I CRACKED AMAZON ON 1st ATTEMPT- WITHOUT SOLVING CODE IN 1 MIN
When people hear I cracked Amazon on my very first attempt, the first assumption is
“You must be a coding genius.”
But that could not be further from the truth.
It wasn’t the coding round that made the biggest difference.
It was the behavioral interviews that truly mattered.
Amazon does not just hire smart people. It hires leaders. People who can solve problems, take ownership, dive deep into ambiguity, and deliver real results.
At the core of that is one thing
Amazon’s 16 Leadership Principles
What Led Me Here: The Failures
Before I received the offer from Amazon, I went through several rejections.
Google. Meta. DoorDash. All said no.
These rejections were not because I lacked technical skills. I had spent years in product data science working on experimentation, growth strategies, pricing models, and stakeholder alignment.
What I lacked was structured storytelling and the ability to connect my experience with what companies like Amazon value in candidates.
What I Did Differently for Amazon
This time, I changed my entire approach
I studied the Leadership Principles thoroughly
I did not just memorize them. I tried to see how they applied to my real work.
When had I truly put the customer first
Where had I delivered results despite limited resources
How had I challenged a popular opinion with data
These reflections helped me find alignment between my values and Amazon’s expectations.
I built a story bank based on real product data science work
I wrote down stories from my experience in A/B testing, funnel optimization, product experiments, and growth analytics. I used the STAR format for each story. I made sure every story had a clear impact, business context, and a connection to at least one leadership principle.
I completed over 50 mock interviews with industry leaders
This was the most transformative part of my preparation. I spoke with mentors, ex-Amazonians, hiring managers, and peers. Their feedback helped me sharpen my delivery and understand what Amazon interviewers truly care about. Each session helped me refine my language, tone, clarity, and structure.
I stayed honest and self-aware
I did not try to present perfect stories. I talked about missed targets, difficult trade-offs, and lessons learned. Amazon is not looking for flawless candidates. It values reflection, ownership, and the ability to course-correct.
Behavioral Interviews Are a Mindset Check
These interviews are not about remembering principles word for word.
They are about showing how you behave, think, and lead.
Can you make decisions with incomplete data?
Can you collaborate with people who disagree with you?
Can you take accountability when things go wrong?
If yes, your stories will reflect that
If You Are Preparing for Amazon or Any Top Company
Yes, prepare for the technical rounds. Know your SQL, stats, product sense, and case studies.
But do not stop there
Prepare your stories
Practice with intent
Reflect on what you have learned
Connect your real-world work to what the company values
This is what helped me crack Amazon
Not writing code in 60 seconds
Not luck
Just intentional preparation and authentic storytelling
Want the story bank template I used ?
Reply to this email with Amazon Ready and I will send it to you!
Vaishali Macwan
Would there be a post on the questions that were asked or a detailed sheet related to how to approach people for mock interview and what kind of question bank to we prepare for?
I really like the story bank idea!
It’s so true — we’ve done so much in our day-to-day jobs, and sometimes what we’re missing is the ability to sell our skill set. Keeping all our stories in one place can really help with that.