I applied online. The process took 5 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon (London, England) in Sept 2020
Interview
UK London application, emailed me within a week, whole process was 5 weeks.
1) First round: 2 phone interviews, super nice and told me what leadership principles they were asking. 2 leadership principles each x 2-3 questions on each.
2) Second round (would of been an assessment day): 3 video interviews back to back with a SVM, a product manager and who would be by both
(I told them I was limited on time, and got them to split it over 2 days. I needed this as I found it very tiring doing even 3 interviews in day! eg said I could only do 10- 3)
Second day: Had 3 interviews, 45 mins each, repeat your CV for the millionth time for 10 mins, each asked 3 questions about 2 leadership points. 1 x SVM 1X SPM 1x 'roof raiser' which was obvious as she worked in logistics which was nothing to do with my role.
3) Second day of assessment day. 2 interviews, 1x SVM and 1X head of vendor manager.
The SVM role is EXTREMELY data driven these days, I realised in my last 2 interviews it wasn't for me as that's all they wanted. The role is mainly for data and financial analysts, not buying/ merch people. HR actually said to me after the final round how SVM's selected are either financial planners or from a data analyst roles in big finance companies... not from retail. So just to consider this, I would of been so bored in this job coming from buying..
Salary is max 68k plus tonnes of bonus/ share benefits
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I wrote down every single thing I was asked after each call.. I hope this helps someone:
First call:
1) A time you failed on something? How did I get them to be ok with this? What was the reception? What would I do differently?
2) When I changed a process or had a new idea? How did I get them onboard? How did they react to this idea?
3) How have I convinced a team member of my ideas? What were their concerns? How did I convince them?
4) Something halfway through I saw there was a bigger opportunity than planned?
Second Call:
5) When I overachieved on something? What were the 3 obstacles? How did I convince them?
6) When I dived deep into data to find and answer? What was I trying to find?
Assessment day on video, 1st:
7) Done something to a tight deadline? What decided the change? What would I do differently? How did I get people to do this task? What was the conversation like? How did it all fit together?
8) When I overcame an obstacle? What was the start of the issue? How did I find the issue? Talk me through how you used data to find this?
9) When I did a task I didn't think I could achieve? How did I make it happen?
2nd (Head of SVM, the boss)
10) When I used data to find and fix a problem (some questions are repeated)
11) When I had a complex problem with a big amount of detail to consider? How and where did I find these points?
12) A time when I created a metric? (at this point I realised I didnt want the job!) How did I create it? How did it change the before and after in working?
3rd (Roof Raiser!)
13) A time when a customer was difficult? How did I discover this problem?
14) When I did something that was outside of my remit? How did I get others to get involved?
4th:
15) When your manager asked you to do something you disagreed with? How did you deal with it? What was your approach? What was the result?
16) A time when you wanted to do something but your manager didn't agree? How did you get them onboard? How did I approach it? Did it benefit anyone else?
5th:
17) A new idea to improve productivity and morale on my team? How did it help and what was the result?
18) When I implemented a new process to make it easier for the customer to shop? How did the success get measured? Outside of sales, what else made it successful? How did I get everyone to try it? What would I of done differently?
19) When I thought differently and out of the box and it wasn't agreed with? How did I measure the success of it? How did I save the business money? What were the main challenges?
Interview process is challenging but expected as everything you need to know is available online. They will schedule you with 4 employees from the team or organization you will work with and 1 completely separated from your organization as a "bar raiser". No need to work to impress one specific person, know 12-14 differentiated STAR formatted stories by memory.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time you had to sacrifice short-term gain for long-term success. What did you do? What was the outcome?
3 loops of 45 min interviews with people from different teams I would work together with if I get hired, Standard behavioral questions, 3 to 4 per interview and a few follow-up questions to each answers, follow-up styles differ by the interviewer
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time you created a metric to identify a need for change.
Not great. Very first interview had no proper introduction to the role and was not with HR, interviewee went straight into a case study within 5 minutes. Didn't seem interested in my actual work background.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is one difficult thing you've experienced and overcome?