# A Senior Engineer's Guide to the Amazon Leadership Principles Interview

## How to approach an Amazon Leadership Principles interview

## Table of Contents

### 1. Amazon Leadership Principles Explained

#### What are Amazon’s Leadership Principles (LPs)?
In a nutshell, Leadership Principles (LPs) are the 16 values Amazon cares the most about.

### 1. Customer Obsession
Customer obsession is about giving the customer what they want before they know they want it.

Example “Customer Obsession” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you strongly disagreed with your manager or peer on something you considered very important to the business._
- _Tell me about a time when you overcommitted yourself or your company._

### 2. Invent and Simplify
Amazon rewards risk-taking.

Example “Invent and Simplify” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you didn’t meet customer’s needs._
- _Give me an example of a complex problem you solved with a simple solution._

### 3. Learn and Be Curious
Curiosity drives learning.

Example “Learn and Be Curious” questions:
- _Give me an example of a mission or goal you didn’t think was achievable._
- _Give me an example of something that you've worked on to improve your overall work effectiveness._

### 4. Insist on the Highest Standards
Every day is day one.

Example “Insist on the Highest Standards” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult customer or user._
- _Tell me about a time when you used external trends to improve your own company's products or services._

### 5. Deliver Results
Amazon values getting to the optimal outcome as soon as possible.

Example “Deliver Results” questions:
- _Could you tell me about a time where you were working on a project where you were working with another person._
- _Tell me about a strategic decision you had to make without clear data or benchmarks._

### 6. Dive Deep
Decisions must be made based on data.

Example “Dive Deep” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you had to communicate a change in direction that you anticipated people would have concerns with._
- _Tell me about a time where you were thrown into a project where you had no experience in._

### 7. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
Verbalize your disagreements but commit to taking action.

Example “Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit” questions:
- _Give me an example of a time you committed to a group decision even though you disagreed._
- _Tell me about a time where you disagreed with a coworker because you believed the decision they wanted to make was wrong for the customer._

### 8. Ownership
Take accountability and take pride in your work.

Example “Ownership” questions:
- _Describe a time when you took on work outside of your comfort area._
- _Describe a situation where you made an important business decision without consulting your manager._

### 9. Are Right, A Lot
Know your stuff and assert your point backed by data.

Example “Are Right, A Lot” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you did not effectively manage your projects._
- _Tell me about a time you wouldn’t compromise on achieving a great outcome._

### 10. Think Big
Amazon values huge ambition and large bets.

Example “Think Big” questions:
- _Give an example of a creative idea you had that proved really difficult to implement._
- _Tell me about a time when you encouraged a team member or organization to take a big risk._

### 11. Bias for Action
Encouragement to produce and act quickly.

Example “Bias for Action” questions:
- _Give me an example of a calculated risk that you have taken where speed was critical._
- _Tell me about a time where you were the first one to take action on something._

### 12. Frugality
Cutting costs is valued by Amazon.

Example “Frugality” questions:
- _Tell me about a time you pushed back on a deadline._
- _Give me an example of how you have helped save costs._

### 13. Earn Trust
This LP is about showing cooperation and understanding.

Example “Earn Trust” questions:
- _Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a colleague or manager._
- _Describe a time when you needed to influence a peer who had a differing opinion._

### Preparation for your interview
1. Get familiar with the Leadership Principles.
2. Practice using specific examples.
3. Focus on clear communication and your individual contributions.

## High-level strategy to frame your Leadership Principles interview
- Put customer obsession above all else to convey your fit within Amazon’s culture.

## Common mistakes to avoid
- Not enough impact or metrics in your examples.
- Falling into a trap of justifying rightness during conflicts.
- Not focusing enough on individual contributions.
- Saying Leadership Principles out loud, rather focus on demonstrating them through your experiences.

## Tips for crafting effective behavioral interview responses  
-2. Frame your answers around customer obsession.
- Use metrics and impact to strengthen your responses.