This was, by far, the best interview I have ever had.
Stages (mainly just confirming what other reviews stated, this was your traditional interview process):
1. Online aptitude test: debugging questions & logical reasoning multiple choice. The former came very easy to me after years of programming. I'm quite sure I didn't do perfectly at the latter part which felt like IQ test questions and still got to the next stage.
2. Online coding test: 2 coding questions. The first one was basic data structure implementation, easy. The second one was challenging. As other reviews mentioned, properly studying from CTCI feels like it'd prepare you well. Again, I didn't perform perfectly here, in fact - I didn't finish the second problem! (I was very close, would've needed 5-10 more minutes, something in my calculations, a + should've been a -, something like that. I think I actually wrote in a comment something like "this is where the issue is").
3. In person interview (45mins). This consisted of 2 main parts:
a. whiteboard coding interview: this again, consisted of 3 parts:
- firstly, I spent about 10mins talking about myself and answering soft skills questions;
- next, there was the coding part. again, CTCI feels like would do just well here. particularly, the advice you find in the book is great: talk through your process, talk about any unclarities, just talk. this comes with practice. yes, I used to talk to myself while practicing from CTCI.
here, I feel it's very important to mention that, again!, I did not do perfectly. I came up with a working (well, whiteboard so no compiling to check) solution. There was a better way to do it, which I remembered 12 hours later. I mentioned that I didn't do perfectly at any stage to underline one important idea, also underlined in CTCI: how you think you performed doesn't mean much.
- finally, there were a few minutes left for asking questions about Amazon or the position. this offers you both the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity and show your interest. are you interested in how the team works? or maybe some technology they use? don't ask yes / no questions.
the interviewer was very friendly, casual, and understanding.
b. presentation of Amazon (20mins): we (3 applicants interviewed simultaneously in separate rooms) were gathered and presented and talked to about Amazon. we were given goody bags and an amazing view to look at while having the presentation. next, we were shown around the offices.