Engineer Your Ideal Tech Career [Part 4] - What Type Of Environment Are You In?

In this video, we walk through the different environments you can or may be working in throughout your career. Depending on where you feel you most thrive, it may make some roles or companies more or less fulfilling.

Avoid choosing the middle number for each of these — do the hard work of making actual trade-offs for each option to make your preferences clearer.

We cover key environments and what they mean, like:

- Fast Paced vs. Methodical
- Job Stability & Cash Comp vs. High Risk, High Reward
- Mentorship & Guidance vs. Independence & Autonomy

Looking for mentorship from tech’s top engineers + personalized job hunt assistance and interview prep? [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) can provide you unlimited career coaching, technical mentorship, personalized practice, and mock interviews. Join us here: <https://formation.dev/partners/taro>

Worksheet: [Formation - Coding Your Career](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/tech-career-growth.appspot.com/o/courses%2Fslides%2FFormation%20Career%20Direction%20Worksheet.pdf?alt=media&token=f6344b78-529a-411e-a449-7a34a8d55fc8)

Engineer Your Ideal Tech Career [Part 3] - What Drives You?

In this video, we explore the major areas of motivation for individuals in their career, and give you an opportunity to reflect on which resonates most with you.

Try to lean one way or the other on your worksheet vs. selecting a rating right in the middle!

We cover being driven by:

- Mission
- Technical Work
- Team

Looking for mentorship from tech’s top engineers + personalized job hunt assistance and interview prep? [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) can provide you unlimited career coaching, technical mentorship, personalized practice, and mock interviews. Join us here: <https://formation.dev/partners/taro>

Worksheet: [Formation - Coding Your Career](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/tech-career-growth.appspot.com/o/courses%2Fslides%2FFormation%20Career%20Direction%20Worksheet.pdf?alt=media&token=f6344b78-529a-411e-a449-7a34a8d55fc8)

Engineer Your Ideal Tech Career [Part 2] - How Do You Spend Your Time?

In this video, we explore key areas that software engineers spend their time throughout their day, and we talk through the differences between each.

Depending on which areas you want to optimize to spend your most time, your long-term career path can vary. Try to assign a different rating to each to give yourself a clearer picture!

We cover what it really means to:

- Be making product/business decisions
- Be architecting solutions
- Be hiring
- Be mentoring

Looking for mentorship from tech’s top engineers + personalized job hunt assistance and interview prep? [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) can provide you unlimited career coaching, technical mentorship, personalized practice, and mock interviews. Join us here: <https://formation.dev/partners/taro>

Worksheet: [Formation - Coding Your Career](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/tech-career-growth.appspot.com/o/courses%2Fslides%2FFormation%20Career%20Direction%20Worksheet.pdf?alt=media&token=f6344b78-529a-411e-a449-7a34a8d55fc8)

Engineer Your Ideal Tech Career [Part 1] - The 3 Step Framework

Hi, I'm [Sophie Novati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophienovati/) and welcome to [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev)'s course on career pathing and pivotal career decisions made in partnership with Taro!

In this video, I introduce a 3-step framework for evaluating your career, making pivotal decisions, and crafting next steps in order to forge your most successful career in software engineering. This includes:

1. Reflecting on day-to-day work that excites and challenges you

2. Mapping that to long-term career goals

3. Plotting out near-term next steps to get you there

Finally, you will hear from other accomplished engineers about how they’ve made these very decisions!

Be sure to follow along at the worksheet linked to leave with an actionable plan.

Looking for mentorship from tech’s top engineers + personalized job hunt assistance and interview prep? [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) can provide you unlimited career coaching, technical mentorship, personalized practice, and mock interviews. Join us here: <https://formation.dev/partners/taro>

Worksheet: [Formation - Coding Your Career](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/tech-career-growth.appspot.com/o/courses%2Fslides%2FFormation%20Career%20Direction%20Worksheet.pdf?alt=media&token=f6344b78-529a-411e-a449-7a34a8d55fc8)

Beyond 'Cracking the Coding Interview': 10+ Years Of Tech Interview Evolution

For over a decade, *Cracking the Coding Interview* has been hailed as the "bible" of interview prep. Now, its high-anticipated sequel, [**Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/195570600X), is out. While the original delved deeply into coding problems, the sequel shifts its focus to teaching you how to think—both in the context of technical interviews and throughout the job search process.

