Code review and threat modelling. Interviewer asked questions about vulnerabilities in code, why they exist and how to fix them. Threat modelling was on a scenario of a hypothetical app.

"Flawed interview process shows favoritism, bias, and lack of respect for candidates’ time" As someone who has interviewed with Amazon multiple times, both for local and international roles, I’ve consistently encountered serious issues with their hiring process. There’s a noticeable pattern of favoritism, where decisions appear to be pre-determined, often based on internal referrals, personal connections, or even favoritism towards specific geographical backgrounds, rather than the skills and qualifications of candidates. In my experience, I’ve seen individuals with significantly less experience, no certifications, little to no public recognition for security work, and no bug bounty experience being selected over others who possess these qualifications. Despite my best efforts in the interviews—including providing detailed secure code reviews with precise mitigations and presenting a comprehensive threat model—I received a rejection the very next day, with no constructive feedback to explain the decision. This gave the impression that the outcome was already decided, making the interview process feel like a mere formality. Additionally, my interview was rescheduled four times, which demonstrated a lack of respect for candidates’ time and effort. Some interviewers I encountered were even rude, which left a negative impression of the professionalism Amazon claims to uphold. This experience reflects a process that is not only disorganized but also lacking respect for candidates who invest considerable time and effort in their applications. Another major concern is the lack of diversity and potential bias in hiring. I’ve observed that few candidates from certain Indian regions, especially those outside preferred geographical areas, seem to make it through the process. Panels predominantly include interviewers from specific regions, which doesn’t reflect the diversity Amazon claims to champion and raises questions about inherent biases within the hiring process. Overall, this experience has left me questioning the fairness, transparency, and professionalism of Amazon’s hiring practices. It’s frustrating to think that if a candidate is pre-selected through internal favoritism, others are still subjected to a pretentious interview process that wastes time and energy. I believe Amazon should reassess its interview practices to truly promote a fair, diverse, and respectful environment for all candidates.