How to Apply to Amazon

10 min read Last updated March 6, 2026 2473 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Master Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles before applying — they are the single most important framework for both your resume and interviews, and every interviewer evaluates candidates against specific principles
  • Quantify everything on your resume with specific metrics — Amazon's data-driven culture means vague accomplishments without numbers are significantly less compelling than precise, measurable impact statements
  • Prepare 2-3 detailed STAR stories for each Leadership Principle — the behavioral interview component is extensive, and interviewers will probe deeply into your examples with follow-up questions
  • Tailor your application to the specific team and business unit — Amazon's organizational structure is highly decentralized, and a generic application that doesn't reflect the team's domain will be less competitive
  • Understand the Bar Raiser's role and prepare accordingly — this unique interviewer evaluates your long-term potential and cultural fit beyond the immediate role, so demonstrate growth trajectory and adaptability
  • For technical roles, practice coding problems and system design extensively — Amazon's technical bar is high, and candidates commonly report needing several weeks of dedicated preparation
  • Apply through amazon.jobs directly and ensure your profile is complete — Amazon's custom ATS is the primary pipeline, and complete profiles with accurate information help recruiters find and evaluate you efficiently
  • Be prepared for a multi-stage process that may take 4-8 weeks from application to offer — patience and consistent follow-up with your recruiter are important throughout the timeline

About Amazon

Amazon is one of the world's most influential technology and retail companies, operating across e-commerce, cloud computing (AWS), digital streaming (Prime Video), artificial intelligence, logistics, and consumer devices (Alexa, Kindle, Fire). Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 as an online bookstore, Amazon has grown into a global enterprise with over 1.5 million employees, making it one of the largest private employers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with major offices and fulfillment centers spanning nearly every continent. Amazon's culture is famously driven by its 16 Leadership Principles — a framework that permeates hiring decisions, performance reviews, and daily operations. The company is known for its customer-obsessed philosophy, bias for action, and high-performance expectations. Amazon consistently ranks among the top employers for technology talent and offers roles spanning software engineering, operations management, product management, business intelligence, hardware design, healthcare, and logistics. With approximately 2,750+ active job postings at any given time, Amazon represents one of the most active hiring pipelines in the global job market, attracting millions of applicants annually across corporate, technical, and operational roles.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Search and Identify Roles on Amazon.jobs

    Amazon's dedicated careers portal at amazon.jobs is the primary gateway for all applications. Use the search functionality to filter by job title, location, job category, and business unit. Amazon organizes roles into distinct categories such as Software Development, Operations, Business Intelligence, and more. Pay close attention to the team name listed in the job title (e.g., 'SCOT - Automated Inventory Management' or 'Global Network Delivery'), as Amazon's organizational structure is highly team-specific. Many applicants report that setting up job alerts on the platform helps them catch new postings quickly, as popular roles can receive hundreds of applications within the first few days.

  2. 2
    Create Your Amazon.jobs Profile and Submit Application

    You'll need to create a candidate profile on Amazon's custom applicant tracking system. This typically involves uploading your resume, entering work history, education details, and answering role-specific screening questions. Amazon's system commonly parses your resume to auto-populate fields, but you should carefully review and correct any parsing errors. Some roles may require additional materials such as a portfolio, code samples, or certifications. Ensure your resume is uploaded in a clean PDF or Word format to maximize parsing accuracy. Many candidates report that the application itself is straightforward but emphasize the importance of tailoring responses to each specific role rather than submitting generic applications.

  3. 3
    Online Assessments (OA) for Select Roles

    For many technical and operational roles, Amazon commonly sends an Online Assessment (OA) after initial application review. For Software Development Engineer (SDE) positions, this typically includes coding challenges, work simulation exercises, and a work-style assessment. Business Intelligence Engineer roles may include SQL and data analysis problems. Operations Manager candidates often receive a work simulation and leadership assessment. These assessments are typically timed and must be completed within a specified window (commonly 5-7 days). Many applicants report that the work-style assessment portion evaluates alignment with Amazon's Leadership Principles, so familiarizing yourself with these principles beforehand is strongly recommended.

