Amazon Web Services Sr. Solutions Architect interview questions

I was first sent a 60 minute test including a psychological/professional profile, a work simulation and some technical questions. Then I met with HR to talk about the process and expectations. Then I had a 1 hour meeting which was supposed to be half technical half "leadership" skills. It was almost only technical. The interviewer wouldn't catch any of my hooks for a soft skills discussion. I was requested to prepare for the "leadership" portion of the interview which seemed odd to me. How does one prepare for soft skills? My interviewer was at the same level as I was. I never met the hiring manager.

AWS uses the standard Amazon hiring process, it definitely takes getting used to. Here's the order: 1) Online application 2) Recruiter initial screen 3) Online assessment 4) Hiring Manager screen 5) Loop The recruiters aren't technical and can't answer any job questions. They try to figure out if you're senior enough but from an HR perspective the technical screen comes from the online assessment test (which isn't very technical). This test isn't something you can study for, either you know it or don't. The technical portion is too broad to learn overnight. The workstyle and working with customer can be gamed, but I would recommend you don't. The culture at Amazon/AWS is peculiar, if you don't fit in, you won't work out. So answer normally, and please don't be offended if you don't pass- it's better that you learn now rather than later. Every once in a while someone starts that's not a good fit, and they don't last long. That's not good for anyone. So after the HR screen and online test comes the hiring manager screen - they're looking at industry and tech experience and may ask one or two Amazon STAR(y) questions. If you pass the hiring manager you get to the famed loop, mine was virtual because covid, But it's the same if you're in-person or not. Don't get offended if the interviewer doesn't look at you, they're fiendishly typing their notes, which *will* be read by everyone else in the panel. Search how the STAR process works, I had about 20 stories ready to go and used most of them. I wasn't asked any of the usual OSI model questions, or one of the famous HTTPS or website questions, it was almost entirely stories with one guy diving into storage protocols. The recruiting team does seem to be rooting for you and between every set of steps I'd have a call with them and they'd tell me what to expect, how to study, etc. Overall a good process and recommended... for those who fit their model. I would wager the company culture isn't for most people, and the hiring process is geared heavily to sort those people out. Not getting an offer doesn't mean you aren't technically good enough, maybe instead you weren't a good culture fit. It's a weird place after all.