In this event, the authors of [**Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/195570600X) will share how tech hiring has changed in the last decade. Ask them anything about interview prep, job stuff, negotiation, or algorithms and data structures. The authors are:

- [**Gayle Laakmann McDowell**](https://www.gayle.com/), the original author of CtCI
- [**Michael Mroczka**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mroczka/), Google engineer and top interview coach on [**interviewing.io**](https://interviewing.io/?c=taro)
- [**Aline Lerner**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinelerner/), founder of [**interviewing.io**](https://interviewing.io/?c=taro)
- [**Nil Mamano**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilmamano/), Google engineer and algorithm researcher

Redeem a discounted mock interview from [interviewing.io](https://interviewing.io/?c=taro) on Taro Perks: [jointaro.com/perks/](https://www.jointaro.com/perks/)

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 32] - Missing A Commitment (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about a time they failed to meet a commitment.

- **Strengths:**

  - **Relevant and Engaging Story:** The interviewee provided a compelling and relevant example by describing a critical incident during the Super Bowl, a high-pressure situation.
  - **Honest Acknowledgement of Failure:** The interviewee openly acknowledged the failure and took responsibility for the issue.
  - **Detailed Explanation:** The interviewee provided a detailed explanation of the situation, including the specific challenges encountered (e.g., software bug, communication issues), the impact of the failure, and the steps taken to address the issue.
  - **Focus on Learning and Improvement:** The interviewee highlighted the key learnings from the experience, such as the importance of thorough testing, robust contingency plans, and clear escalation procedures.
  - **Positive Outcome:** The interviewee emphasized that the team ultimately resolved the issue and learned valuable lessons, demonstrating their ability to learn and adapt.

- **Areas for Potential Improvement:**

  - **Deeper Dive into Root Cause Analysis:** The interviewee could have provided more detail on the specific steps taken to identify the root cause of the software bug and how the team prevented similar issues from occurring in the future.
  - **Highlighting Leadership:** The interviewee could have further emphasized their leadership role in addressing the situation, such as:
    - Taking ownership of the problem and communicating proactively with stakeholders.
    - Motivating the team to work together to find a solution.
    - Effectively communicating the resolution to all stakeholders.

- **Overall:**

  - This was a strong response that effectively demonstrated the interviewee's ability to:
    - Acknowledge and learn from mistakes.
    - Take responsibility for their actions.
    - Demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
    - Highlight their ability to work effectively under pressure and as part of a team.
    - Communicate their experiences clearly and concisely.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 31] - Missing A Commitment (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee failed to meet a commitment during their time at Google.

- **The Commitment:** The interviewee committed to flawless execution of a major advertising campaign during the Super Bowl, ensuring all ads ran smoothly across all platforms.

- **The Obstacle:** Despite thorough planning and preparation, a critical ad failed to run on Mac computers due to a software bug.

- **The Impact:** This failure resulted in significant disruption, including:

  - **Lost revenue:** The ad in question was a high-value advertisement.
  - **Damaged reputation:** The incident could have negatively impacted Google's reputation with advertisers.
  - **Increased stress:** The interviewee experienced significant stress due to the unexpected issue and the pressure to resolve it quickly.

- **Corrective Actions:**

  - **Root Cause Analysis:** The team conducted a post-mortem analysis to identify the root causes of the failure, including inadequate testing on all devices and insufficient escalation procedures for technical issues.
  - **Process Improvements:**
    - Implemented a more comprehensive testing process to ensure compatibility across all devices and browsers.
    - Established a clear escalation path for technical issues, including multiple levels of support and on-call engineers.
  - **Improved Communication:** Enhanced communication protocols to ensure timely identification and resolution of technical issues.

- **Key Learnings:**

  - The importance of thorough planning and rigorous testing.
  - The need for robust contingency plans to address unexpected challenges.
  - The importance of effective communication and collaboration within and across teams.
  - The value of learning from mistakes and using them to improve future performance.

