I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon Web Services in Oct 2024
Interview
The AWS SDE fresher interview process begins with an online assessment, which includes coding challenges focused on data structures and algorithms, along with a work style survey evaluating alignment with Amazon’s Leadership Principles. Once qualified, candidates move to a 40-minute phone screening, where the interviewer asks about their resume, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities. If successful, the next stage consists of three interviews—two technical rounds focusing on coding and system design and one behavioral round assessing the candidate’s fit with Amazon’s culture and values.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Given a string s with repeated characters, the task is to rearrange characters in a string such that no two adjacent characters are the same.
The process consisted of one long homework assignment as the initial screening. Once passed, I was invited to a single interview day divided into two rounds:
Round 1: Conducted by two interviewers.
Round 2: Conducted by a Senior Developer.
Both rounds followed a similar format, each including 2 behavioral/personal questions followed by 1 coding/technical question.
I applied online. The process took 5 months. I interviewed at Amazon Web Services (Seattle, WA)
Interview
Stage 1 — Application
You apply through the Amazon Careers portal (AWS roles route through Amazon University Talent Acquisition for new grads). New grad postings tend to open in waves, with a lot of activity in fall and again in winter/spring.Stage 2 — Online Assessment (OA)
Within 1–2 weeks of applying, you'll typically get an OA link with a few days to complete it. It usually has two parts: two coding problems (often one easy + one medium, leetcode-style, focused on data structures and algorithms), followed by a work simulation / work-style assessment where you respond to email-style scenarios that probe how you'd handle real workplace situations against Amazon's Leadership Principles.Stage 3 — Phone screen (sometimes)
Some candidates report a single technical phone screen between the OA and the final loop, but many go directly from OA to the virtual onsite.Stage 4 — Virtual Onsite ("the Loop")
This is the main event: typically 2–3 back-to-back interviews, each 45–60 minutes. Each round generally follows the same pattern — roughly half behavioral, half technical:
Recruiter Screen: A 20-minute "vibe check" on your background and salary.
Technical Assessment: A timed coding challenge or a logic-based brainteaser.
The "Onsite" (Virtual or In-Person): 3–4 back-to-back rounds covering system design and behavioral "tell me about a time" questions.
Bar Raiser: A final interview with a neutral party to ensure you meet the company's high standards.