  4. 4
    Phone Screen or Recruiter Interview

    Candidates who pass the initial screening and any online assessments are commonly invited to a phone screen. For technical roles, this typically involves a 45-60 minute call with a hiring manager or senior team member that includes both technical questions (coding, system design, or domain-specific problems) and behavioral questions rooted in Amazon's Leadership Principles. For non-technical roles, the phone screen tends to focus more heavily on behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Recruiters may also conduct a preliminary call to discuss the role, verify your background, and assess basic qualifications before scheduling the technical phone screen.

  5. 5
    On-Site or Virtual Loop Interview

    The loop interview is Amazon's signature comprehensive interview stage, typically consisting of 4-6 back-to-back interviews conducted by different team members. Each interviewer is commonly assigned specific Leadership Principles to evaluate. For SDE roles, expect a mix of coding problems (data structures, algorithms), system design questions, and behavioral questions. One interviewer in the loop typically serves as the 'Bar Raiser' — an experienced interviewer from outside the hiring team whose role is to maintain Amazon's hiring standards. The Bar Raiser has significant influence on the hiring decision and is specifically trained to evaluate long-term potential. Loop interviews may be conducted virtually via Amazon Chime or in-person at an Amazon office.

  6. 6
    Debrief and Hiring Decision

    After the loop interview, all interviewers submit detailed written feedback and a hire/no-hire recommendation. The hiring team and Bar Raiser then convene for a debrief meeting to discuss each candidate. Amazon's hiring process is known for being consensus-driven at this stage, with the Bar Raiser holding effective veto power to ensure the candidate meets or exceeds the team's current performance bar. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If selected, you'll receive an offer from a recruiter that typically includes details about compensation, team placement, and start date. Many candidates report that the recruiter is open to discussing offer details during this stage.

Resume Tips for Amazon

critical

Embed Amazon's Leadership Principles Into Your Resume

Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles (Customer Obsession, Ownership, Invent and Simplify, Are Right A Lot, Learn and Be Curious, Hire and Develop the Best, Insist on the Highest Standards, Think Big, Bias for Action, Frugality, Earn Trust, Dive Deep, Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit, Deliver Results, Strive to be Earth's Best Employer, Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility) are central to every hiring decision. While you shouldn't list them explicitly, your bullet points should demonstrate these principles through concrete examples. For instance, instead of writing 'Managed a team project,' write 'Owned end-to-end delivery of a customer-facing feature that reduced page load time by 40%, directly improving customer experience for 2M+ daily users.' This naturally demonstrates Customer Obsession, Ownership, and Deliver Results.

critical

Quantify Impact With Specific Metrics

Amazon's culture is deeply data-driven, and hiring managers commonly look for candidates who can demonstrate measurable impact. Every bullet point on your resume should ideally include a quantifiable result. Use metrics like revenue impact, cost savings, efficiency improvements, user growth, latency reduction, error rate decreases, or team productivity gains. For example: 'Designed and deployed an automated inventory reconciliation pipeline processing 15M+ SKUs daily, reducing discrepancy resolution time from 48 hours to 2 hours and saving an estimated $3.2M annually.' Amazon reviewers are trained to look for specificity — vague claims without data points are significantly less compelling.

critical

Optimize for Amazon's Custom ATS Parsing

Amazon uses a custom-built applicant tracking system that parses resumes to populate candidate profiles. To ensure accurate parsing, use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications). Avoid tables, graphics, headers/footers with critical information, multi-column layouts, and unusual fonts. Use standard date formats (Month Year - Month Year) for employment periods. Include relevant keywords from the job description naturally within your experience bullets — Amazon's system, like most ATS platforms, commonly uses keyword matching to help recruiters filter candidates. Save your file as a .docx or clean PDF to maximize compatibility.

