Amazon.com Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Feb 14, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 1216 ratings 
“Difficult” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 1216 ratings
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| 61–70 of 1,213 Amazon.com Interviews | Sort by |
Software Engineer at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 24, 2012
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2011 in Seattle, WA (took 1+ week)
I went through two phone interviews, but Amazon did not proceed to the next step. The first interview went decently well. It started off with basic Java/Object Oriented questions, and then moved to many performance related questions (Big O), such as the Big O of Java collections objects. There is also coding on a shared screen towards the end of the interview, and the interviewer would ask you to optimize the performance of your code. The second interview was similar to the first in terms of question structure. However, this interviewer had a heavy accent, so it was a bit difficult to understand some of the questions. In addition to the coding on a shared screen, this interviewer also had you give pseudocode over the phone for another exercise. After hearing that they were not going to proceed with the face to face interview in Seattle (with no reason given), I was contacted another 5 times within the next month and a half by other people recruiting full time positions for Amazon. My impression from all of this is that Amazon tries to go through a ridiculously large amount of interviewees across the entire country, and picks a very small % of them to actually hire. This part turned me away from trying for any other position.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
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Intern at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 24, 2012
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2011 (took 1+ week)
2 phone interviews, same day back to back.
was asked about data structures(trees and hash tables) and to convert a recursive program to iterative one.
was asked to code in google doc kinda app so the interviwer cud see me typing the code.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
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Software Development Engineer (SDE) Intern at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 24, 2012
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2012 (took 5 weeks)
Applied for the position via my school's career services site. Nearly 4 months later received a request to complete two phone interviews. After scheduling the interview, I was never called then received another email to reschedule the next month.
The interviewers are generally very helpful, guiding you along the write track as you answer - the first began by telling me a bit about the company and his position specifically. Be prepared to talk about your past experience, as well as answer questions about fundamental OO concepts and data structures. I was given one programming assignment in the first interview and another in the second, the second problem a slight variation of the first - be prepared to dictate your code over the phone (must be syntax-correct). I would suggest practicing by writing code on a notepad/paper instead of using an IDE. I would suggest reviewing data structures, algorithm analysis (you will be expected to analyze the time/space complexity of the functions you write). Received a response 1 week post-interview.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Technical Program Manager at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 24, 2012
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 in Seattle, WA (took 3 days)
I spoke with a recruiter and he informed me that the first step in the process was to have a Technical interview. Three days later I ways contacted by one of their Senior Designers. The interview questions were very detailed given the job role. I was asked about how to implement hashing algorithms and load balancing. I felt that many of the questions were better suited to someone applying for a designer or architecture position. It was explained to me that Amazon is developing a culture where all levels of management are very hands on and can assist team members in designing & writing code if needed. This was not a good fit for me, since it has been over 15 years since I last wrote any code. This is a different philosophy than used by the Project Management Institute. It was also explained that all work would need to be performed on-site in Seattle, Washington.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
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Software Developerelopment Engineer at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 23, 2012
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2012 in Seattle, WA (took 1+ week)
A friend refered me to an Amazon recruiter. She then emailed me a programming exercise. It was really easy (sum the the most numerous occurrence of an integer in an array, ie. (1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) would be 2 + 2 + 2 = 6). They wanted 2 solutions to it and a space/time analysis. She was really pushy in me geting it back to her fast.
Apparently I did well on it and they called me in for an in person interview - 4 45 minute interviews. I was very surprised I did well on exercise as I have been UE for two years and am really rusty, and I thought my long UE gap would discourage them away, as most places wont interview me because of my UE gap.
Anyway, I went to the interview and bombed the 1st 45 minute session so bad that they dismissed me after that one interview and I never got to other 3. The question wasnt tough (implement class to put an amazon order into boxes in most efficient way). Its a simple multi hash map problem. But I think I overstudied for it. I should have prepared much less, just studied a few data structure basics, and went in with a clearer mind. I overstudied my old college textbooks as I was so rusty and away from it so long, but it turns out I retained more knowledge that I thought and just should have relaxed.
