Amazon Interview Questions and Answers (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

Getting an interview with Amazon is a big achievement, but it can also be a bit challenging. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, since its start as a **small online bookstore in 1994, Amazon has grown into a **global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, and **AI. Known for its focus on customers and constant innovation, Amazon has high expectations in technology and retail. If your resume has made it through, you’ve already done something impressive. Now, the next step is preparing for Amazon’s tough interview process, which looks for candidates who fit well with the company’s values and leadership principles. This guide will help you get ready for common Amazon interview questions and give you tips to succeed.

Amazon Interview Question and Answer

Top Amazon Interview Questions

Most Frequently Asked Data Structures & Algorithms Questions

These questions test your understanding and implementation skills for fundamental data structures and algorithms.

• K largest elements from a big file or array.
• Find a triplet a, b, c such that a2 = b2 + c2. Variations of this problem include finding a triplet with a sum equal to 0. Find a pair with a given sum. All such questions are efficiently solved using hashing.( Practice here)
• Binary tree traversal questions like left view, right view, top view, bottom view, maximum of a level, minimum of a level, children sum property, diameter, etc.
• Convert a Binary tree to DLL - **Practice **here
• Lowest Common Ancestor in a Binary Search Tree and a Binary Tree.
• Implement a stack with push(), pop() and min() in O(1) time.
• Reverse a linked list in groups of size k - Practice here
• Given two numbers represented by two linked lists, write a function that returns the sum list. Practice here
• Rotate a matrix by 90 degrees.
• Stock span problem
• Next greater element
• Maximum sum subarray such that no elements are consecutive - **Practice **here
• Edit distance
• Assembly line scheduling

Behavioural & Motivational Questions

These questions evaluate your fit for Amazon's culture, your motivations, and how well you align with the company’s values.

• **Why Amazon?

I'm excited about the chance to work at Amazon because I truly connect with its culture of innovation and customer focus. I admire how Amazon constantly strives to improve the customer experience, and I’m eager to be part of that effort.

I also value Amazon’s dedication to continuous learning and development. The opportunity to grow professionally, work with talented people, and solve challenging problems is something I’m excited about.

Finally, Amazon’s leadership principles, especially ‘Deliver Results’ and ‘Invent and Simplify,’ align with my values. I thrive in environments that encourage creativity and ownership, and I believe I can contribute meaningfully by embracing these principles.

• **Questions about projects done in the previous company or the final year

**For Previous Company:

"In my previous company, I worked on [project name], where I was responsible for [your role]. One challenge we faced was [briefly describe challenge], and I solved it by [how you addressed it]. This project helped me improve my [skills], and the result was [positive outcome]. It was a valuable experience that taught me [what you learned]."

**For Final Year Project:

"For my final year project, I worked on [project name], where I focused on [project goal]. My role was to [your role]. A key part of the project was [highlight an interesting aspect], and I gained skills in [skills you developed]. The project taught me [what you learned]."v

• **​What motivates you to do your best work?

​ I’m driven by the opportunity to solve challenging problems and create innovative solutions that have a meaningful impact on customers.

• **​Why do you want to work at Amazon?

​I admire Amazon’s commitment to innovation and customer obsession, and I’m excited to contribute to a company that continuously pushes boundaries.

• **​Where do you see yourself in five years?

​In five years, I see myself growing within Amazon, taking on greater responsibilities, and contributing to impactful projects that drive the company’s success.

• **​What aspects of your job do you find most fulfilling?

​I find the most fulfillment in collaborating with teams to solve complex problems, driving efficiency, and seeing the tangible results of our work.

**Resources for Amazon Interview Preparation

These resources will support your interview preparation and provide valuable insights into Amazon's recruitment process.

How to Answer Amazon Interview Questions

Tips to answer the question more effectively

Tip 1. Use the STAR Method

The STAR method is a structured way to answer behavioural questions, helping you align with Amazon’s Leadership Principles.

• **Situation: Describe the context.
• **Task: Explain your responsibilities.
• **Action: Outline what you did.
• **Result: Share the outcome.

**Example:

• **Situation: "At my previous job, the customer support team was overwhelmed by the number of incoming support tickets, causing delays in response times and lower customer satisfaction."
• **Task: "I was tasked with finding a way to reduce the number of tickets by improving the self-service options for customers."
• **Action: "I analyzed the most common issues reported and created a detailed knowledge base, complete with troubleshooting guides and FAQs. I also integrated a chatbot to assist customers in real time with simple inquiries."
• **Result: "As a result, the number of support tickets dropped by 35%, response times improved by 50%, and customer satisfaction increased due to quicker resolutions."

The STAR method helps you deliver clear, impactful answers.

Tip 2. **Show What You Can Bring to the Job with Your Skills

Highlight both your **technical and **soft skills. Demonstrate how your experience and abilities align with the job and Amazon’s values. Focus on:

• **Technical skills: Programming, problem-solving.
• **Soft skills: Communication, collaboration, leadership.
• **Impact: Past project contributions.
• **Passion: Why you're excited about the role and how you can help Amazon innovate and excel.

For an SDE role, mention coding expertise, teamwork, and problem-solving, emphasizing your commitment to high-performance solutions.

Tip 3. **Align with Leadership Principles

Amazon’s **14 Leadership Principles guide the company’s culture and decisions. In interviews, show how your values align with these principles, especially during behavioural questions. Some key principles include:

• **Customer Obsession: Start with the customer.
• **Ownership: Take responsibility for your work.
• **Invent and Simplify: Innovate and improve processes.
• **Deliver Results: Focus on achieving outcomes.
• **Bias for Action: Act quickly, even with uncertainty.

Demonstrate how your actions reflect these principles to prove you’re a good cultural fit for Amazon.