We caught up with Kayley who has recently secured an internship with Amazon. She discusses the application process, why she chose Amazon and how did she demonstrated her passion to the firm.
Why did you choose Amazon?
Amazon is a household name across the globe and is often quoted as the industry standard within business circles. This reputation coupled with incredible growth rates and fast-paced innovation drew me in and left me curious to know how such a global giant operates and ideates from day to day.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps.
- Be different!
Have something on your CV that makes you stand out. This doesn’t have to be strictly business focused but something that makes you memorable and makes the interviewer want to meet you to find out more. It helps show that you’re an interesting person who is more than their job, that you’re a good fit for the team and someone the interviewer would like to spend their lunchtime with everyday – all of which are nearly as important as being competent as the role.
- Be informed!
As Amazon is such a dominant firm, there is rarely a week when it doesn’t feature in the news. Keeping continually abreast of the news and having commercial awareness is an unparalleled toolkit to have at your disposal when applying for jobs in Big Tech. To be able to talk about the progression of an Amazon project or news story or discuss Amazon’s position in the market with your own opinions is of paramount importance.
- Be prepared!
Know what points you want to make and what points you don’t want to forget and write them down. Before every interview I have, I get a whiteboard and write out every piece of information I think might be useful under 3 headings: a) Why do I want to work for Amazon b) What experiences/skills/education do I have that would make me a good candidate and c) What products do Amazon offer/relevant news stories and pieces of current affairs. There wasn’t a question asked that I didn’t have an answer under these headings and having a page of prompts helps to keep you calm.
How did you show you had a passion for the firm/role?
I was fortunate enough to be completing a 12-month Operations internship with Microsoft when I applied for this summer position and as it was also an operations role in Amazon, it was straight-forward to show why I wanted this type of role. For those without this industry experience, I would encourage you to focus on your extra-curricular project management or leadership experience as these are vital transferable skills for this career.
What’s been the toughest interview question you faced?
‘What would your boss say are your three biggest weaknesses?’
