How to Get a Job with Amazon? Killer tips that work!

Twenty years ago, nobody had heard of the company that would someday become a household name. Today, Amazon is known worldwide as a place to buy and sell anything you can think of, and because there are people who make a good living working with Amazon, people often wonder how they too could get a job with the behemoth company.

There are several ways to apply for a job at Amazon, including applying online, going to local hiring events, and taking part in internships and other programs.

Continue reading to learn more about Amazon and how you can go about applying for a job there today.

Who Is Amazon?

You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard of the giant online marketplace, but did you know that Amazon started as a place to sell books? The idea was formed by a man named Jeff Bezos, who had decided to sell books after some initial research suggested this would be the most marketable thing at the time.

With a passionate Jeff at the helm, and a “Get Big Fast” slogan, Amazon quickly grew and expanded its product offerings to include music and videos, and by 1999, people could find a variety of electronics, video games, toys, and home good items on the website.

One of the things that set Amazon apart from its competitors is that Bezos had envisioned Amazon to be not just an online marketplace but a tech company as well. They launched data services, such as the Amazon Web Services program, and allowed people to become affiliate partners through their Affiliate Program.

The company has expanded rapidly over the years, adding more items, developing seller tools, building warehouses to hold inventory, and much more. Today, Amazon is a multi-billion-dollar company that currently employs over 1.6 million people in the United States alone.

Amazon’s Mission and Values

Many people look to a company’s mission statement and values when deciding if they want to for work a company because these often offer a glimpse into the company itself. In fact, when surveyed, 69% of Amazon employees admitted that they were motivated by Amazon’s company values. But exactly what are Amazon’s values?

Mission Statement

Amazon has held the same mission statement since it launched, which is “our vision is to be earth’s most customer-centric company, to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavor to offer its customers the lowest possible price.”

While Amazon may not always be the cheaper choice anymore, they have certainly built a place where people can find anything they want.

Principles and Core Values

According to its website, Amazon is guided by 16 Leadership Principles, which have expanded over the years. Those values are currently:

Customer Obsession
Ownership
Invent and Simplify
Are Right, A Lot
Learn and Be Curious
Hire and Develop the Best
Insist on the Highest Standards
Think Big
Bias for Action
Frugality
Earn Trust
Dive Deep
Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
Deliver Results
Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer
Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

What Kind of Job Can I Get at Amazon?

Because Amazon is such a large company, it would be impossible to list every job that you could get with Amazon. Currently, prospective employees can browse through 34 job categories, with thousands of jobs available in each one. Jobs range from minimum wage shift work to three-figure salaries. Additionally, many jobs are offered as remote positions, and the educational requirements for each one can vary from a high-school diploma to a master’s degree.

Sample of Current Amazon Jobs Open

Administrative Support – 732 open jobs
Amazon Design – 1316 open jobs
Audio/ Video/ Photography Production – 218 open jobs
Business and Merchant Development – 2309 open jobs
Business Intelligence – 2652 open jobs
Buying, Planning & Instock Management – 1151 open jobs
Customer Service – 947 open jobs
Data Science – 848 open jobs
Database Administration – 146 open jobs
Economics – 169 open jobs
Editorial, Writing & Content Management – 1133 open jobs
Facilities, Maintenance, & Real Estate – 1207 open jobs
Finance and Global Business Services – 3131 open jobs
Fulfillment & Operations Management – 2136 open jobs
Fulfillment Associate – 42 open jobs
Hardware Development – 941 open jobs
Human Resources – 4713 open jobs
Investigative & Loss Prevention – 536 open jobs
Leadership Development & Training – 450 open jobs
Legal – 462 open jobs
Machine Learning Science – 1660 open jobs
Marketing – 2186 open jobs
Medical, Health, & Safety – 997 open jobs
Operations, IT, & Support Engineering – 5727 open jobs
Project/Program/Product Management (Non-Tech) – 6152 open jobs
Project/Program/Product Management (Tech) – 5513 open jobs
Public Policy – 144 open jobs
Public Relations & Communications – 310 open jobs
Research Science – 595 open jobs
Sales, Advertising, & Account Management – 4900 open jobs
Software Development – 31352 open jobs
Solutions Architect – 6924 open jobs
Supply Chain/Transportation Management – 1071 open jobs
Systems, Quality, & Security Engineering – 3082 open jobs

How To Get a Job with Amazon?

There are a few ways that you can land a job with Amazon, and each position comes with its own set of requirements. However, the general process is outlined below.

1. Browse Open Jobs

Before applying for a job, you will want to get a feel for what is out there. Even if you already have a job in mind, browsing through the open jobs could lead you to a better position.

Visit www.amazon.jobs
If you have a specific job in mind, you can search for it in the “Find Jobs” bar found at the top of the page
If you are not sure what you would like to do, you can view all open jobs by clicking on the “View open jobs” tab found below the search bar
The filters allow you to view jobs in certain regions and categories and can be helpful when navigating thousands of opportunities
You can further narrow your search by educational requirements to see only the jobs you have the background to apply for
Amazon hosts several job events in different areas of the world and attending these can be an effective way to build a network and explore opportunities within the company
If you know someone who already works with Amazon, you may be able to find job opportunities through them and their existing network

2. Apply for a Job

There may be different hiring processes for different jobs. For example, getting a job at a local warehouse may be as easy as walking in and requesting an interview, while trying to secure a more coveted job may take some standing out.

If you are applying online, you will need to create a profile
Fill out the application for the job that you are interested in
Read the job description carefully. Highlight any skills or qualifications that you have that match the job description.
Apply to attend a hiring fair
Create a strong resume that is tailored to that specific job position. Amazon will not accept cover letters, so your resume will have to speak for itself.
Include any work samples or links that you are asked for
Find a way to stand out among the other candidates without looking overly desperate
Follow up on your application whenever possible to inquire about its status
Be sure to include all relevant work history and skills, including volunteer work, training, education, and internships

3. Interview for the Position

Hopefully, your application will lead to an interview, and this is when you really want to set yourself apart from your competition.

Appearance matters and you want to present yourself as organized and professional
Research the company and become familiar with its mission statement, values, and the job description for the position you applied for
You should also become familiar with Amazons Leadership Principles and find ways to highlight how you meet those qualifications
Do not be afraid to be yourself. Employees want to know who they might be potentially hiring
Brainstorm some of the questions that you might be asked and practice answering these questions. However, try to avoid sounding too rehearsed
Familiarize yourself with the STAR interviewing method
Be ready to highlight your skills if you are applying for a tech or creative role
Ask them questions as well. Employers like to see curiosity and it shows that you care enough about the job to ask questions
If you are interviewing online, make sure you are in a quiet spot that is free from distractions. Additionally, make sure the area looks organized and clean
Do not be late for the interview. Showing up 5 to 10 minutes early is the best way to make a good impression
Stay engaged during the interview, and if you are a shy person, try to work on confidence before you go. Roleplaying can be a good way to build confidence before an interview
Do not tell them your entire life story, but be sure to highlight all your accomplishments and achievements
Find a way to build rapport with the interviewer and connect on a personal level, this can help them remember you among other candidates. Something as simple as liking the same sports team can make all the difference
Follow up. This cannot be stressed enough. Employers like to see a candidate who takes the initiative and calls back about the job.