Get a Job at Amazon

Amazon is a tech giant that employs a huge workforce of more than 560,000 employees, or ‘Amazonians,’ worldwide. Headquartered in Seattle, with offices and centers around the globe, Amazon offers many employment opportunities. It’s also one of the most sought-after employers in the United States, with thousands of people competing for each available position. Don’t be intimidated, though. With a bit of research and preparation, you can make yourself an ideal candidate for a job at Amazon.

Steps

Finding a Job Opportunity

1. Search the Amazon Jobs website. Amazon hires throughout the year. Visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en to find open positions in many different areas of the company.
   • Search by job title or keyword in the ‘Find Jobs’ bar. You can specify your desired location as well.
   • Scroll down and click ‘View open jobs’ to see opportunities that are currently available in different sectors of the company, including Student Programs, fulfillment centers, and remote jobs with Amazon and its subsidiaries.
   • You can also see complete lists of all of Amazon’s teams, job categories, and office locations around the world to get a sense of the kinds of jobs available at Amazon.
   • Some technical positions, such as software development engineers, require technical or engineering degrees, but not all jobs have specific educational requirements. For example, you don't necessarily need a business degree for a business role, if you can demonstrate strong analytical thinking and an ability to problem-solve.
2. Research Amazon’s recruitment programs. Amazon actively recruits candidates from universities and the military. Follow Amazon on LinkedIn to learn more about its recruitment programs and locations. Attend events and conferences in your field of expertise to get a chance to network with Amazon’s recruiters.
   • Amazon sends recruiters to events such as the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing annual conference, to meet women in the tech industry.
   • Amazon has a physical recruiting presence on many university and college campuses globally, whether that’s participating in career fairs, giving technical talks in classrooms, or putting on hack-a-thons. They also host webinars for university students.
   • Amazon connects with potential candidates at military events, such as the Service Academy Career Conference and Military Officers Job Opportunities. If you’re in the military, attend these events to have a chance to network with Amazon recruiters.
   • Go to https://www.amazon.jobs/en/military for more information about military recruitment.
3. Get a referral from another Amazonian. If you know somebody who already works at Amazon, reach out for advice about what roles in the company would be a good fit for you. Ask them to put in a referral for you with their supervisors, if you feel comfortable doing so.
   • If you don't know anybody who works at Amazon, try going on LinkedIn and finding an Amazonian in your area. Email them with your resume and job interests and ask if they can give you a referral.
4. Do an internship with the company. Amazon actively hires full-time workers from its pool of interns. Visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/business_categories/university-recruiting to see available internships and student programs in different areas of the company, including tech, non-tech, and graduate research internships.
   • Amazon has internship programs for undergraduate students, MBAs, and PhD candidates. They usually last for 12 weeks over the summer.
   • Internships are available in a variety of fields, depending on your area of expertise, including software engineering, business analysis, retail, management roles, and applied research.
   • The internships are paid, and Amazon often helps with relocation costs.
   • Apply online for internships through the Student Program/Internship web page, where available opportunities are also listed.

Applying for the Job

1. Attend a local hiring fair for full- and part-time warehouse positions. Amazon often has mass hiring events for jobs in its fulfillment centers. Some of these events welcome walk ins. Simply show up, apply for a job, and you'll likely be offered one on the spot. Others are by invitation only.
   • To get an invitation to a hiring fair, simply fill out an application online ahead of time. When you receive an email confirmation of your acceptance, print it out and bring it with you. Apply online and find information about hiring events in your area at https://www.amazondelivers.jobs/.
   • You must be at least 18 years old, and have a high school degree or equivalent to be hired for an Amazon warehouse position.
   • You don't need a resume to apply for a warehouse position. However, bring a photo ID with you to the hiring event and prepare for a drug test via mouth swab.
2. Apply online through the Amazon Jobs website for other positions. Search the website, by location, category, or keyword, to find the job listing for your position. Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button beside the role title at the top of the listing page. Follow the directions on the screen to either create a new profile or log back in as an existing candidate.
3. Create a new profile or log back in if you’re a returning candidate. Enter your name and email address and create a password. You have the option of entering your phone number as well, so that Amazon can text you or send you voice mails about your application, and job-related matters such as scheduling and shift reminders if you’re hired.
   • You can’t use your Amazon.com customer login for your application profile. You need to create a separate profile to apply for jobs.
4. Upload your resume or CV to your profile. Make sure it’s current. If you don’t have a formal resume or CV, give a brief description of your background, work experience, education, and skills.
   • Amazon does not accept cover letters.
   • At the time of profile creation, you can choose to use your LinkedIn page as an alternative to uploading a traditional resume or CV. Amazon only accepts one resume per applicant, though, so choose the option that is best for you.
   • Don’t include any work samples, such as writing, code, or designs, when you upload your CV or resume. If there are public copies of your work available online, include links to them in your resume.
5. Check the status of your application in your profile. Amazon only contacts candidates they want to interview. Log in to your application profile to review the roles you’ve applied for. If an application is marked as ‘active,’ a final decision hasn’t been reached yet. If an application has been marked as ‘archived,’ and you haven’t been contacted for an interview, you are no longer under consideration for the position.
   • If Amazon is interested, they will schedule a phone interview with you. You might have a couple of interviews over the phone before being invited for in-person interviews at an Amazon office if you’re successful.

