Software Development Engineer (SDE) Internship Interview Journey at Amazon
Application and Invitation:
I applied for the SDE Intern role at Amazon through their portal. A few months later, I received an exciting invitation to apply for either a 2 or 6-month internship opportunity. Without hesitation, I seized this chance and submitted my application.
Online Assessment (OA) Stage:
Following the application, I was directed to an Online Assessment (OA). This stage consisted of two challenging Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) questions, coupled with two personality assessment surveys. The surveys were centred around the Amazon STAR method, a unique approach to responding to behavioural questions.
Interview Round Invitation:
Upon successfully navigating the OA, I received an invitation for an interview with two experienced Amazonians. This marked the beginning of the more personalized evaluation process.
Technical Interview Rounds:
In the interview, we kicked off with a detailed discussion of a project. Subsequently, I faced two DSA questions. The first involved explaining my approach before coding, but despite a correct strategy, I encountered challenges in the coding implementation. The second question, constrained by time, led to only a discussion of my approach with the interviewer.
Result :
Despite challenges in the interview, I stayed optimistic. The subsequent days confirmed the anticipated outcome – a rejection. While disappointment lingered, I saw the rejection as a chance for self-improvement. It highlighted areas for growth in my preparation strategies.
Preparation Tips:
- Practice diverse problems of medium to hard difficulty.
- Master time management during problem-solving.
- Be prepared to discuss past projects, highlighting challenges and solutions.
- Familiarize yourself with the STAR method for behavioural questions.
- Align responses with Amazon’s leadership principles.
- Conduct mock interviews to simulate real-time conditions.
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Brush up on core concepts of data structures, algorithms, and system design.
Hope it helps!!