I applied to a Cloud Solution Architect role at Amazon AWS online/LinkedIn. I got an email asking for times to do a phone interview, and then a follow-up email saying they are doing a "hiring event" in a few weeks. 1 hour long with both the hiring manager(30mins) and a tech interviewer (30mins). Has anyone gone through the hiring events? Any suggestions/tips for a role like this? I'm a 39 year old full-stack developer (Angular 2/4, asp.net core / WebApi, Bootstrap, MSSQL, React.js, Redux.js, etc. ) / enterprise architect, TOGAF, MCSP, ITIL certs. I started off as a network admin -> sales/marketing -> development -> enterprise/solution architect. I don't have experience with AWS, but since I got the email I figured I would do the AWS Certified Solutions Architect cert...figured, it can't hurt professional and maybe for interview points. Also, in my spare time, learning AI / Machine learning for fun. Any comments or suggestions, would greatly appreciate it.
Umm, you think this a step back professionally speaking?
It's a life style job. It's close to business, you'll be on the road often meeting AWS clients interacting with C-level execs, building/demo-ing PoCs and pitching solutions contributing to Sales target. If you want to be on business side, like traveling and meeting people it's a best job you can ask for. But if your heart is rather in coding either if you don't like travel or if you don't have presentation/communication skills it'll be a job you won't succeed.
Thank you! Do you know if having AWS experience is a requirement? Or me doing the AWS certification is needed?
Having some kind of cloud experience helps. But it's not necessary. Again, Amazon is a weird place, they also live by their leadership principles- everything you talk will be pegged against those principles.
can u share details of hiring event? is it open for everyone or just prescreened candidates?
Thanks for getting back to me. We area actually having a hiring event on Friday, Sept 22nd at our Atlanta office. This meeting will only last about an hour and takes the place of the two phone interviews in our interview process. You would get the chance to meet the hiring manager as well as a member of the team and we would let you know if you are coming onsite for your onsite interview within 48 hours. Please let me know if you think you will be available on this date and I will work to get you scheduled at your preferred time.
that’s copy/paste of the email I got
Amazon Solution Architect are more of preSales roles albeit little more technical. Be prepared for "STAR" modeled questions; they will test you on your presentational skills and communication rather than technical depth.