Hey folks, I have an upcoming on-site interview for the AWS SA role. Does anyone have any tips on how to best prepare for this, what questions/scenarios to expect and lastly any words of advice. I have started learning the LPs, looking online, just hoping to see if the community can assist. I have been a Consultant at MSFT for the last five years, working primarily with Azure IaaS. Any help is appreciated.
Leadership bullshit as usual
This is a great start, https://medium.com/@scarletinked/are-you-the-leader-were-looking-for-interviewing-at-amazon-8301d787815d. Once you feel like you really understand each LP, write them all out and for each LP write down a 2-3 anecdotes from your professional history (more recent is better) that demonstrate that LP. For each anecdote, practice presenting it in STAR format. Make sure each anecdote is solid and real, they will ask follow-up questions that will cut through any BS. Bring (and take) notes for the onsite with the LPs and a one liner of your anecdote to jog your memory. They're ok with that as long as you're not reading it to them, and it makes things go more efficiently. The questions are conversational enough that it's not like the notes are cheating. I followed this approach (which was actually suggested by my recruiter), and got all inclined with a strong offer at L6 SA. I liked the LPs and really embraced them during the interview process. If you're not feeling them, you're not going to like Amazon.
This is exactly what I was hoping to find thank you! Will follow your guide
Just had mine. This is a great answer. I have no idea how I did, and still waiting to hear back, but had I not done that amount of prep there would've been 4 or 5 questions where I just would've drawn a blank. And definitely don't ask for a different question or say 'pass'. You can definitely bring notes. I did. Only referenced them once. I wrote down every project I've ever done to jar my memory of all the stuff I've done over the past 13 years. That helped as well. I also wouldn't quote the LPs. So don't say, "I had a bias for action to dive deep and earn the trust of" - that's pandering. Show how you exhibited the LPs instead of telling the interviewer which LP you were exhibiting. Also, don't repeat stories. And it's also completely fine to mention side projects or outside of work experience. If you've done something cool like been in a war, made a movie, etc..
Be prepared to answer the same question (worded differently) many times with original stories from your past. That was my experience anyhow.