Amazon Discover: Spring Insight Participant Review

Amazon Discover: Spring Technology Insight consisted of a three-day, virtual insight experience and a mentoring program focused on software engineering and AWS. Our day-to-day activities involved attending technical coding workshops on the AWS Cloud9 platform in our language of preference, interview (both technical and behavioral) skills for success, and panel sessions by employees. We gained an insight into what Software Development Engineers do on a day-to-day-basis and learnt about careers available at Amazon, and joined virtual social events.

Developed skills relating to coding with python (although no specific programming language was a prerequisite for this insight week), familiarized with Amazon Web Services, its different components, and worked on environments on Cloud9, completed tasks involving APIs, learned about test-driven development through the means of a group project. Developed soft skills relating to interview techniques (STAR Method), group work, communication and organization. Learned more about Amazon's company culture and skills to succeed in this company.

The focus on potential opportunities was quite narrow - just extending to software development. Day-to-day activities, responsibilities and tasks of software developers were covered, as well as their career progression, which would be helpful to someone interested in this area. A larger overview of AWS' operations and projects was not provided - such as the role of data analytics, etc - which was where this insight week's scope was limited. Interacting and hearing from the experiences of the mentors (SDE's) was great though.

The foundation of the company culture is the 16 Leadership Principles, as well as their core values and missions. This leads to the working atmosphere being inclusive, as well as open to suggestions, a difference in opinion and encouraging of different approaches. The company culture is extremely attractive and encourages initiative from all participants and employees due to the culture of excellence, ownership and congeniality. Mentors seemed engaged, knowledgeable and taught/supported participants in the tasks.

I definitely feel more confident coding due to the tailored feedback offered by my mentor as part of the programme - this is what made the technical workshops and its different tasks clear and enjoyable. Working with other university students was nice as well. I gained an insight into the different workings and projects of Amazon/lots of information that I would not have had researching the company online. The Early careers team was engaging and supportive as well.

Yes

For the workstyles assessment, extensively study the 16 leadership principles and core values of amazon, clearly communicate your experience with coding on the online application, for the behavioural aspect of an interview for the internship, create a cheat sheet with the leadership principles and your examples from your work experiences and how they relate to them, use the STAR method as well, for the technical interview, make sure you clarify requirements and clearly explain why you have made different decisions while writing the code.