This example demonstrates the interviewee's ability to: *Acknowledge and take responsibility for their mistakes.* Conduct a thorough root cause analysis to identify areas for improvement. *Implement corrective actions to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.* Demonstrate resilience and the ability to learn from challenging situations.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 30] - Building Trust With Stakeholders (Evaluation)

This video segment discusses the quality of an interview conducted by a person named Alan.

- **The Interviewer's Approach:**

  - **Unclear Questioning:** Alan initially asked a general question about building trust, which is not a typical behavioral interview question.
  - **Unnecessary Detour:** This initial question led to a lengthy discussion that was not directly relevant to assessing the interviewee's skills or experiences.
  - **Awkward Transition:** Alan then abruptly shifted to a more relevant question about a time the interviewee failed to meet a commitment, but the transition felt awkward and disjointed.

- **Concerns about Interview Quality:**

  - **Lack of Clear Focus:** The interviewer's approach seemed unstructured and lacked a clear focus on assessing the interviewee's skills and experiences.
  - **Potential for Bias:** The interviewer's personal style and communication approach could potentially bias the interview outcome, particularly for interviewees who are less experienced or less comfortable with unexpected questioning.
  - **Limited Quality Control:** The video highlights a concern about the lack of quality control for interviewer performance and the potential impact on interview outcomes.

- **Recommendations:**

  - **Focus on Clear and Relevant Questions:** Interviewers should focus on asking clear, concise, and relevant behavioral questions that directly assess the candidate's skills and experiences.
  - **Maintain a Structured Approach:** A structured interview approach helps ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly and consistently.
  - **Improve Interviewer Training:** Investing in interviewer training programs can help to improve the quality of interviews and ensure that all interviewers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct effective and unbiased interviews.

This analysis highlights the importance of conducting high-quality interviews to ensure fair and accurate assessments of candidate qualifications.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 29] - Building Trust With Stakeholders (Answer)

This video segment focuses on how to build trust relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

- **Key Strategies:**

  - **Proactive Relationship Building:**
    - The interviewee emphasizes the importance of proactive relationship building by reaching out to stakeholders early on, even before needing to rely on them. This includes conducting preliminary research, scheduling introductory meetings, and taking the time to understand their individual goals and priorities.
  - **Demonstrating Integrity and Consistency:**
    - The interviewee highlights the importance of acting with integrity, following through on commitments, and being transparent about their goals and priorities. This builds trust and credibility with colleagues.
  - **Assuming Trust:**
    - While acknowledging the importance of earning trust, the interviewee believes in starting with a foundation of trust and assuming positive intent from others.
  - **Open and Honest Communication:**
    - The interviewee emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication, including being transparent about priorities and setting clear expectations.

- **Practical Tips:**

  - **Leverage tools like "The First 90 Days" to effectively identify and map stakeholders.**
  - **Conduct introductory meetings with key stakeholders to build rapport and understand their perspectives.**
  - **Focus on building relationships based on mutual respect and trust.**
  - **Prioritize consistency and follow-through on commitments.**
  - **Communicate openly and honestly about goals and priorities.**

This approach to building trust relationships emphasizes proactiveness, integrity, open communication, and a focus on understanding and meeting the needs of stakeholders.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 28] - Recovering From A Bad Decision (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about a time they made a bad decision.

- **Strengths:**

  - **Owned the Mistake:** The interviewee openly acknowledged the mistake and took responsibility for the negative consequences.
  - **Demonstrated Self-Awareness:** They identified the root cause of the mistake – focusing solely on short-term revenue gains while neglecting long-term customer value and potential.
  - **Highlighted Corrective Actions:** The interviewee described the steps taken to rectify the situation, such as revising the incentive structure, improving call center response times, and implementing measures to address long wait times.
  - **Learned from the Experience:** The interviewee outlined the key learnings from this experience, including the importance of considering long-term customer value and gathering input from stakeholders before implementing significant changes.

