After registering for the Hack on Amazon Hackathon, my team successfully cleared two rounds. Unfortunately, we were eliminated after that. A few days later, I received an email from Amazon inviting me to apply for a six-month internship.
Aptitude Test
On August 21st, I received the OA (Online Assessment) link, which consisted of two coding questions. Each question had 15 test cases, and I managed to solve about 19-20 test cases in total. While the problems were of medium-hard difficulty, I encountered TLE (Time Limit Exceeded) for 2-3 test cases
The OA also included around 60-70 questions based on Amazon's leadership principles. This part is crucial for shortlisting, so it's important to stay calm, answer carefully, and avoid skipping any questions.
A few days later on 24 August I received a mail from Amazon that I was shortlisted for an interview scheduled for September 2nd. I had read that there would only be one interview, lasting an hour, so I prepared thoroughly.
Interview Process
I started the interview with a well-prepared introduction, which made a strong impression on the interviewer. The interview consisted of two DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms) questions:
- A modified version of the Koko Eating Bananas problem.
- Finding the missing number in an array.
For the first problem, I initially started with a brute force approach(Linear Search) before moving to an optimal solution. Since I was solving this problem for the first time, I initially wrote a brute force version of the is Possible function for the binary search, which I later realized and corrected with the optimal approach. I spent around 40-45 minutes on this question. Interviewer seemed satisfied after this and told me to proceed to next question.
The second question, finding the missing number, was fully solved. I explained five different approaches to solving this problem, carefully considering the flaws in each method and improving the algorithm each time. This demonstrated my ability to think through all possible cases, and the interviewer seemed satisfied with both solutions.
Afterward, I asked some questions about Amazon and the interviewed extended for 5 more minutes around 1 hr 5 minutes.
From my experience, I realized that solving the problem perfectly isn't the most important factor for Amazon. What truly matters is your thought process, how you approach the problem, and how well you write and explain your code. Even if you don’t completely solve a problem, it’s essential to demonstrate solid reasoning and consider edge cases.
As Amazon promised to roll out results in 5 business days, Finally on 5th business day after interview, on September 9th, I received the exciting news that I was selected for the six-month internship at Amazon!
Takeaways
- Focus on clean, understandable, and modular code: Writing code that is easy to follow and modular is crucial, as it reflects your ability to organize and structure your thoughts effectively.
- Solving 100% of the problem isn’t everything: It’s okay if you don’t fully solve the problem, but make sure to clearly convey your thought process and approach.
- Think through every edge case: Demonstrating that you’ve considered all possible scenarios, including edge cases, is key to impressing the interviewer.
- Patience is necessary: I was told I’d receive the interview link by August 30th, but didn’t get it until September 1st. I had almost lost hope, but suddenly, I was notified on September 1st that my interview was scheduled for September 2nd.
- Keep practicing DSA: For MAANG companies, DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms) remains a critical component, so consistent practice is essential.
- Always believe you are the best. Be confident and never doubt yourself. Don’t think that MAANG companies are only for extraordinary people. Even those working there once had the same doubts. Believe in your potential and go for it!