I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Amazon (Los Angeles, CA) in Mar 2017
Interview
(EA at Amazon Studios in Santa Monica) Everything you've read about the interview process is true: it's tough, lengthy and there are several steps to go through so you have to be patient. I was contacted by a recruiter via Linkedin then had a phone interview with her about a week later. She told me the entire process takes about 5-6 weeks, but they will speed it up if you have another pending offer.
Then I received an EA questionnaire containing 1 question to which I had to write a 1 page response to.
Also had to take a skills test, which was essentially an attention to detail test (VERY easy if you really do have a good attention to detail.)
Then I had a second phone interview with a current EA at Amazon Studios another week or so after that. Unfortunately I didn't make it past this round, but had I, the next step would have been to do a third phone interview and the fourth would have been to come into Amazon and do a 5-6 hour block of back to back 45 minute interviews with various team members there.
You MUST study study study the Amazon Leadership principles and fold them into your responses. Use the STAR method to answer your interview questions. They will ask very specific situational questions and they want you to provide a strong, specific example and to not use the same example in other questions.
I practiced a list of about 30 questions and thought of examples for each one and I still stumbled because the situational questions I was asked weren't exactly the same or they were a little bit deeper/two part questions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe a time when you were in a meeting, and you were the only one who disagreed with an idea that rest of the group was on board with. How did you go about this?
Tell me about your most innovative idea.
Tell me about a time where you had to get really creative to solve a problem.
Describe a situation where a current process wasn't working and how you went about improving upon it.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 8 months. I interviewed at Amazon (Seattle, WA) in Mar 2017
Interview
I was surprised by the length of the overall hiring process. It took me 8 months to get an onsite interview. I had never been denied throughout the process, but rather positions were filled before I had the opportunity to interview. I went through six recruiters/departments. Prepare your patience!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell us about a time where you had to push back with a customer.
I applied online. I interviewed at Amazon (Seattle, WA)
Interview
On-line application. multiple phone screens. 5-6 hours of on-site interviews including lunch. 1 skills test. 1 personality type for the position test. Multiple emails requesting salary requirements, references and most current resume.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe a time when you handled a situation differently than what your manager preferred. How did it turn out.
Describe a time when you had to lead a team "through the dark".
We need people with backbone, everyone at Amazon thinks they are important. How as an Executive Assistant will you keep your managers calendar clear of unnecessary meetings.
In past positions, describe a busy time and what you sacrificed to accomplish the goal.
You have worked for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Do you think you will be able to handle the fast pace at Amazon? (Really??)
NOTE: I was told by an Amazon employee that the hiring mangers do not have the authority to hire a specific candidate. The interviewer known as "The Bar Raiser", who is not part of the department and may or may not know anything about the position you are applying for, makes the final decision. Amazon would rather lose many good, qualified candidates rather than make 1 bad hiring mistake. Much of the process seems to come down to whether the "Bar Raiser" likes you. The " Bar Raisers" are easy to identify and are usually very passive or very aggressive in their interview method. They may also bring along an interview trainee.
Also, beware of fake interviews. Over a 16 month period of time I was contacted for 3 Executive Assistant positions, went thru many phone screens and on-site interviews for each. While 1 interview seemed genuine. The other 2 felt as though I had been brought in to fulfill an HR need for candidate quantity or candidate type. Check the interview agenda. Make sure that multiple hiring managers are part of the interview process. Make sure that you will be taken to lunch or that lunch will be brought in. (Sad to say, but if you are on your own for lunch, it is not a good sign). If your recruiters and others that you are handed off to, make negative comments about Amazon, it is likely because they know you aren't going to be hired anyway. So they feel safe in complaining to you.
Make your interview day easy. Take a cab to and from the interview. Research lunch options in the area, in case you are on your own. Save all your receipts and submit the same day. You will need to scan your receipts so load a Scanner app to your phone.
Overall, the interview process is very lengthy and it doesn't seem that you have an opportunity to really get in-depth information about the actual position or the needs of the person you may support. Everyone is too busy asking generic behavioral questions, typing your replies, and looking at their next meetings or texts that come thru. After 3 interviews I felt the process lacked professionalism and an appreciation of the candidates time.