- **Areas for Improvement:**

  - **Quantify Impact:** The interviewee could have further quantified the impact of the mistake and the subsequent corrective actions. For example, they could have provided specific data on the improvement in customer satisfaction scores or the increase in customer retention rates after implementing the changes.
  - **Emphasize Positive Outcomes:** The interviewee could have further emphasized the positive outcomes of the project, such as the improved focus on customer lifetime value and the development of a more robust customer retention strategy.
  - **Connect to Amazon Leadership Principles:** The interviewee could have explicitly connected their actions and learnings to relevant Amazon Leadership Principles, such as "Customer Obsession," "Learn and Be Curious," and "Ownership."

- **Overall:**

  - The interviewee effectively demonstrated their ability to acknowledge and learn from mistakes, take responsibility for their actions, and implement corrective measures.
  - By incorporating the suggested improvements, the interviewee can further enhance their response and increase their chances of success in the interview.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 27] - Recovering From A Bad Decision (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee made a mistake in their role at American Express.

- **Identified the Mistake:** The interviewee implemented a new incentive system for customer care professionals that rewarded them for saving high-value customers while neglecting lower-value customers. This led to:

  - **Cherry-picking of customers:** Customer care professionals prioritized high-value customers, leading to long wait times for lower-value customers.
  - **Negative customer experience:** Long wait times resulted in poor customer satisfaction and potentially damaged brand reputation.
  - **Missed revenue opportunities:** Neglecting lower-value customers, particularly early-tenure customers, resulted in missed opportunities for future revenue growth.

- **Learned from the Mistake:** The interviewee learned the importance of:

  - **Considering all stakeholders:** Involving customer care professionals in the decision-making process.
  - **Thinking long-term:** Considering the long-term value of customers, not just their immediate spending.
  - **Gathering diverse perspectives:** Seeking input from former team members to identify potential pitfalls.

- **Implemented Corrective Actions:**

  - Revised the incentive system to account for customer lifetime value.
  - Implemented measures to improve call center response times and reduce wait times.
  - Developed a system to identify and address cases of long wait times for customers.

This example demonstrates the interviewee's: 

- ***Self-awareness:*** *Acknowledging and taking responsibility for their mistake.* 
- **Problem-solving skills:** Identifying the root cause of the issue and implementing corrective actions. 
- ***Learning agility:*** *Learning from the mistake and applying those learnings to future projects.* 
- **Focus on customer experience:** Prioritizing customer satisfaction and long-term customer relationships. 
- **Continuous improvement:** Continuously refining processes and seeking ways to improve performance.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 26] - Working Outside Of Your Domain (Evaluation)

This video segment analyzes an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about taking on a project outside of their core responsibilities.

- **Strengths:**

  - **Identified a Problem:** The interviewee effectively identified a critical issue: low employee engagement scores regarding promotion fairness.
  - **Took Initiative:** They proactively sought to address this issue by developing and implementing a new feedback system ("Perfolution").
  - **Demonstrated Collaboration:** The interviewee successfully collaborated with HR to implement the system and gather data.

- **Areas for Improvement:**

  - **Quantify Impact:** The interviewee could have more clearly quantified the impact of the "Perfolution" system. Instead of simply stating that scores "went up," they could have provided specific data points, such as the percentage increase in employee satisfaction scores related to promotion fairness.
  - **Focus on Leadership:** The interviewee could have further emphasized their leadership role in driving the project, such as:
    - Motivating their team to participate in the feedback process.
    - Overcoming resistance or challenges encountered during implementation.
    - Communicating the results of the project to key stakeholders and securing buy-in for necessary changes.
  - **Connect to Amazon Leadership Principles:** The interviewee could have explicitly connected their actions to relevant Amazon Leadership Principles, such as "Ownership," "Customer Obsession," and "Bias for Action."

- **Overall:**

  - While the interviewee demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills, the response could be strengthened by:
    - Providing more specific and quantifiable data on the impact of the project.
    - Further emphasizing their leadership role and the challenges they overcame.
    - Explicitly connecting their actions to relevant Amazon Leadership Principles.

This analysis provides valuable insights into how to effectively communicate accomplishments and demonstrate leadership qualities in a job interview context.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 25] - Working Outside Of Your Domain (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee took on a project outside their core responsibilities to improve employee engagement at Google.