critical

Tailor Your Resume to the Specific Team and Role

Amazon's job postings are highly team-specific — an SDE role on the SCOT (Supply Chain Optimization Technologies) team requires very different emphasis than an SDE role on Prime Video or Leo Network Services. Carefully read the job description and identify the team's core domain (e.g., distributed systems, machine learning, supply chain optimization, network infrastructure, ad tech). Reorder your experience bullets to lead with the most relevant projects. If applying for a Business Intelligence Engineer role, emphasize SQL expertise, data modeling, ETL pipeline experience, and analytics tool proficiency. For Operations Manager roles, highlight process improvement, team leadership, and logistics experience. Generic resumes that don't reflect the specific team's needs are commonly filtered out early.

recommended

Use the STAR Format in Your Bullet Points

Amazon interviewers are trained to evaluate candidates using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), and this framework should inform how you write your resume bullets. Structure each accomplishment to briefly convey the context (what was the challenge), your specific contribution (what did you personally do), and the measurable outcome (what was the result). This not only prepares you for the interview but also makes your resume more compelling to Amazon recruiters who are accustomed to evaluating candidates through this lens. For example: 'Identified a 30% increase in API error rates during peak traffic (Situation/Task), redesigned the caching layer using Redis with circuit breaker patterns (Action), reducing error rates to <0.1% and improving p99 latency by 65% (Result).'

recommended

Highlight Ownership and Scope of Influence

Amazon places enormous value on the Leadership Principle of 'Ownership' — the idea that leaders act on behalf of the entire company, not just their team. On your resume, clearly indicate the scope of your responsibilities and decisions. Mention team sizes you've led or influenced, budget ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and end-to-end project ownership. Phrases like 'sole owner of,' 'led cross-functional initiative spanning 4 teams,' or 'architected and maintained production system serving 50M+ requests/day' signal the level of ownership Amazon values. Even for individual contributor roles, demonstrating that you took initiative beyond your defined responsibilities is highly valued.

recommended

Include Relevant Technical Skills and Certifications

For technical roles, include a dedicated Skills section listing programming languages, frameworks, cloud platforms (especially AWS services like EC2, S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, Redshift, SageMaker), databases, and tools relevant to the position. AWS certifications (Solutions Architect, Developer, Data Analytics) are commonly viewed favorably, particularly for cloud-related roles. For Business Intelligence roles, highlight SQL dialects, data visualization tools (QuickSight, Tableau), and ETL frameworks. For operations roles, mention Lean/Six Sigma certifications, warehouse management systems, or supply chain tools. Keep this section scannable — use a comma-separated list or clean grid format.

nice_to_have

Keep Your Resume Concise and Appropriately Lengthed

For most roles at Amazon, a resume of 1-2 pages is commonly expected. Early-career candidates (0-5 years experience) should typically aim for one page, while senior candidates with extensive relevant experience may use two pages. Amazon recruiters review high volumes of applications, so conciseness and impact-per-line matter significantly. Remove outdated or irrelevant experience, consolidate older roles into brief summaries, and ensure every line on your resume earns its space by demonstrating relevant skills or measurable impact. Avoid objective statements or summaries unless they add genuine value — lead with your strongest, most relevant experience.

ATS System: Amazon Custom ATS (Amazon.jobs)

Amazon operates a proprietary, custom-built applicant tracking system integrated into its amazon.jobs careers platform. Unlike third-party ATS solutions like Workday or Greenhouse, Amazon's system is purpose-built to handle the company's massive hiring volume across corporate, technical, warehouse, and operational roles worldwide. The system manages the entire candidate lifecycle from application submission through offer acceptance. It includes resume parsing capabilities, automated screening questionnaires, online assessment integration, interview scheduling, and recruiter workflow tools. Because it is custom-built, its exact parsing algorithms and ranking criteria are not publicly documented, but general ATS best practices apply, and many candidates have shared insights about their experiences with the system.

  • Use a clean, single-column resume format without tables, graphics, or text boxes — Amazon's custom parser handles standard formatting most reliably
  • Include keywords from the job description naturally within your experience bullets, as Amazon's system commonly uses keyword relevance to help recruiters prioritize applications
  • Upload your resume as a .docx or cleanly formatted PDF — avoid scanned documents or image-based PDFs that cannot be parsed
  • Double-check all auto-populated fields after uploading your resume, as parsing errors in dates, job titles, or company names can create a negative impression
  • Complete all optional fields in your candidate profile, including skills, certifications, and education details — more complete profiles are typically more discoverable to recruiters
  • Apply to specific roles rather than submitting bulk applications — Amazon's system may track application frequency, and many recruiters report that targeted applications are viewed more favorably than mass submissions

Complete Amazon Custom ATS (Amazon.jobs) Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Amazon's interview culture is uniquely structured around its 16 Leadership Principles, which serve as the foundation for virtually every interview question and evaluation criterion.

