🔗 What I learned from nearly 1,000 interviews at Amazon

I spent over a decade as an Amazon Bar Raiser, interviewing nearly 1,000 candidates across all levels. A surprising trend emerged: technical skills mattered less than how candidates presented themselves. Many who excelled technically still failed due to poor storytelling in behavioral interviews. While preparation for technical skills is concrete and quantifiable, non-technical preparation can be neglected entirely. I found that spending even a small portion of your prep time on crafting clear, concise personal stories can dramatically improve your interview performance. Ultimately, interviews should be viewed as auditions for teamwork rather than exams to be passed, emphasizing the importance of fit and personality in hiring decisions.