- **Identified a Problem:** The interviewee noticed that employee engagement scores were low, particularly regarding the perception of fair and transparent promotions.
- **Took Initiative:** The interviewee proactively identified this issue and proposed a solution: creating an anonymous feedback system to gather data on employee perceptions of promotion fairness.
- **Implemented a Solution:** The interviewee worked with HR to develop and implement the "Perfolution" system, which collected anonymous feedback from employees on promotion decisions.
- **Achieved Positive Results:** The system successfully gathered valuable data, which was then used to identify areas for improvement in promotion processes. This resulted in a significant improvement in employee engagement scores related to promotion fairness.
- **Demonstrated Initiative and Collaboration:** This example demonstrates the interviewee's initiative, problem-solving skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with other teams (HR) to achieve a positive impact.

This example effectively demonstrates the interviewee's: 

- ***Proactive approach:*** *Identifying a critical issue and taking the initiative to address it.* 
- **Problem-solving skills:** Developing and implementing a creative solution to gather data and identify areas for improvement. 
- ***Collaboration and teamwork:*** *Effectively collaborating with HR to implement the solution and address the identified issues.* 
- **Focus on employee engagement:** Demonstrating a commitment to improving employee satisfaction and well-being. 
- **Ability to drive positive change:** Successfully implementing the solution and achieving a significant improvement in employee engagement scores.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 24] - Sacrificing Short-Term For Long-Term (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about a time they sacrificed short-term gains for long-term value.

- **Strengths:** The interviewee effectively described the initial situation, highlighting the inefficiencies of the existing regional team structure and the need for a more globally aligned approach.

- **Areas for Improvement:**

  - **Focus on Long-Term Impact:** The interviewee could have more clearly and quantitatively demonstrated the long-term positive impact of the changes, such as specific improvements in key performance indicators (KPIs) beyond just reduced resolution times.
  - **Minimize Negative Framing:** The interviewee could have reframed their description of the challenges faced, minimizing the emphasis on negative aspects like "disgruntled people" and "pain points."
  - **Demonstrate Stronger Leadership:** While the interviewee mentioned gathering feedback and collaborating with stakeholders, they could have further emphasized their leadership skills, such as:
    - Proactively communicating the vision and rationale for the change to the team.
    - Effectively managing stakeholder expectations and addressing concerns.
    - Motivating and empowering the team throughout the transition process.

- **Overall:** While the interviewee effectively described the situation and the challenges faced, the response could be strengthened by:

  - **Focusing on positive outcomes:** Emphasizing the significant improvements in efficiency, customer satisfaction, and team performance.
  - **Demonstrating stronger leadership and communication skills:** Highlighting proactive measures taken to address team concerns and ensure successful implementation.
  - **Minimizing negative framing:** Presenting the challenges in a more constructive and solution-oriented manner.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 23] - Sacrificing Short-Term For Long-Term (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee had to make a difficult decision to sacrifice short-term gains for long-term value.

- **Identified the Problem:** The interviewee inherited a team with three regional teams operating independently, leading to inefficiencies and hindering the team's ability to scale and meet growing demands.
- **Made a Difficult Decision:** The interviewee made the difficult decision to transition the team from a regional model to a globally aligned model. This decision faced significant resistance from the team, leading to setbacks and the loss of some team members.
- **Overcame Challenges:** Despite the challenges, the interviewee successfully implemented the new model, resulting in significant improvements:
  - Reduced resolution times from seven hours to two hours.
  - Increased customer satisfaction (CSAT) significantly.
  - Improved operational efficiency and team productivity.
- **Learnings and Reflections:** The interviewee acknowledged that they could have improved their communication and change management strategies. They recognized the importance of more proactively communicating the need for change and the potential benefits of the new model to the team.

This example demonstrates the interviewee's ability to: 

- **Identify and address systemic issues:** They recognized the limitations of the existing system and proposed a solution to improve efficiency and effectiveness. 
- **Make difficult decisions:** They made a difficult decision despite facing resistance from their team. 
- **Overcome challenges:** They successfully navigated the challenges of the transition, including team resistance and operational hurdles. 
- **Focus on long-term value:** They prioritized long-term benefits for the team and the organization, even when it meant short-term disruption.
- **Learn from experience:** They identified areas for improvement in their communication and change management strategies.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 22] - Disagreeing With Your Manager (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about navigating a disagreement with a manager.

