What 1,250 Amazon Interviews Taught Me About Great Managers

A polished interview story only tells you so much. Follow-up questions reveal whether a candidate understands the choices they made, the results, and what they would change.

I served as an Amazon Bar Raiser and took part in more than 1,250 interviews. One question I often asked manager candidates was, "Tell me about a significant decision you made with incomplete information." The useful part came next: what did they know, what did they still need to learn, and how did they reduce uncertainty?

Listen for ownership of outcomes

Strong candidates could explain their role in a result, including when things went badly. They did not claim every success as their own. They described what they decided, delegated, and did when the plan failed.

When a candidate says "my team did this," ask what they personally contributed. Setting direction, resolving tradeoffs, and coaching people can all matter. The candidate should be able to describe the work, not only name their title.

Ask follow-ups that test the story

A prepared example is fine. The candidate still needs to explain it when you move beyond the summary. Ask what information they had, what they wished they knew, which part of the outcome they owned, and what they would do differently now.

Listen for specifics and consistency. Forgetting a detail does not settle the question. Focus on whether they can explain their reasoning and acknowledge what they do not know.

Look past the slogans

Candidates may prepare examples around a company's leadership principles or competencies. Ask how a principle affected an actual decision. If they say they investigated a problem deeply, ask what they checked, what evidence changed their view, and what they did next.

The point is not to catch someone using the right phrase. It is to understand how they think when the answer is not obvious.

Use the same lens on yourself

Think about an initiative you led. Can you name the outcome, your decision, the evidence you used, and what you got wrong? If your answers are general, choose one area to examine more closely.

Interviews do not reveal everything about a manager. They can show how someone reasons about their work. Ask questions beyond the polished summary, and look for a candidate who can explain both the outcome and their part in it.