Amazon “Think Big” Interview Prep
“Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.”
What Amazon Interviewers Look For
Stories where you proposed an ambitious vision or strategy that went beyond incremental improvement. Evidence that you think at the right altitude for your level and inspire others to think bigger.
Signal Areas Assessed
Example Interview Question Themes
Amazon interviewers will typically use variations of these question themes to assess Think Big. Prepare specific stories for each one.
Tell me about a time you proposed an ambitious new direction for your team or project
Describe a situation where you challenged your team to think bigger
Tell me about a time you identified a strategic opportunity others had missed
Tips for Answering Think Big Questions
Match the scope of your story to the level you are interviewing for
Show how you communicated your vision and got buy-in from others
Include the tangible outcomes of your ambitious thinking
Demonstrate you can balance big thinking with practical execution
General Amazon Interview Tips
Prepare at least one story per Leadership Principle - Amazon interviewers will ask about specific LPs
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) - Amazon interviewers are trained to look for clear structure
Quantify everything - Amazon is extremely data-driven and expects specific metrics in your answers
Research which LPs your target team values most and prepare stronger stories for those
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using 'we' throughout without clarifying your specific contribution
Stories that lack quantified results - Amazon expects numbers
Not connecting your actions to customer impact
Choosing stories that are too small in scope for your target level
All Amazon Leadership Principles
Not interviewing at Amazon? Check out our company-specific prep guides for Meta, Google, Apple, Anthropic, and OpenAI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazon's "Think Big" Leadership Principle?
Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.
What questions do Amazon interviewers ask about Think Big?
Amazon interviewers assess Think Big through targeted behavioral questions. Common themes include: Tell me about a time you proposed an ambitious new direction for your team or project; Describe a situation where you challenged your team to think bigger; Tell me about a time you identified a strategic opportunity others had missed. Expect deep follow-up questions that probe into the specifics of your story.
How do I prepare a STAR answer for Think Big?
Structure your answer using STAR: Situation (set the context), Task (your specific responsibility), Action (what you did and why), Result (quantified outcomes). For Think Big, focus on: Match the scope of your story to the level you are interviewing for. Show how you communicated your vision and got buy-in from others. Have 2-3 stories ready for this principle.
How important is Think Big in Amazon interviews?
Every Amazon Leadership Principle is assessed in the interview loop. Each interviewer is assigned specific LPs to evaluate, and a Bar Raiser with veto power ensures hiring quality. Think Big is one of 16 principles that Amazon considers essential for every candidate.