- **Identified Potential Concerns:** The feedback highlights potential concerns about the interviewee's response, specifically regarding its potential impact on how an Amazon interviewer might perceive the candidate's "bias for action."

  - The initial disagreement with the manager's unrealistic 15-minute response time could be perceived negatively, as Amazon highly values individuals who demonstrate strong initiative and a bias for action.
  - The interviewee's acknowledgment of the initial failure to meet the 15-minute target could be interpreted as a lack of commitment or a reluctance to fully embrace the manager's directive.

- **Suggested Improvements:** To address these concerns, the feedback suggests that the interviewee could have:

  - **Emphasized proactive problem-solving:** Instead of simply acknowledging the initial failure, the interviewee could have highlighted their proactive efforts to gather data, analyze the situation, and propose an alternative solution that was more realistic and achievable.
  - **Demonstrated commitment to the team's success:** The interviewee could have further emphasized their commitment to the team's success by describing how they actively engaged with stakeholders, addressed their concerns, and ultimately achieved the revised goal of a 90th percentile response time within one hour.
  - **Framed the disagreement constructively:** Instead of focusing on the initial disagreement and the perceived failure to meet the 15-minute target, the interviewee could have framed the situation as a learning opportunity and emphasized their ability to adapt and find a successful solution that aligned with the team's capabilities and customer needs.

- **Overall:** The feedback emphasizes the importance of demonstrating a strong bias for action, a commitment to achieving goals, and the ability to navigate disagreements constructively in an Amazon interview setting. By incorporating these suggestions, the interviewee can enhance their ability to effectively communicate their accomplishments and demonstrate their suitability for a role at Amazon.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 21] - Disagreeing With Your Manager (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee disagreed with their manager's directive to implement a 15-minute response time for customer escalations.

- **Identified the Conflict:** The interviewee recognized that the 15-minute response time was unrealistic and impractical for their team, considering factors such as:

  - **Global Time Zones:** Many customers were located in different time zones, making immediate contact difficult.
  - **Internal Coordination:** Coordinating with internal stakeholders, such as sales teams, was necessary before contacting customers.
  - **Complexity of Escalations:** Resolving complex escalations often required significant internal investigation and coordination.

- **Proposed an Alternative Solution:**

  - The interviewee proposed a more realistic goal: contacting the customer within one hour of receiving the escalation.
  - They emphasized the importance of internal coordination and collaboration with sales teams.
  - They introduced a key performance indicator (KPI) of "time to first response" within one hour, focusing on a 90th percentile target.

- **Navigated Challenges:**

  - The interviewee faced resistance from both their manager and their team.
  - They effectively addressed the concerns of the sales team by improving communication and coordination.
  - They gathered data to support their proposed solution and successfully presented it to their manager.

- **Achieved Positive Outcomes:**

  - The team successfully met the 90th percentile target for time to first response.
  - Customer satisfaction improved.
  - The interviewee demonstrated effective communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

This example demonstrates the interviewee's ability to: ***Challenge assumptions:*** *They questioned the feasibility of the 15-minute response time and proposed a more realistic alternative.* **Collaborate effectively:** They worked with their team and other stakeholders to address the challenges and implement the new approach. ***Drive positive change:*** *They successfully implemented a new process that improved customer satisfaction and team efficiency.* **Demonstrate resilience:** They persevered despite initial resistance from their manager and their team.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 20] - Taking An Unpopular Stance (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about a time when they took an unpopular stance.

- **Identified Shortcomings:** The feedback highlights that the interviewee's response, while demonstrating a willingness to disagree with leadership, may not be perceived favorably in an Amazon interview setting.
- **Amazon's "Backbone" Culture:** The feedback emphasizes the importance of the "backbone" principle at Amazon, which values individuals who not only express their opinions but also actively contribute to the success of the chosen course of action, even if it differs from their initial recommendation.
- **Alternative Approach:** The feedback suggests that a more effective response would have focused on how the interviewee, despite the initial disagreement, actively contributed to the success of the chosen strategy. This could include:
  - Emphasizing their commitment to implementing the decision effectively.
  - Describing how they provided valuable input and insights to improve the chosen approach.
  - Highlighting their contributions to mitigating potential challenges and ensuring the successful execution of the strategy.
- **Importance of Demonstrating Commitment:** The feedback emphasizes that Amazon values individuals who are not only willing to express their opinions but also demonstrate a strong commitment to the success of the team and the organization, regardless of whether their initial recommendations are adopted.

