How to Get an Internship at Amazon

Who is This Guide For?

Hey, I'm Michael, one of the founders of Simplify – I got an offer from Amazon to be a Software Development Engineer in college. If you're a student interested in securing an internship at Amazon–whether you're eyeing a technical or non-technical role–this guide is for you.

If you're wanting to gain hands-on experience at a top company, Amazon may be a great fit. In this article, we'll walk through our tips for the application timeline, interview, and more to help you increase your odds of landing an internship offer!

Amazon's Mission, Values, and Culture

Amazon seeks to hire the best minds in technology to innovate and build on behalf of its customers—i.e., generate a big impact.

Interns are encouraged to take risks, think big, and challenge the status quo while working on real-world projects that impact millions of customers. Understanding these values and demonstrating how you embody them will give you a competitive edge throughout the hiring process.

Internship Program Overview

• Internship Length: 10-12 weeks
• Number of Interns: 10,000 (across all roles)
• Office Locations: Seattle (HQ), San Francisco Bay Area, NYC, Boston & more

Amazon prides itself on offering more than just hands-on experience. Interns enjoy a wide range of benefits and perks:

• Competitive Pay: Interns receive competitive salaries, often higher than others in the industry
• Housing Stipend: Interns who need to re-locate are often eligible for housing stipends or accommodations close to Amazon's offices
• Real-World Projects: Interns contribute to projects that have a direct effect and positive impact on Amazon's customers and services
• Mentorship and Network: Amazon fosters a supportive environment by pairing interns with mentors and offering networking events with employees and senior leaders
• Professional Development: Amazon offers workshops, tech talks, and other learning opportunities for interns to develop their skills
• Potential for Full-Time Offers: Depending on the role, successful interns often receive offers to return for full-time roles after graduation

Types of Internships at Amazon

Amazon offers a wide variety of positions for interns. Some of the most popular positions for internships include:

When Do Applications Open?

The Amazon application system is rolling, meaning that roles open and close throughout the year, and new roles are created regularly. Generally, the best time to apply is in the summer prior to your academic year, as this is when the majority of roles become available. That said, Amazon is constantly creating new roles, so it's worth checking the website periodically to ensure you don't miss out on any opportunities.

General Application Tips

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight any relevant experiences and skills that align with the internship role. Make sure your resume is readable, and no longer than one page–the general guideline is one page per 10 years of experience.
• Use Keywords: Amazon's applicant tracking system (ATS) looks for specific keywords in resumes. Look at the job description and include terms related to skills and experiences that match the role. For a technical internship, this could include programming languages, software, and certifications.
• Highlight Leadership and Ownership: Amazon values its leadership principles, so if you ever took ownership of a project or demonstrated exceptional leadership, share it!
• Get a Referral: A referral from a current employee can significantly boost your chances of getting an interview. Reach out to college alumni, employees on LinkedIn, or any personal connections you have to see if you can secure one.
• Use Tools Like Simplify: Simplify helps streamline the application process by autofilling your applications and tracking your application progress.

SDE (Software Development Engineer) Internship

• When to Apply: SDE internships are typically posted around August each year, but it's recommended to apply as early as possible (ideally by end of September). The entire process, application to offer, can take up to five months.
• Interview Process: There are two main components, including Online Assessments (OAs), and the Final Interview.
  • OA1: Usually involves debugging tasks
  • OA2: Typically includes coding problems
  • OA3: Often focuses on work style and behavioral aspects
  • Final Interview: Typically one 45-minute interview, split into technical and behavioral portions. Technical questions involve solving coding problems or implementing functions. The behavioral questions are based on Amazon's Leadership Principles (LPs).
• Salary: Up to $52.72 an hour, and $8,667 - $10,513 monthly
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar fields
  • Experience with at least one modern programming language such as Python, Java, or C++
  • Knowledge of object-oriented design
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Familiarity with data structures and algorithms

PM (Product Manager) Internship

• When to Apply: Applications typically open in the late summer or early fall (similar timeline to SDE internships). The entire process can take up to 4-6 weeks.
• Interview Process: Multiple stages, usually including online assessments and interviews over product sense, analytical skills, and behavioral questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles, especially the following:
  • Customer Obsession
  • Ownership
  • Invent and Simplify
  • Are Right, A Lot
  • Learn and Be Curious
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or similar fields
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and leadership abilities
  • Understanding of product development and market analysis

Product Design + UI/UX Internships

• When to Apply: Applications typically open in late summer/early fall, around August or September. It's recommended to apply by end of September, as the process is competitive.
• Interview Process: There are usually 4-5 steps in the interview process:
  • Initial application screening
  • Portfolio review: Make sure you have a strong design portfolio!
  • Phone or video interviews:
    • Usually 1-2 rounds
    • Focus on your design process, problem-solving skills, and past projects
  • Design challenge: You may be asked to complete a design task or present a case study
  • Final round interviews: These often include behavioral questions and discussions about your design philosophy
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or similar fields
  • Strong portfolio showcasing UI/UX projects
  • Experience with design and prototyping tools (Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies
  • Basic knowledge of front-end development (HTML, CSS) is a bonus
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams

Supply Chain Internship

• When to Apply: Late June/Early July is when applications tend to open, with August-September being the recommended period to apply.
• Interview Process: The exact process may vary, but these are typically included:
  • Online Assessments: Usually involves analytical and problem-solving tests related to supply chain concepts
  • Video Interview: 1-2 rounds focusing on supply chain knowledge, analytical skills, and Amazon's leadership principles
  • Final Interview: This may include a case study or presentation related to supply chain challenges.
• Salary: $27.79 to $51.01 an hour
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's degree program in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or similar fields
  • Knowledge of Excel (Pivot Tables, VLookUps) and SQL
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Experience in defining and implementing process improvement initiatives (preferred)
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including macros, VBA, data links, etc. (preferred)
  • Experience in analyzing data to drive decisions (preferred)

Business Analyst Internship

• When to Apply: Applications tend to open in August, and the internship start dates are flexible. The internship is designed to be a longer-term, usually 6-month commitment.
• Interview Process: The exact process varies year-to-year, but these are typically included:
  • Online Assessment
  • Virtual Interviews: 2 rounds on the same day, consisting of behavioral questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles and a case study.
• Salary: Up to $31.49 an hour and $5,458 monthly
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's degree program in Business, Economics, Engineering, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Statistics, or similar fields
  • Advanced knowledge and/or experience using SQL
  • Experience using databases with a large-scale data set
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to identify process improvements
  • Knowledge of business intelligence tools
  • Experience with cloud computing concepts

Other Internships

• When to Apply: Applications tend to open in late summer or early fall for the following year. Checking Amazon's career page regularly, here, is recommended to stay up-to-date!
• Interview Process: Specific processes vary by role, but Amazon internships generally involve:
  • Online Assessments
  • Virtual Interviews: 1-2 rounds (could be more), behavioral questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles, and potential case study
• Skills/Qualifications:
  • Enrollment in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program relevant to the internship: Business, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, are most common
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and teamwork abilities

How to Prepare for the Interview

Frequently Asked Questions

How Simplify Can Help

Amazon has a wonderful careers page that you can find here! Job postings are opening soon, so stay on top of them. Getting an internship is a great way to gaining real-world professional experience, cultivating leadership principles, and developing technical skills.

One drawback to the Amazon application is its length—like most internship applications, the Amazon application is long, and asks for information you've probably entered 100+ times while applying to different roles. Don't worry though, we've got your back – save some time with our free browser extension, which helps you autofill your applications (Amazon and 100,000+ other roles). Best of luck with the job search!