Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer | Creating the best workplace | Psychological safety and diversityGuaranteed by actioncase study |
| 16 | Success & Scale Bring Broad Responsibility | expansion and responsibility | Business expansion bringsConsideration for social and environmental impact |
Amazon's ratings are based on OLP. The interviewer will also check the applicant's leadership ability by referring to the OLP items. During the interview, it is important to use the STAR method to provide detailed explanations in response to questions that follow the OLP. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and by clearly explaining each element, you can help the interviewer understand your experience.
32 examples of OLP questions actually asked in Amazon interviews
We have posted two representative questions for each OLP. These are just sample questions, so they may differ from the questions asked for individual positions, but since questions like this are asked for each position and each layer, you will need to take preparation by comparing them with your own track record and experience.
| OLP | Example question ① | Example question ② |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Obsession | How did you strike a balance when customer demands and company policy conflicted? | Please tell us about your experience in discovering latent customer needs and improving your product. |
| Ownership | What is an example of someone taking over an issue outside of their scope of responsibility? | Do you have any experience implementing measures from a long-term perspective even if it means increasing costs? |
| Invent & Simplify | Can you tell me an example of a company completely redesigning a complex process? | Have you ever used innovative methods to solve a problem without a budget? |
| Are Right, A Lot | How did you correct and learn after making a wrong decision? | What successful decisions have you made that incorporate opposing opinions? |
| Learn & Be Curious | What skills have you learned recently and how do you apply them to your work? | Have you ever had an experience where an initiative you started out of curiosity produced results? |
| Hire & Develop the Best | How did you hire top talent without lowering your standards? | What measures have you put in place to help your subordinates grow? |
| Insist on the Highest Standards | What process did you use to detect and correct the quality decline? | Are there any cases where you rejected “good enough” and asked for improvement? |
| Think Big | Have you ever made a proposal with an eye toward 10x growth? | What is an example of a bold idea that was criticized as unrealistic? |
| Bias for Action | What are some examples of successful decisions made with incomplete information? | How did you recover when your quick action failed? |
| Frugality | What measures achieved the maximum effect with a limited budget? | Have you ever experienced taking advantage of a lack of resources to innovate? |
| Earn Trust | What are some cases where you lost trust and then regained it? | What specific measures did you take to build trust in your cross-cultural team? |
| Dive Deep | What are some examples of discovering latent issues even when surface KPIs were strong? | Have you ever had an experience overturning an organization's assumptions through data analysis? |
| Backbone / Disagree & Commit | What should you do when you have a conflict of opinion with your boss? | How did you commit after disagreeing with the decision? |
| Deliver Results | What was the process by which you achieved your lofty goals on time? | What measures did you take to protect the results when the plan collapsed due to external factors? |
| Earth’s Best Employer | What specific measures did you take to increase the psychological safety of your team? | What are some examples of building systems that allow diverse members to play an active role? |
| Success & Scale Responsibility | What measures do you take to ensure growth and social responsibility at the same time? | What experience have you had in minimizing the negative effects of expansion? |
Examples of questions actually asked in Amazon interviews
During the Amazon interview, you will be asked questions about your past experience and case study style questions. It is important to answer all of these questions with OLP in mind.
Example questions based on experience
- Please tell us about your most successful sales strategy to date.
- Tell me about a past experience in which you faced a problem and found numerous solutions.
- Please tell us about your experience in carrying out projects as your own responsibility.
Case study style question example
- What would you do to lower your Amazon Prime cancellation rate?
- What kind of product would you develop to increase the number of Amazon Photos users?
Amazon interview preparation: What is the STAR method?
The STAR method is an effective method for structuring answers in interviews, and Amazon actually recommends using the STAR method.
Regarding OLP from the customer's perspective, if you were asked the question, “Please tell me about an experience that exceeded your customer's expectations,” an example of an answer using the STAR method would be as follows.
- Situation
At my previous job, I was in charge of customer support at a company called 〇〇.
At that time, we received an inquiry from a customer regarding how to use the product. - Task
Even after reading the product manual, the customer was unable to figure out how to use the product, and seemed to be in great trouble.
My goal was to solve my customers' problems and make them satisfied. - Action
First, we listened to the customer's situation in detail and identified the problems they were having.
Next, we explained how to use the product using diagrams to make it easier for customers to understand.
Additionally, we have created and provided additional documentation to help our customers continue using our products. - Result
As a result, the customer understood how to use the product and was very happy.
Later, we received a thank you note from the customer, saying, “Thanks to you, we are now able to use our product more comfortably.” Through this experience, I learned the importance of being close to customers and providing courteous support.
In this way, the STAR method allows you to clearly explain the situation, issue, actions, and results. The interviewer will be able to gain a deeper understanding of your experience and determine whether you are someone who embodies OLP.
Key points when creating STAR method answers
Build a global career by changing jobs to Amazon
As you can see, while changing jobs to Amazon is difficult, there are solid preparation, so if you do some hard work and counseling with an experienced career advisor, changing jobs to Amazon and building a global career is not a dream. For more detailed Amazon preparation, please download and use the Amazon interview preparation document.
Summary: The key to passing the Amazon interview
In order to pass the Amazon interview, it is important to understand OLP and use methods such as the STAR method to effectively promote yourself. Prepare thoroughly in advance and face the interview with confidence.
In addition, GCI offers a career program called GCAP AMAZON that specializes in preparing for career moves to Amazon. We have a strong program and coaching staff to help you secure your desired position at Amazon, so give us a try.
We are not just a “career move school for international companies”, but we will update “your strengths” to a form that will work on Amazon, and support you until you succeed in the interview. We also offer free interviews, so if you have any concerns about whether you can really succeed at Amazon, please feel free to contact us.
Related videos
The YouTube channel "Global Career ch" operated by our company provides a variety of content that supports career moves to international companies, including videos on Amazon interview preparation. Please subscribe to our channel and check the latest information.
![[Released on 1st] A detailed analysis of Amazon's working style. Former employee explains job details](https://gci-inc.co.jp/cms/wp-content/plugins/gci-web-integrated-20261021/static/assets/r11-1b5e42d13ed5b3.webp)
![[Explained by a former employee] Amazon's 16 work style requirements for all employees](https://gci-inc.co.jp/cms/wp-content/plugins/gci-web-integrated-20261021/static/assets/r11-4496e1a6c5db86.webp)
![[Interview with former employees] How much do Amazon employees earn? Average salary by age](https://gci-inc.co.jp/cms/wp-content/plugins/gci-web-integrated-20261021/static/assets/r11-f4b2e4bb393da5.webp)