I recently went through the Amazon interview process, and it was a challenging yet rewarding experience.

The process was incredibly thorough, lasting about three weeks from the initial application to the final decision.

Step 1: Online Assessment

The first step was an online assessment that tested my problem-solving and logical reasoning skills. It included coding problems and situational judgment tests. The coding questions were medium to hard on LeetCode difficulty, focusing on algorithms and data structures.

Step 2: Phone Screen

After passing the assessment, I was invited to a technical phone screen. The interviewer asked me to solve a couple of coding problems live, sharing my screen while I explained my thought process. They were friendly and helpful but also made sure to test my depth of understanding.

Step 3: Onsite Interview

The final step was the onsite interview (conducted virtually in my case). It consisted of four rounds:

• Coding Round: More algorithm-based questions, with an emphasis on optimization.
• System Design Round: For this, I had to design a scalable system. The interviewer asked detailed follow-ups to gauge my ability to handle trade-offs.
• Behavioral Round: This was focused on Amazon’s Leadership Principles. I was asked to provide examples of how I demonstrated ownership, customer obsession, and thinking big.
• Bar Raiser Round: This was the toughest. It combined technical and behavioral aspects, and the interviewer seemed to focus on how my skills would contribute to Amazon’s long-term goals.

Final Thoughts

The interviewers were professional and respectful, and the process was transparent. I appreciated how they communicated the next steps after each round. While the questions were challenging, they weren’t impossible if you’re well-prepared.

The only downside was the waiting time between some rounds, which added to the anxiety.

Overall, it was a positive experience, and even though it was rigorous, it left me with a sense of accomplishment regardless of the outcome.

How would you find the first non-repeating character in a string?