Amazon is one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. Many people dream of working there due to the opportunities for career growth, great benefits, and competitive pay. However, with Amazon receiving thousands of applications per job opening, getting your foot in the door can be challenging. In this article, we’ll explore the best ways to get a job at Amazon and set yourself up for success in the application process.
Understand Amazon’s Core Principles
Amazon has 14 leadership principles that guide their culture and policies. Understanding these principles can help align your experience and skills with Amazon’s values. The principles include things like “Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit”, “Deliver Results”, “Think Big”, and more. Spend time getting familiar with the principles and think about how your background shows your ability to embody these values. Highlight instances where you’ve exhibited these principles in your resume, cover letter, and interviews.
Optimize Your Resume
Since Amazon receives so many applicants, having an optimized resume is crucial for getting noticed. Here are some tips:
– Tailor your resume to each specific role, highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences related to that job description. Don’t just blast out a generic resume.
– Include keywords from the job posting throughout your resume. This helps get past automated screening systems.
– Detail your accomplishments rather than just listing responsibilities. Provide numbers and data to quantify achievements.
– Focus on showcasing the Amazon leadership principles in your experience.
– Have both a PDF and plain text version of your resume.
– Ask others to review your resume to get feedback and catch any errors.
Thoroughly optimizing your resume takes time but significantly improves your chances of progressing to the next stages.
Network Internally
Using your existing connections at Amazon to learn about job openings or get referred can be one of the best ways to get your resume prioritized. Some options for networking include:
– Reach out to former Amazon colleagues to alert them you’re interested in applying. Ask if they can refer you for any relevant roles.
– Connect with Amazon recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn. Engage with their content and move conversations offline.
– Attend Amazon recruiting events and chat with employees 1:1 to build relationships.
– Join Amazon alumni groups on LinkedIn or Facebook to expand your network.
– Check if you have any 2nd or 3rd degree connections who work at Amazon and leverage those for warm introductions.
Referrals make a major difference, so activate your network. Even if you don’t know anyone at Amazon, you likely know someone who knows an Amazonian who can get your foot in the door.
Prepare for the Interview Process
Amazon’s interview process is very rigorous, so being ready is key. Here are some tips:
– Thoroughly study the Amazon leadership principles and prepare stories that highlight times you demonstrated those values.
– Practice responding to common Amazon behavioral interview questions. Have crisp, concise stories focused on the results and impact you drove. Quantify achievements.
– Brush up on your technical skills. You may be asked to walk through complex coding challenges on a whiteboard or analyze data sets.
– Consider doing mock interviews to get feedback on your interviewing approach.
– Research your interviewers on LinkedIn to customize your interactions with them.
– Prepare smart questions to ask your interviewers, showing your interest in Amazon.
With Amazon’s bar for talent being so high, you need to meticulously prepare to stand out among the competition. Put in the work to polish your stories and skills.
Apply for Jobs Strategically
Being strategic about which jobs you apply for can increase your odds. Here are some factors to consider:
– Look for newly posted roles or positions that have been reposted multiple times, which may indicate they are urgently hiring.
– Focus on applying to openings in Amazon’s global headquarters city of Seattle where there is the most hiring volume.
– Consider limiting applications to 1-2 roles at a time so you can customize for each instead of applying broadly.
– If available, leverage Amazon’s internal job portal which may have openings not publicly listed on external sites.
– Search for roles suited to your expertise rather than just applying for any job. Relevance matters.
– Target positions aligned to your experience level, whether entry-level, mid-career, or senior-level.
Being intentional about which roles you apply for makes your applications more compelling and relevant. Pair this focus with optimizing the other steps covered to maximize your potential for success.
Highlight Your Amazon Affinity
Showing your passion for Amazon goes a long way. Consider weaving in elements like:
– How the role and company align to your interests, values, and long-term career goals.
– Specific compliments on the team/department culture based on your research.
– Ways you ecosystems like AWS, Alexa, Prime, etc.
– Momentum and innovations you find exciting at Amazon.
This enthusiasm and knowledge can help differentiate you from other candidates. It also enables you to come up with good questions to ask your interviewers.
Be Persistent
Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t successful on your first few attempts. Hiring at Amazon is highly competitive, so persistence is key.
– Continue optimizing your resume and practicing interviews to improve each time.
– Follow up with recruiters/hiring managers with a thank you note or to get feedback on your application.
– Stay updated on new job postings and roles your connections mention.
– Consider exploring contract or seasonal roles as another way to get your foot in the door.
– Keep monitoring and applying to new openings that align to your background. Timing can play a role in whether a hiring manager moves forward with you or another candidate.
– Ask for recommendations from your interviewers on how to strengthen your candidacy for future roles.
Sticking with it and not taking rejections personally will serve you well in getting past the noise and landing a position at Amazon.
Conclusion
Getting hired at Amazon is achievable with the right strategy and preparation. Optimizing throughout the application process, leveraging your connections, acing the interviews, and showcasing your Amazon passion will help you stand out from fellow applicants. Persistence and continually improving is vital. By following these best practices, you can land your dream job at one of the top companies in the world. The effort is well worth it for the immense opportunities for growth and innovation that come with being an Amazonian. Best of luck on your application journey!
Section | Key Points | ||
---|---|---|---|
Understand Amazon’s Core Principles | – Study and align your experience to the 14 leadership principles | ||
Optimize Your Resume | – Tailor to each role with keywords from the job posting | – Quantify achievements with numbers/data | – Highlight Amazon leadership principles |
Network Internally | – Get referred by current Amazon employees | – Connect with Amazon recruiters and hiring managers | – Attend Amazon recruiting events |
Prepare for the Interview Process | – Practice telling stories aligned to leadership principles | – Brush up on technical skills | – Do mock interviews |
Apply for Jobs Strategically | – Target newly posted and urgently hiring roles | – Focus on 1-2 openings at a time | – Leverage internal job portal |
Highlight Your Amazon Affinity | – Show passion for the role, team, and company | – Mention your alignment to Amazon values and innovation | |
Be Persistent | – Continuously improve your resume and interview skills | – Follow up for feedback after rejections | – Keep applying as new roles open up |