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Amazon UX Designer Interview Guide

Interview Guide Apr 19

The role of an Amazon UX Designer

UX (User Experience) Designers experiment with numerous approaches to tackle user problems in order to increase usability and create the desired user experience.

A user experience designer monitors user behavior in real time before refining and tweaking apps, software, and websites to create products that people enjoy and find simple to use.

Customer obsession rather than competition emphasis, passion for invention, dedication to operational excellence, and long-term thinking lead all Amazon teams and organizations. They are energized by the prospect of developing technology, creating products, and offering services that will change the way their customers live and conduct business.

The following guide takes you through the interview process at Amazon for a UX Designer.

Amazon UX Designer Interview Guide

To apply for a position as a UX Designer at Amazon, you must prepare for the following steps:

  • Application
  • Call from a recruiter 
  • Telephonic interview with a hiring manager
  • Telephonic interview with HRs and currently working designers
  • On-site interviews

All along the process, you will receive detailed emails stating how and what to prepare and what the next step in the process is. The process can take 4-6 weeks and in special cases, even longer.

How should you apply at Amazon?

You begin by applying online, either through Amazon's careers page, LinkedIn or through a referral. Make sure you've put together a professional design portfolio that conveys your experience and demonstrates your enthusiasm for what you do.

You can submit your application once you have all of the required documentation. A recruiter will approach you within a week if you are shortlisted.

The recruiter may contact you or send you a thorough email with the interview schedule and all the steps you need to take to prepare for the interview.

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Round 1

Overview

The initial interview with a hiring manager kicks off the process. This is a more laid-back interview with a lot of casual chatting. The interviewer will ask about your background and previous experiences to ensure that you are qualified for the position. The interview will last for about an hour.

What the interviewer will assess

  • Your previous experience as a UX Designer.
  • Your success record in the field.
  • The projects you have worked on and how successfully they came out.
  • Your adaptability to the work culture.
  • Your knowledge of Amazon’s leadership principles.

Tips

  • Make a point of standing out as a strong communicator and emphasizing all of the reasons you are the best candidate for the job.
  • It's best not to repeat everything you've mentioned in your resume because it makes it appear as if you've memorized your portfolio. Instead, come up with new ideas and accomplishments from the past.
  • Perform extensive research on Amazon and its principles, as Amazon is strongly committed to its values and principles.

Interview Questions

  • What do you think you can bring to Amazon?
  • Have you heard about Amazon’s leadership principles? Can you tell me any two of them that you embody?
  • What makes you want to leave your current job?
  • What do you expect from this role?
  • Tell me about a project you recently took charge of.
  • What is an ideal work environment for you?
  • How well do you believe you are prepared to handle the stress of this job?

Round 2

Overview

In comparison to the first interview, the second one will be more difficult to crack. This will be in a formal setting with presently employed designers and a few hiring managers. This interview will focus on your design abilities and commitment to client service. You can also expect some behavioral questions.

The interview will stretch from 45-60 mins and will typically be through a video call.

What the interviewer will assess

  • Your ability to think and analyze ideas.
  • Your work ethic.
  • How well you take challenges and deadlines.
  • Your research of the role.
  • Your understanding of customer demands and requirements.

Tips

  • When answering questions, use the STAR method. The STAR method is a well-structured way of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by explaining the specific situation, task, action, and result you are describing.
  • Make sure you're up to date on all the current web technologies and can give an opinion on them. You may be questioned about some initiatives by competitor firms and your thoughts on them. Make sure you come out as practical and analytical.
  • Don't forget to showcase your ability to lead and make decisions. Clearly show to them that you are capable of leading a team and making major decisions when necessary.

Interview Questions

  • What qualities do you think an excellent designer or UX researcher should possess?
  • What drew you to UX Design in the first place?
  • Tell me about a time your idea didn’t turn out as planned.
  • Do you have a design philosophy that you follow?
  • What are the most typical flaws in UX portfolios that you see?
  • What Non-UX skills do you need to work as a UX designer in a big company?
  • Can you explain the difference between UX and UI to me?
  • Where do you see yourself on the UX Researcher to UX Designer to Visual Designer Spectrum, and why?

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Round 3

Overview

A series of on-site interviews will make up the final stage. In general, there are four to five interviews, each of which includes a round of design challenges and a portfolio description. You may also be required to give a presentation or complete a whiteboard challenge. This is where all of your abilities will be put to the test.

Each interview will last 40 to 50 minutes and will incorporate existing senior designers, hiring managers, and a group of other interviewers. Keep in mind that:

  • Interviewers will make notes on whether or not you should be hired. Each of them will have access to your notes from past interviews.
  • At the start, you'll be given a prompt and asked to describe your design process on a whiteboard.
  • If the interviewers believe you are not a perfect fit for the job profile but would be a great fit for another department, they may recommend you to that team, and your interview process will resume where you left off.

What the interviewer will assess

  • If you are a good fit for the job profile and your experience.
  • Your knowledge about the firm and its 14 principles.
  • If you have enough knowledge and skills.
  • How dedicated you are towards serving your customers.
  • How you plan to apply the value of design to the firm.

Tips

  • You'll almost certainly be invited to meet with the organization's design director, and during your interview, they'll ask you critical questions to gauge the depth of your knowledge and professional perspective. Make sure you sound confident and present yourself in the best light possible.
  • It's all about Amazon's values. Be certain to include the principles into all of your responses and ideas, and use them whenever possible.

Interview Questions

  • Tell me about an instance when you were able to explicitly link your empathic nature to giving a positive client experience.
  • What are three of your greatest strengths?
  • Describe a situation in which you didn't have enough information to make an informed decision.
  • Tell me about an instance when you went above and beyond to achieve a goal.
  • Tell me about a moment when you needed to execute a project or initiative with a limited budget.
  • Show me a few of your favorite pieces from your portfolio. How did you come up with the ideas for these pieces?
  • What are some of your favorite websites and apps in terms of design? Why?
  • What have been some of your recent missteps?
  • What Is the difference between UX and other design disciplines?
  • What factors do you consider while deciding which features to include in your product?
  • How do you put yourself in the consumer's shoes while setting goals?
  • When you're starting a new project, what kind of research methods do you use?
  • We need someone who can keep up with the quick pace here at work, as you may have noticed. Will you be able to accomplish this?
  • How do you deal with negative feedback?
  • What's the right approach to hand over your designs to developers?

What is the Hiring and Decision Process at Amazon?

Following the on-site interview, the interviewers will review whether the team received a positive signal for each of Amazon's leadership values in a debriefing session. Every one of the leadership principles is critical.

The majority of your evaluation will be based on your responses to leadership values questions. Two leadership principles will be assigned to each on-site interviewer to question you on.

It will be a red flag and give a negative signal if your responses contradict any of them.

You'll get an offer if you've done well and there's a mutual fit. An Amazon recruiter will contact you within a week after your on-site interview to inquire about your salary expectations.

Best of luck!

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