It was a humbling experience to say the least, but it forced me to get the books out and refresh myself, and hopefully that will lead to a job offer elsewhere. I did my best to explain to the interviewer that I was rusty and not been around acadamia or the work force for a long time. He was nice, professional, and friendly, but I could tell he wasnt impressed with me.
They were nice and professional in the interview. I am a decently bright, smart person, but I just dont have the "genetics" or raw enough talent to survive their interviews. Even if got past first one, I would have hit the "bar raiser" and really flopped. I think I can solve the problems - I just need a little more than 45 minutes.
After researching and reading about Amazon, coupled with having to relocate, I wasnt crazy about their work environment and had a "take it or leave" attitude towards Amazon. In fact, in some ways I ws hoping they rejected me, as I am not sure I would have accepted an offer.
I am not crazy about their interview style and process. I would have liked to been more asked about my experience rather than just a bunch of brain teasers.
My advice would be to study data structures (especially hash maps and multi hash maps), and get out a compiler and solve some puzzles that result in hash tables and other data structures. Dont overstudy. You need a sharp, clear mind for the interviews.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Software Development Engineer at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 18, 2012 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2011 in Seattle, WA (took 1 week)
I Applied Online and got a call for onsite interview. There was some interview event going on and so I did not have to appear for Phone interview prior to this interview. I was flied to Seattle and had four rounds of interview. All the questions were focused on Algorithms and Data Structures.
Questions were 1. "Solve a maze", you have a 2D matrix with 1's as blocked and 0's as path. Find a path from one corner to another, backtracking should be allowed.
2. Prove that tree is BST.
3. Ransom note problem - prepare a note(array) from a given magazine(array).
4. Keep track of history of users of Amazon site in pairs of 3 pages that they have consecutively visited.
Interview Questions
3. Ransom note problem - prepare a note(array) from a given magazine(array).
4. Keep track of history of users of Amazon site in pairs of 3 pages that they have consecutively visited.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
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Financial Analyst Intern at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 18, 2012 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 in Seattle, WA (took a day)
The interview process was 4 30-minute 1:1 interviews, back-to-back. There was one bar raiser, with very high-level questions. Questions that are supposed to throw you off, so that they can see how you handle pressure. Each person seemed to have a different focus: for me, one was very technical, another was more situational questions. There is a strong focus on scenarios, and had some questions where you have to come up with the hypothetical scenario yourself.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
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Customer Service Associate at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 22, 2012
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2011 in Kennewick, WA (took 5 days)
About a week after applying on line I was called for an interview for the next week. I had my interview on a Wednesday and got my job offer on that Friday. I started my training the next week.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Software Engineer at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 21, 2012
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2011 in Seattle, WA (took a day)
Applied online and got call immediately after 5 days. Given 2 date to choose for an onsite interview in Seattle. They took care of almost everything travel-stay-food. I had 15 days to prepare for interview.
The day started with lunch at start then 4 interview one by one continuously by different people, I was bit impressed by all. They all started with inquiring about my work experience, why amazon, most interesting or recent projects, etc.
Interview tech. questions were not hard to understand but requires lot of thinking and to come up with best solution in terms of space-time complexities, they more concentrated on using best suited data structure for given problem and algorithm to solve it. Also, they check if you considered all cases. They keep on noting everything you say and things you write on board. Less time and detailed thinking of problem is a big pain, you have to stress your brain for next 4 hours nonstop.
I was able to answer all tech questions with best solution and they were all very impressed by my solutions, it showed on their face, I met there expectations, but I m sure I messed up Object-oriented question, I was bit disappointed for solution I gave, when I thought about it after coming at hotel, I come with composite design pattern that best suited and was expected. I didn't at all think about any design pattern for object oriented question, I m sure this was the point where I was out.
My advice before going for interview is to go through 2 books: programming interviews exposed and cracking the coding interviews.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
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Software Engineer at Amazon.com
Posted Jan 21, 2012
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2011 in Seattle, WA (took 2 weeks)
Phone interviewed 2 times.. and both of the interviewers were very very sluggish in English. It was hard to understand why they were saying, and I lost phone connection several times during the interview. Interviewers does not seem to speak English very well, and their accents were not from any one of states. Questions were not easy, and you can easily feel that they want to hire the ones who can show exceptional performance in coding.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
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Helpful Interview?
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