An Amazon recruiter has shared insights on why employing the STAR method is crucial during interviews.
Interviews can be daunting, and certain companies are notorious for having more challenging and thorough interview procedures than others.
Amazon is one such company with a specific hiring process. Recruiters at Amazon have detailed that they utilize the STAR method while interviewing candidates.
Essentially, the STAR method involves discussing the situation, task, action, and result, helping candidates articulate their experiences and demonstrate why they are apt for the job.
But what makes this method stand out? And how does it function in an interview context?
Cody Nelson, a senior manager of Talent Acquisition at Amazon, elaborated on its importance on the About Amazon website. Cody highlighted why the STAR method is particularly beneficial, especially when interviewing at Amazon.
“The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question,” Cody explained.
He further explained that in Amazon-specific interviews, they encourage candidates to answer using this format, all the while reflecting on the company’s leadership principles.
“Your examples should showcase your expertise and how you’ve taken risks, succeeded, failed, and grown,” he added.
“We value straightforward and clear communication. We use the STAR method as a framework for clear answers. It’s not something to memorize but rather a tool to communicate your strengths and experiences.”
Companies and hiring managers employ various strategies when conducting interviews.
Recently, we discussed how one employer uses a stringent ‘salt and pepper’ test in every interview and rejects candidates who fail it.
According to a Reddit post, one user mentioned that this employer believed the test provided insight into a person’s character.
On the social media platform, the user wrote: “A company I used to work for does all-day interviews with multiple people, and one of them is always a lunch interview.
“I heard about a guy who would base his entire decision on one thing – whether or not the person he was interviewing tried their food before reaching for salt, pepper, hot sauce, etc.
“If you didn’t try your food first, you didn’t get a pass from him.”
The Reddit user concluded by expressing relief that they never had to undergo such an interview, as they would likely fail due to their heavy use of pepper.