This analysis provides valuable insights into the expectations and values of Amazon's interview process, particularly regarding the "backbone" principle and the importance of demonstrating commitment and a collaborative approach.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 19] - Taking An Unpopular Stance (Answer)

This video segment describes a situation where the interviewee took an unpopular stance in a meeting with leadership.

- **Identified the Conflict:** The interviewee disagreed with the company's decision to significantly shift resources from the US to India for customer support, primarily driven by cost-cutting measures.
- **Presented an Alternative Solution:** Despite the potential for backlash, the interviewee proposed an alternative solution:
  - While acknowledging the cost-effectiveness of hiring in India, they suggested leveraging the "Year Up" program to hire underrepresented talent in the US, aligning with the company's diversity and inclusion goals.
- **Faced Opposition:** The interviewee faced strong opposition from the CFO, who was primarily focused on cost-cutting measures and reacted negatively to the alternative proposal.
- **Continued to Advocate:** Despite the initial setback and lack of immediate recognition, the interviewee continued to advocate for the inclusion of the "Year Up" program.
- **Achieved Partial Success:** While the initial proposal was largely dismissed, the company eventually implemented a limited version of the "Year Up" program, demonstrating the long-term impact of the interviewee's advocacy.

This example highlights the interviewee's: ***Proactive Approach:*** *They identified a potential solution that aligned with company values.* **Courage and Persistence:** They were willing to express their dissenting opinion despite potential negative consequences. ***Focus on Long-Term Impact:*** *They demonstrated a commitment to long-term goals, such as diversity and inclusion, even when faced with immediate pressures.* **Ability to Learn and Adapt:** They acknowledged the limitations of their initial approach and demonstrated a willingness to adapt and find alternative solutions.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

Amazon Behavioral Interview [Part 18] - Handling Unclear Expectations From Leadership (Evaluation)

This video segment provides feedback on an individual's response to a behavioral interview question about navigating conflicting priorities.

- **Strengths:**

  - **Acknowledged the Challenge:** The interviewee effectively described the challenging situation of balancing conflicting demands from leadership: driving customer satisfaction while maintaining employee engagement.
  - **Highlighted Key Actions:** They mentioned implementing strategies to improve customer satisfaction, such as focusing on key metrics like CSAT and time to resolution.
  - **Acknowledged Limitations:** The interviewee honestly acknowledged the limitations of their efforts, such as the loss of a valuable employee due to the challenging work environment.

- **Areas for Improvement:**

  - **Focus on Employee Engagement:** While the interviewee mentioned some efforts to improve employee morale, such as virtual happy hours, they could have further emphasized their proactive steps to address employee concerns and improve engagement.
    - This could include:
      - Implementing regular feedback mechanisms (e.g., surveys, one-on-one meetings).
      - Advocating for employee well-being initiatives.
      - Proactively addressing employee concerns and seeking solutions.
  - **Quantify Impact:** Instead of stating that they were "semi-successful," the interviewee could have quantified their impact by:
    - Describing specific improvements in employee engagement scores.
    - Highlighting successful initiatives that improved both customer satisfaction and employee morale.
  - **Demonstrate Proactive Problem-Solving:** The interviewee could have further emphasized their proactive problem-solving skills by:
    - Describing how they identified the root cause of the conflicting demands.
    - Explaining how they developed and implemented innovative solutions to address the challenges.
    - Highlighting how their actions led to positive and lasting change within the team and organization.

- **Overall:** The interviewee provided a solid foundation for their response. By incorporating the suggested improvements, they can further enhance their ability to effectively communicate their accomplishments and demonstrate their leadership, problem-solving, and results-oriented approach in a job interview setting.

Learn more about Alan's job search program, Kadima Careers, using this [discount link](https://signup.kadimacareers.com/mQBsDvu).

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