Learnings from conducting ~1,000 interviews at Amazon

2026-01-06 · Source: The Pragmatic Engineer · Field: Business & Management — Human Resources & Workforce Development, Software Development & Engineering, Project & Product Management · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

Steve Huynh, a former Principal Engineer at Amazon with 17 years of experience and nearly 1,000 interviews conducted, including 600 Bar Raiser interviews, shares insights from his new book, "Technical Behavioral Interview: An Insider's Guide." The content highlights that while technical skills are essential, behavioral interviews often determine hiring outcomes, especially at mid-sized and larger companies. Huynh observes that many candidates over-prepare for technical rounds (95% of time) and under-prepare for behavioral ones (5% or less), despite behavioral performance being critical for securing an offer and determining job level. He emphasizes that the interview is an audition for working with a candidate, not just an exam, and that companies assess "fit" (role and company) and "level" through four dimensions: Scope, Contribution, Impact, and Difficulty. Effective preparation for behavioral interviews, including practicing story delivery and researching company values, is presented as a high-leverage activity.

Key takeaway

For software engineers preparing for job interviews, recognize that while technical proficiency is foundational, your ability to articulate past experiences and demonstrate cultural fit in behavioral rounds is paramount. Shift your preparation focus to include dedicated time for crafting and practicing compelling stories that showcase your Scope, Contribution, Impact, and Difficulty, aligning them with the target company's values. This strategic reallocation of effort will significantly increase your chances of securing the right offer at the appropriate level, rather than relying solely on technical prowess.

Key insights

Behavioral interviews, often overlooked, are critical for job offers and leveling, outweighing technical skills in final hiring decisions.

Principles

• Technical skills are the "ante," but behavioral fit wins the "hand."
• Delivery of a story matters as much as the story's content.
• Interviews are an audition for collaboration, not just an exam.

Method

Candidates should reallocate interview prep time, dedicating 10 hours to non-technical story preparation. Practice delivering stories by recording and reviewing, focusing on clarity and conciseness, and research company values to tailor narratives.

In practice

• Practice "Tell me about yourself" and "Why do you want to work here?" aloud.
• Research company blogs, tech talks, and job postings for value signals.
• Ask recruiters about key competencies and challenges for the role.

Topics

• Behavioral Interviews
• Technical Hiring
• Amazon Bar Raiser
• Interview Preparation
• Candidate Leveling

Best for: Software Engineer, Director of AI/ML, HR Professional

Related on AIssential

• Behind the Scenes of a Technical Interview — Technical interviews are often messy and biased, making behavioral presence as critical as technical skill for candidates.
• The New Rules of Behavioral Interviews after AI — Behavioral interviews, increasingly AI-influenced, are now pivotal for Big Tech leveling and compensation.
• I have an interview coming soon at Google, where should I prep? — Over-optimizing interview preparation resources hinders actual learning; focus and consistency drive genuine improvement.
• Our New Book on Behavioral Interviews Is Now Available on Amazon — A new book titled "Our New Book on Behavioral Interviews Is Now Available on Amazon," authored by Steve Huynh, a former principal engineer at Amazon, and published by ByteByteGo, has been released.
• How to Ace Data and ML Behavioural Interviews — Behavioral interviews are crucial for career progression in data/ML, demanding tailored responses that align with company values.
• Interviews Aren’t About You (Sorry) — Interviews are problem-solving sessions for hiring managers, not talent shows for candidates.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The Pragmatic Engineer.