“I tried for an interview at Amazon, but I didn’t pass. I still want to try again.”
This is a comment I often hear from people in their early 30s with no experience working in a foreign company. Amazon, a global tech company, has high hiring standards, and it is not uncommon for candidates to not receive an offer even if they pass the first interview.
However, there is no need to give up just because you have failed once.
In fact, Amazon has a concept called "recycling," which means that even if you fail the selection for a certain position, there is still a possibility that you can proceed to the application screening or interview for another position in the future. Additionally, there is a system in which you can reapply after a cooling period of about six months, so you can use your previous failure as inspiration to improve your skills and improve your interview preparation before taking on the challenge.
In this article, we will present a practical roadmap for trying again, based on the common traits and preparation of people who got job offers at Amazon after six months. While looking back on the previous interview, I included concrete ideas on what improvements I could make and how to overcome the anxiety that comes with having no experience working in a foreign company.
The important thing is to not let it end after one failure. Depending on your preparation, you can greatly expand your opportunities in six months. Please read till the end and get the energy and strategy to take on Amazon again.
Even if it falls once, there is still possibility – knowing the concept of “recycling”
At Amazon, being rejected does not mean a complete end. When unsuccessful candidates are subsequently reconsidered for another position, this is called "recycling." Specifically, the list of candidates may be revised based on newly opened positions in the same department or in other departments. It may also be done across Amazon and AWS.
You may think, “But now that I've received a rejection letter, there's no hope for me.” In reality, I did not receive a job offer at that time, but if the situation changes, such as changes in hiring needs or the candidate's skills improve, the company's perspective will change. Especially in a company like Amazon, which has a wide range of business and frequently changes and changes job positions, there is a good chance that new positions or similar positions will be re-opened.
Additionally, in Amazon's hiring process, there are not only cases in which the candidate is judged to be completely unsuitable, but also cases in which the candidate is judged to be “not up to the standard at this stage, but there is room for improvement.” In the latter case, even if the candidate is unsuccessful, it is not uncommon for the candidate to decide at a later date to consider a different position next time.
In other words, a single failure is not a declaration that “we don't need you at all,” but it has a strong implication that “we are not a match for you at your current level or timing.” It's worth proactively preparing to try again in six months or a year.
How to make use of the 6-month cooling period? – Specific strategies for trying again
If your application is not selected by Amazon, there is generally a cooling period of approximately 6 months. This system prevents you from proceeding with the recruitment process even if you reapply for the same position immediately, but on the other hand, it also gives you the chance to try again in six months.
When you fail once, it is important to look back at the possible reasons and make a plan to overcome them in the next six months. Below are some examples of key strategies.
1. Re-understanding LP (Leadership Principles) and applying them to actions
Amazon's LP (Leadership Principles) is meaningless just memorizing the words. Let's dig deeper into what kind of behavioral guidelines are actually required, and think deeply about how to connect them to our own experiences.
For example, if you were asked about your ownership story in your last interview and answered vaguely, “I was only indirectly involved in the results of the entire team,” we recommend that you consider what kind of projects you can lead within the next six months, both inside and outside the company. Even on a small scale, you can build a track record by taking initiative, and it will be easier to include specific success stories and failure stories in your next interview.
2. Update industry/occupation knowledge and expand horizons to other fields
If you are in your early 30s and have no experience working in a foreign company, there are cases where you approach an interview without knowing about Amazon's unique business structure and technology trends. Spending six months thoroughly researching the latest industry trends and Amazon's areas of focus (cloud, AI, commerce expansion, etc.) and reinforcing your relevant knowledge will make all the difference.
Additionally, Amazon does not just have one business, but multiple fields (AWS, device business, advertising, logistics, etc.). Even if you were unsuccessful in the retail sector last time, you may be considered for a position related to AWS or device development next time, so expanding your basic knowledge in other fields is also effective in preparing for "recycling."
3. Strengthen English/communication skills
One of the major reasons why people without experience at a foreign company have a hard time interviewing at Amazon is their English proficiency. In particular, many people may find it difficult to construct an episode logically and speak convincingly in English.
In order to improve your business English skills over the next six months, it would be a good idea to actively use online English conversation, English coaching, or mock interviews with people from international companies. Amazon in particular has a strong data-driven culture, so repeatedly practicing explanations and presentations using numbers will help you gain confidence at your next interview.
4. Reviewing the interview content and creating an improvement plan
A common pattern after failing a test is to simply feel depressed without knowing what caused it. It is important to remember the content of the interview, the interviewer's reactions, and do as much self-analysis as possible.