Candidates commonly describe the process as rigorous, structured, and deeply behavioral. Unlike many tech companies that focus primarily on technical skills, Amazon places equal or greater emphasis on how candidates think, make decisions, and align with the company's cultural values. The behavioral interview component typically follows the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), and candidates are expected to provide detailed, specific examples from their past experience. Interviewers are trained to probe deeply — expect follow-up questions like 'What would you do differently?' or 'How did you measure success?' Vague or hypothetical answers are generally not well-received; Amazon interviewers want real stories with real data. For technical roles, coding interviews commonly involve whiteboard-style problems (or virtual equivalents) focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design. Senior candidates should expect more emphasis on system design and architectural decision-making. The difficulty level is commonly compared to medium-to-hard LeetCode problems for SDE roles. The Bar Raiser is a distinctive element of Amazon's process — this is an experienced interviewer from a different team who ensures hiring standards remain consistently high across the organization. The Bar Raiser evaluates whether the candidate would raise the performance bar of the team they're joining. Amazon's interview culture values directness, data-driven thinking, customer focus, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. Candidates who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, ownership mentality, and a track record of delivering measurable results in ambiguous environments tend to perform well. The process is demanding but widely regarded as fair and transparent in its evaluation criteria.

What Amazon Looks For

  • Customer Obsession — Demonstrated ability to start with the customer and work backwards, with concrete examples of prioritizing customer needs in decision-making
  • Ownership and accountability — Evidence of taking end-to-end responsibility for projects and outcomes, going beyond defined job responsibilities
  • Data-driven decision making — Ability to use metrics, analytics, and quantitative reasoning to inform strategies and measure impact
  • Bias for action — Track record of making progress in ambiguous situations without waiting for perfect information or complete consensus
  • Technical depth appropriate to the role — Strong fundamentals in relevant technologies, whether that's distributed systems, algorithms, data engineering, network infrastructure, or operations management
  • Ability to Dive Deep — Willingness and capability to understand problems at a granular level, not just surface-level understanding
  • Invention and simplification — History of finding innovative solutions and simplifying complex processes or systems
  • Earn Trust through transparency and integrity — Evidence of building strong working relationships, admitting mistakes, and communicating honestly
  • Deliver Results — Consistent track record of achieving goals and delivering measurable outcomes, even under challenging circumstances
  • Learn and Be Curious — Demonstrated pattern of continuous learning, exploring new domains, and seeking to understand how things work

