I recently went through the interview process at AWS for a Sr. TIPM role, consisting of phone screens and then a Loop Interview consisting of five interviewers over two days. Overall, the process was rigorous and in-depth, with a strong focus on Amazon's Leadership Principles with situations being related to through the STAR format and technical expertise around data centers and server hardware. I spent considerable time preparing, and I felt confident that I demonstrated my alignment with the company's values and technical requirements.
However, after the interviews, I received feedback through an informal channel indicating that the reason I wasn't selected was due to concerns about team collaboration. This was surprising to me because, throughout my career, I have worked well with peers in cross-functional teams, and this aspect of my performance was not flagged during the interviews themselves. In fact, one of the strengths I was credited with was my ability to stand firm on decisions while also committing to outcomes, which seemed at odds with the feedback on collaboration.
While I respect the company's need to make the best hiring decisions, I found the feedback concerning because it didn’t seem to align with the actual interview questions (LP's: Bias to Action, Deliver Results, Are Right-A Lot, Dive Deep, Insist on the Highest Standards, and Ownership) or my past experience. Having worked at AWS before with strong manager and peer relationships, I was left with the impression that the feedback may have come from a source outside of the interview itself. I encourage candidates to ensure they clarify expectations around collaboration and team dynamics during the process.
Amazon remains a great place to work, and I hope to see more transparency in how feedback is communicated in future hiring processes.