– Where did you have trouble answering the question? – Were you able to provide sufficient concrete examples for the points that the interviewer explored in depth? – Was the logical structure of the LP easy to understand?
Write these down in bullet points and plan how you can improve them over the next six months. For example, if you decide on concrete actions to prepare for the next time, you can work proactively, such as organizing internal documents to fill in the ambiguous parts of the S (situation explanation) of the STAR method, or preparing to be able to talk about the outcome indicators in the action part more numerically.
Tips on “revenge interview” that will lead to success in your re-challenge
Even if you have improved your skills during the six-month cooling period, what should you do when you actually reapply? Just because you failed once, let's check what you need to know to face a “revenge interview.”
1. Determine whether you are in the same position as last time or a different position.
Amazon requires slightly different skills and experience for each position. If you are reapplying for the same position you previously held, you will need to convince the interviewer why you were able to pass this time. On the other hand, when considering a new position, it is essential to re-research the points that are emphasized by the job type and division.
Due to the above-mentioned “recycling,” there are cases in which a manager from another department approaches the candidate without taking any action, but be sure to be prepared so that you can show that “I can succeed here as well” at that time.
2. How to understand the fact that you have failed once – An honest stance is preferable
When reapplying, you may be asked, "How do you feel about your previous failure?" At this point, it will be counterproductive to make excessive excuses or act in a manner that criticizes the interviewer.
Rather, it would be better to view it as a positive learning experience and say, “Last time I wasn't very good at understanding the LP, but in the past six months I've been able to practice ◯◯ and have grown,” or “I had some difficulty communicating in English, but I improved by attending business English training,” which would fit Amazon's culture of emphasizing Learn and Be Curious (willingness to learn and curiosity). By being honest and positive with the interviewer, you give the impression that previous evaluations are not necessarily directly related to current evaluations.
3. Boldly promote your strengths while being conscious of cultural fit
Even if you try again six months later, you will still be asked whether you fit in with LP and whether you have a culture match. In fact, because you have once failed the exam, you need to talk more clearly about what you have in common with Amazon culture.
However, if you are too shy about communicating your strengths and accomplishments, you may lack impact. In particular, those with no experience working in a foreign company often feel intimidated and wonder, “Will the experience I gained at a Japanese company really be valued?” However, Amazon tends to highly value experience in leading major improvement projects and leadership in launching new businesses. If you can concretely imagine that “If I was able to achieve these results in a leadership position, I can do the same in Amazon's department,” you can expect a high appeal effect.
For those of you who don’t give up – Get a job offer next time with GCAP AMAZON
For those who have once failed at Amazon, the learnings and setbacks they learned there will be a great driving force to lead them to success in their next challenge. The question is, “What specifically should I change?” and “How should I take action?” from that setback. Six months may seem like a short period of time, but it is also a period in which dramatic growth is possible if efforts are made in the right direction.
If you feel like “I want a little more perspective from an outside professional” or “I don't know what went wrong on my own,” please consider our GCAP AMAZON service. We will fully support your re-challenge, from optimizing application screening to preparing for interviews, improving your English skills, and professional presentation based on your LP.
In particular, “logical presentations in English,” “data-driven answers,” and “how to deepen understanding of LP” are areas that are difficult to learn on your own, and those with no experience working in international companies tend to have trouble. However, if you conduct mock interviews with an experienced coach such as a former Amazon employee, a foreign HR manager, or a career advisor specializing in international companies, your chances of success when reapplying six months later should be much higher. Additionally, we will provide advice on how to match your experience with multiple positions, keeping in mind the "recycling" mechanism.
It's still too early to give up and say, "I've already fallen, so I can't do it." If you want to test your skills on the global stage of Amazon, you have no choice but to try again. In the spirit of Learn and Be Curious, why not take the first step now to further expand your career?
If you are interested, please apply for a free interview. Let's draw together a roadmap that will help you get a job offer this time, using your past interviews as inspiration.
Author
Global Career Incubator Co., Ltd. CEO Shinichi Ikawa
Biography: Entered the business world after working for the Ministry of Defense (National Class I) and the Australian Ministry of Defence. After working at a major real estate company, he started a real estate venture and experienced management and recruitment at a domestic fund, domestic business company, and overseas tech company before founding our company.
Developed a career accelerator program based on my experience as a corporate manager and hiring manager. We specialize in foreign-affiliated, bilingual, and senior talent, and support individual career advancement and corporate organizational strength and efficiency.