Is it taboo to bring notes with you to an on-site interview? I'm specifically thinking about doing this by having STAR examples of Amazon leadership principles with me on my on-site loop. I don't plan to read off of them by any means, just have a list to glance at for reference if I can't think of a behavioral example off the cuff. I guess you could call it a cheat sheet. Again, this isn't tech, just accomplishments/stories such as times I disagreed with my manager, exceeded customer expectations, etc. I'm most interested in hearing what Amazonians have to say about this but also interested to hear from others too. My motivation is being able to give the best, most honest responses possible - I would hate to wind up without an answer due to nerves or brain farts. Thanks!
If I was the interviewer I’d be actually impressed by the amount of prep and deep-dive you show by knowing the Amazon LPs and having examples ready for them!
Thanks a lot. I'd like to think that's the case but clearly there are some in this thread who do not feel that way!
As someone who interviews/ non tech I would be annoyed with someone doing that. Dude do your homework. Prep. By the time you come onsite you should have those stories easily flowing. You have your resume for reference. Which level are you interviewing for? I would mark it as a flag to anyone beyond l4. Even for l4 I would frown upon it. How can I trust this person in a room with a director / vp if they can’t perform under slight stress
L5. I respect your opinion. On-site loops are a little more than "slight" stress for me since there are so many variables to account for, many of which are unknown.
But it’s a real day to day of any business. At Amazon it’s very important to be able to accept ambiguity and run with it. You can have all the materials prepared and bring it with you if the fact it’s there makes you feel more comfortable. Or just prep a copy of a resume with 1-2 clues. Honesty the best strategy is to have 5-6 huge juicy stories which you can tell in different ways vs 50 which are very high level and you can’t provide any details
I always wondered about this too. It is hard to remember all the different types of situations that you have been in over the course of your career instantaneously. But if you can sit back and think about it thoroughly and write down all the situations on paper, it would make it much easier come interview time to reference your paper to remember the situation that best corresponds with their question. Then of coarse you can go over the details from your memory.
When I did the internal interview training at Amazon, my trainer specifically mentioned that this is something top candidates do, and it's fine. That said, ask each interviewer before the interview starts. Personally, I've never seen someone do it, but I would be very impressed if someone did.
Thanks, good advice!
I think it’s a bad idea
Care to elaborate?
I did it, and it seems to have worked out okay.
Did you carry a reference sheet. I have 14 situations. But frankly need a cue to narrate the situation..
Bring them, then ask each interviewer if they mind you referencing them. There isn’t a global answer. Be ready to perform without them.
Thanks, this is logical advice.