Amazon is known as the world’s largest online retailer and if you’re applying for a position at Amazon, then it is highly probable that you’ll hear the question “Why do you want to work for Amazon?” during the interview process.
This seems like a trivial interview question, yet Amazon recruiters/hiring managers continue to favor this question during the Amazon interview process.
The idea behind this is simple, “why do you want to work for Amazon?” or “Why Amazon?” question is a perfect opportunity for them to understand your motivation and your drivers in applying to Amazon, and answering this question properly may increase your chances of getting an offer drastically.
When applying for jobs, there’s always that nagging feeling that you should really try harder. After all, you spent hours crafting your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. So why not put the same effort into answering the “Why do you want to work for Amazon?” question during the interview process?
In today’s job market, employers are constantly searching for candidates who can add value to their company. They look for people who are passionate about what they do, and who understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
Luckily, we’ll share some of our best tips for answering this question during the hiring interview and these tips will help you land a dream job at Amazon.
If you’re ready, then get yourself some coffee, and let’s begin.
Do you have a job interview with Amazon? Make sure to check out the Amazon Interview Guide to see how it helped hundreds of people to get offers from Amazon for a wide variety of roles.
How to Prepare for an Amazon Interview
Amazon is a huge multinational corporation with billions of dollars in revenue each year. To put that into perspective, Amazon makes more money than most countries.
It’s no wonder then that when applying for a position at Amazon, you’ll be asked a series of questions designed to test whether you’re capable of working within its culture.
Amazon wants to hire someone who understands its mission, values, and culture so that person can help build a team that fits into the organization.
You’ll face a barrage of questions designed to test your knowledge of the company. One of those questions is called the “why amazon?” or “why do you want to work for amazon” question. This question tests your ability to understand the company’s mission statement, values, and culture. But there is more to this question than meets the eye, as it is also about you as well as about Amazon:
- The first part of this question is about “Amazon”: Why do you love the company, and how knowledgeable you are about what they do?
- The second part is about “you”: Your background, relevant experience, personality (i.e. will you adjust well to the peculiar Amazon culture?), and why you are such a good candidate that they should be willing to extend you an offer.
It’s one of the basic but most important questions almost every applicant should answer in an Amazon interview right?
You might think that answering this question well would help you land the job. But if you don’t know how to answer this properly, you could end up wasting time trying to figure it out before you’ve even started.
So here are the 4 key elements you should focus on before answering the “Why Amazon?” question in the best possible way.
- Mission Statement
- Core Values
- Work Culture
- Company History
At InterviewJoy, we hear lots of different interview stories from our clients and all of them have been asked this question at their job interviews.
Most of them realize that they didn’t prepare well before going to the interview. And some of them realize that they just think their resume is quite enough to get the job.
Amazon hires tens of thousands of new talents and adds them into its business circle every year so imagine how many people they interview every month.
Being prepared will help you stand out from other applicants and give you an edge over others.
Now that you understand the importance of the preparation process for the Amazon job interview, let’s look at what to do to answer the Why question correctly.
How to Answer The “Why Do You Want to Work for Amazon” Question?
Your job interview should be a lot different than your typical day at work. You’re not just trying to sell yourself; you’re trying to convince them that you’re the perfect fit for their company.
To help you prepare for this important conversation, we’ve put together some tips on how to answer the “why do you want to work for Amazon” question.
Answering this question isn’t optional. Your interviewer may ask you this question during any stage of the Amazon hiring process, including just before they offer you the position. So, no matter where you are in the interviewing process, you need to prepare for this question.
Also, if you’re looking for additional resources to prep for your next job interview, check out our post on The 3 Most Important Amazon Interview Questions
Answer The Question Honestly
When answering the “why do you want to work for Amazon” question, focus on what makes you unique. If you’re applying for a position where you’d be working closely with customers, talk about how you’ve helped customers solve problems before.
For example, if you worked at a retail store, talk about how you helped customers shop faster and save money. Or if you worked at a restaurant, describe a time when you served a table of four people instead of two.
Be honest. Don’t lie. But don’t say anything bad either. Your goal should be to show that you’re passionate about helping others succeed.
Be Specific
Always focus on what you know and what you can offer. It’s a value exchange after all right? So, provide details about your previous jobs, volunteer activities, hobbies, and extracurriculars.
Also, be sure to include any awards, honors, or certifications you earned. Also, mention any courses you took or degrees you obtained.
Think Outside The Box
Instead of starting with how much you want to work here, we suggest starting with this line
“I want to work at Amazon because I think we are a great match. Let me try to tell you why.”
Using this starting sentence, you control the narrative:
- You got the attention of the recruiter/hiring manager.
- You hint that you will be providing a unique & different reply, so now the recruiter will “remember” you.
- You are using positive reinforcement and the recruiter will now focus on the “reasons he/she should hire you”.