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Amazon's hiring process typically take from application to offer?
Many candidates report that Amazon's hiring process takes approximately 4-8 weeks from initial application to offer, though this can vary significantly by role, team, and hiring urgency. The online assessment phase typically occurs within 1-2 weeks of application, phone screens within 1-3 weeks after that, and loop interviews are commonly scheduled 1-2 weeks after a successful phone screen. The debrief and offer stage can take an additional 1-2 weeks. Some high-priority roles may move faster, while others — particularly senior positions requiring multiple approvals — may take longer.
How important are Amazon's Leadership Principles in the hiring process?
Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles are arguably the most critical factor in the hiring process. Every interviewer in the loop is typically assigned specific Leadership Principles to evaluate, and behavioral questions are designed to assess your alignment with these principles. Many former Amazon interviewers and recruiters have publicly stated that a candidate with strong Leadership Principle alignment but moderate technical skills may be preferred over a technically exceptional candidate who doesn't demonstrate these principles. You should be able to provide specific, detailed examples from your experience that map to each principle.
What is a Bar Raiser and how do they affect my interview?
The Bar Raiser is a specially trained interviewer from a team outside the one you're applying to join. Their role is to ensure that every new hire raises the overall performance bar of the team. Bar Raisers undergo additional training and have significant influence on the hiring decision — they can effectively veto a hire if they believe the candidate doesn't meet Amazon's standards. During your loop interview, one of your interviewers will be the Bar Raiser, though you typically won't know which one. The best approach is to treat every interview with equal seriousness and preparation.
Can I apply to multiple positions at Amazon simultaneously?
Yes, you can apply to multiple positions on amazon.jobs. However, many recruiters and former Amazon hiring managers suggest being strategic rather than applying broadly. Applying to a large number of roles simultaneously may signal a lack of focus. It's commonly recommended to apply to 2-4 roles that genuinely match your skills and experience, and to tailor your resume and application responses for each one. If you're actively interviewing for one team, your recruiter may also suggest other teams that could be a good fit.
What programming languages and technologies should I know for Amazon SDE roles?
Amazon is generally language-agnostic for coding interviews — you can typically use your preferred programming language (Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript are commonly used by candidates). However, familiarity with AWS services is highly valued, particularly for roles that involve cloud infrastructure. Key technical areas commonly tested include data structures and algorithms, object-oriented design, system design (especially for SDE II and above), and distributed systems concepts. For specific teams like SCOT or Device Software Services, domain-specific knowledge in areas like supply chain optimization, embedded systems, or networking may be additionally evaluated.
Does Amazon require a computer science degree for software engineering roles?
While many Amazon SDE job postings list a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field as a qualification, Amazon is known for also considering candidates with equivalent practical experience. Bootcamp graduates, self-taught programmers, and candidates with non-traditional backgrounds have reported successfully landing SDE roles at Amazon, particularly when they can demonstrate strong technical skills and relevant project experience. That said, having a relevant degree can be advantageous during initial screening. Regardless of educational background, all candidates go through the same technical and behavioral interview process.
How should I prepare for Amazon's Online Assessment (OA)?
Amazon's Online Assessment for technical roles typically includes coding challenges (commonly 1-2 algorithm problems similar to medium-difficulty LeetCode questions), a work simulation exercise, and a work-style assessment. To prepare, practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal, focusing on arrays, strings, trees, graphs, dynamic programming, and sorting/searching algorithms. For the work-style assessment, familiarize yourself with Amazon's Leadership Principles, as the questions are designed to evaluate your alignment with these values. Many candidates recommend completing the OA in a quiet environment with stable internet, as the assessment is timed and cannot typically be paused.
What is the interview process like for non-technical roles like Operations Manager?
Operations Manager roles at Amazon typically follow a similar multi-stage process but with different emphasis. After application and initial screening, candidates commonly complete a work simulation assessment focused on operational scenarios. The interview loop typically consists of 4-5 interviews heavily weighted toward behavioral questions based on Leadership Principles, with additional focus on process improvement, team management, data analysis, and operational problem-solving. Candidates with experience in logistics, manufacturing, supply chain, or high-volume operational environments tend to be well-positioned. Lean/Six Sigma experience and comfort with data-driven decision-making are commonly valued for these roles.
How can I follow up on my application status at Amazon?
You can check your application status by logging into your amazon.jobs candidate profile, where the status of each application is typically displayed. If you've been assigned a recruiter, they are generally your primary point of contact for status updates. Many candidates report that Amazon's process can involve periods of silence, particularly between stages, and that polite follow-up emails to your recruiter every 1-2 weeks are appropriate. If you haven't heard back within 2-3 weeks of applying and haven't been assigned a recruiter, the role may have moved forward with other candidates, though it's not uncommon for Amazon to revisit applications as new positions open.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 2473 open positions at Amazon

Related Resources

Similar Companies

Related Articles

Sources

  1. Amazon Jobs - Career Opportunities — Amazon
  2. Amazon Leadership Principles — Amazon
  3. Amazon Interview Process and Preparation Tips — Amazon
  4. Working at Amazon - Company Overview — Amazon
  5. Amazon Bar Raiser Program Overview — Amazon
  6. Amazon Interview Reviews and Experiences — Glassdoor