Acing the Interviews

1. Study Amazon’s work culture and Leadership Principles. Amazon has 14 Leadership Principles, outlined on the company website, which guide project development, problem-solving, and everyday business. Every candidate is evaluated based on these principles. Memorize them, and think of ways that you’ve already applied these principles in your professional experience.
   • Familiarize yourself with the “About Amazon” section of the Jobs website to be well-versed in the company’s work culture: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/landing_pages/about-amazon.
   • Amazon prides itself on its customer-centricity and putting customers first. This is the first of the 14 Leadership Principles. New hires should also be very customer-focused.
2. Practice for behavioral-based questions in the interviews. The interviewer will ask questions about past challenges and situations you’ve faced and how you dealt with them, using the 14 Leadership Principles. Some examples of behavioral-based interview questions include:
   • Discuss a time you faced a problem with multiple possible solutions – which one did you pick and why?
   • Discuss a time you made a mistake or failed – how did you respond and learn from the experience?
   • Can you describe a time that you took a leadership role?
   • How did you motivate a group of individuals or promote collaboration in a specific project?
3. Use the STAR answer format. Describe the Situation, state the Task that you were undertaking, explain the specific Actions you took in the situation, and relate the Result of your actions. Come up with several situations ahead of time that you've dealt with, which fit the STAR format. These should be as recent as possible.
   • You can draw example situations from past jobs, school projects, volunteering activities, or any other relevant events.
   • Have specific examples that highlight your expertise, ones that showcase how you've taken risks, ones that demonstrate how you've succeeded, and others that show how you've failed and learned from it. Amazon wants to know that you can fail and grow from the experience.
   • Keep the focus on yourself in your answers, not a team or group. Use "I," not "we," in describing your actions. Don’t be afraid to take credit for good results.
   • Be as specific as possible in your answers. Give examples and metrics whenever possible. Avoid generalizations.
4. Prepare to address technical topics if you’re interviewing for a tech role. Candidates who are being interviewed for technical positions, such as software development engineer or technical program manager, need to prepare to discuss and demonstrate technical skills such as coding, programming, and system design.
   • Visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/landing_pages/p-software-development-topics for a list of technical topics you should prepare to address.
   • If you aren’t sure whether the position you’re interviewing for is technical, ask your recruiter.
5. Come up with questions for your interviewers to show your curiosity. Curiosity is one of the 14 Leadership Principles. Demonstrate it in an interview by coming prepared with questions about projects and initiatives, team culture, the scope of the position, or anything else you’d like to learn about in more detail.
   • For example, you can ask "How do you measure success in this role?"
   • If you run out of prepared questions, improvise with simple follow-up queries to information the recruiter provides you, such as “Could you tell me more about that?”
6. Ensure that you’re in a good environment for a phone interview. Your first (and perhaps second) interview will take place over the phone. Choose a quiet, comfortable location with no distractions. Have a computer with reliable access to the Internet and email ready.
   • Make sure you have good reception if you’re on a cell phone, and that your battery is fully charged.
   • Keep a copy of your resume near you, and be ready with pen and paper.
7. Be punctual, prepared, and casually dressed for an in-person interview. Detailed instructions about getting to the Amazon office where you’ll be interviewed will be emailed to you. Arrive 15 minutes early. Bring a government-issued photo ID. The interview dress code is comfortable and casual, so skip the formal business attire.
   • The interviewers will have copies of your resume or CV, but bring one with you as well if you’d like.
8. Expect multiple interviewers for in-person interviews. Depending on which position you’re applying for, you’ll meet with 2-7 Amazonians over the course of the day. Each interview session will typically last 45 minutes to 1 hour. The interviews will be a mix of behavioral-based questions and discussions.
   • Interviewers will usually take notes on their laptops, so don’t let this distract you.
   • Lunch will be provided if your interview goes over the lunch hour.
   • Be prepared to sign a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement.
9. Reach out if you haven’t heard back within 2-5 days. Your recruiter should get back to you within 2 business days after a phone interview. Expect Amazon to be in touch within 5 business days after an in-person interview. Contact your recruiter to inquire politely about the status of your application if you haven’t heard anything in these time frames.

Quick Summary

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