Show Enthusiasm
Amazon wants employees who are excited about their jobs. They want someone who loves what they do so much that they couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
So instead of saying something generic like “I love working here because…”, try to explain why you love working at Amazon. Talk about how you enjoy solving customer problems, or how you thrive under pressure.
“One of the only ways to get yourself out of a tight box is to invent your way out.”
Jeff Bezos
Focus on Strengths
While it’s true that Amazon wants to hire people who are smart, talented, and driven, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t highlight your strengths.
Your strengths are things that you’re already good at. So rather than trying to convince the interviewer that you’re perfect for the job, focus on showing off your skills.
And only talk about your positive attributes and achievements rather than weaknesses.
Keep It Brief
Your answer shouldn’t be longer than five sentences. That means no rambling paragraphs, so try to keep your answers concise and focused.
Limit yourself to one minute or less. Remember, this isn’t a conversation; it’s a job interview. So keep your responses concise and to the point.
Use Active Verbs
Instead of saying “I love working at Amazon,” use words like “love” or “enjoy.” Avoid passive sentences because they don’t provide enough detail.
Remember, the goal is to sell yourself.
Example Answers to “Why Do You Want to Work for Amazon”
Interviewing is a skill that every professional needs to master. But when it comes to answering questions during interviews, most candidates fall flat.
They either come up short, or they say something so generic that it doesn’t really help them stand out from the crowd.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this problem. All you need to do is learn how to answer interview questions in a unique way.
And if you’re looking for inspiration, here are some examples of what real Amazon employees said during their interviews.
Answering the “Why do you want to work for Amazon” question for different roles
Program Manager:
I’d like to work here because I love working with technology and I enjoy learning new skills. I believe that my experience in managing projects and developing software solutions would be valuable to the team. Additionally, I’m passionate about creating innovative ways to improve our processes and streamline operations. I feel that I could bring something different to the table. I’m excited to join the team!
Area Manager:
I’m passionate about technology and I love working with my hands. I enjoy learning new skills and solving problems. I like to solve puzzles and figure out how things work. I’m excited to join Amazon because I believe we have a lot of opportunities to improve our processes and systems, and I’d love to contribute to that effort. I’m eager to learn everything I can about the entire process of running a successful business. I’m confident that I could bring a fresh perspective to the team, and I look forward to contributing to the success of the organization.
Sales Manager:
I’m passionate about working at Amazon because I believe we can change the world through technology. We can improve lives by creating amazing experiences for our customers. And we can do it without compromising our values. Our goal is to deliver great shopping experiences, fast and reliable delivery, and outstanding service. We strive to delight our customers and earn their trust. We’re always innovating to bring our customers the best possible experience. We’re committed to serving our communities and giving back to society. And we’re constantly striving to be the best employer in America.
Bonus: Ask The Recruiter If Your Answer was Adequate
This is not something many candidates do, and they miss a big opportunity in not doing so: After you answer the “Why do you want to work for Amazon” interview question, feel free to ask the recruiter “Was my answer satisfactory? Do you need me to clarify anything or add more details?”
Doing this at the end of answering this question (or at the end of your interview session) is a great opportunity to:
- Recover from a not-so-great previous answer.
- Show your genuine interest in making a good impression.
- Show that you’re thinking outside the box (Amazon loves this trait!).
Amazon Onsite Interview Questions You Need to Know
You may think that answering detailed questions during interviews is a waste of time, but it actually shows how much you care for the job.
It’s important to show off your ability to communicate clearly and concisely. And if you’re asked a tough question, you should try to come up with a good answer.
You know interviewing at Amazon is tough. They ask some pretty hard questions, they care about their leadership principles and there’s no room for error. So when you go through the process of applying for jobs at Amazon, you should be prepared for any question thrown your way.
So here are some of the most common behavioral interview questions asked at Amazon.
● Tell me about yourself
● What is the hardest problem that you’ve ever faced?
● What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
● What advice could you offer others facing the same situation?
● Tell me about a difficult project you worked on.
● Talk about a time when you made a major decision. – What was the outcome? – What was the result?
● What would you like to improve upon?
● What is the most satisfying part of your job?
And the list goes on…
Final Words
In conclusion, working for Amazon is a dream job for millions of people around the globe. and Interviews are the gateways to reach that goal.
If you prepare well enough, It doesn’t matter where you live, because Amazon has offices everywhere. So whether you’re interested in becoming a software engineer in Seattle, a customer service representative in India, or a warehouse associate in Mexico City, you can apply today. Also, make sure you check out blog-post about how to increase your chances of getting an offer during these hiring slowdown periods, similar to the one we’re having right now.
In this article, we covered the best tips to answer the “Why do you want to work for Amazon” question when applying to the company.
We hope that after reading this guide, you’ll be ready to take the next step toward landing your dream job.
If you want to be successful at interviews, we have some unique Amazon interview solutions for your benefit.
We’re a job consulting marketplace where you can get consultation on any kind of job-related topic from people who’ve already gone through the hiring process themselves.
See you in the next informative article.
