Is the interview pattern different between L5 and L6 @ AMZN? i.e., more design-related sessions than coding for L6 and more coding sessions than design for L5 or something like that? I have been asking for L6 level onsite interview (@Seattle), but my recruiter is insisting on coming in as L5 and said “promotion will happen in 6 months time, since you’ll have more yrs of experience than other L5s”. YOE: 18 yrs Current TC: 210k (Location: PA)
Interview process is the same for L5 and L6 at Amzn. After the interview, the hiring group will look at feedback, and decide appropriate level that they believe you will succeed at. As the other poster mentioned, recruiter cannot promise promotion. L5 to L6 in 6 months would only happen if it is glaringly obvious that there was a wrong leveling decision. In 7 years at Amzn, I saw that a few times for L4 to 5, but never for 5 to 6, due to much higher expectations for L6.
Nope. They setup the interview different level from the beginning
How high is the expectation for L6? I got an offer for L6 SDE but afraid of pip.
> promotion will happen in 6 months time since I have more yrs of experience than other L5s. 😂😂😂
Well, that was my reaction too, when she said that.
Did she give a specific reason? L5 with 18 YOE is unusual.
None
Don't come in for an L5 interview if you think you can pass the L6, there are never "promotions" 6 months after hire. If it was a glaring mislevel you'll get adjusted but that would require the HM and BR on the loop admitting a mistake. Calculate those odds.
I recently went through their L6 interview. There was one hiring manager interview and 3 coding interview all for 1 hours, all were taken by L6. All interviews, first 30 mins are leadership questions. In hiring manager interview, second 30 mins is for a system design. All other interviews are for coding. I had their L5 before 5 years. They had 2 coding, 1 design and 1 hiring manager. Questions on leadership was only by hiring manager. For L6, it is super important to show your leadership skills and match it with Amazon's leadership principles.
Don’t believe a recruiter, they can’t guarantee a promotion in N months.