Amazon Discover Review

On the first day, there were lectures on software engineering practices like different types of testing (unit testing, integration testing, end to end testing) and clarifying requirements when solving problems. There were also interactive workshops in small groups where we went through programming fundamentals such as graph traversal algorithms like depth first search and breadth first search, as well as flood fill and hash maps. On the second day, we continued workshops with iterations called kata and ended the day with a series of panel talks on diversity and inclusion, as well as preparing for interviews and writing CVs.

I learned a breadth of new skills. In addition to the programming skills mentioned above, like depth first search, breadth first search, flood fill, hash maps, and solving algorithm and data structure problems, I also learned to communicate with group members and carry out the code review process, which serves an important role to ensure code quality and uniformity across an organisation. I honed my programming and object-oriented programming skills, as well as communication skills.

It was very interactive and engaging, as Amazon invited current employees about their career progression within the company. It really resonated with me that all of them said no two days are ever the same at Amazon, and that career opportunities and progression within the company go very quickly and really accelerates one's career trajectory. I also learned about the different teams at Amazon, such as Amazon Kindle, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music, and so on.

Amazon's company culture has been known for its intense and demanding work environment. The company emphasises a strong focus on customer obsession, innovation, and operational excellence. The atmosphere at Amazon is often fast-paced, goal-oriented, and driven by a sense of urgency. Amazon employees should have a hunger for improvement and a bias for action, which propels progress within the company and promotes employees to strive for excellence. Amazon is also a heavily data-driven company.

I enjoyed the insight a lot. It was very fulfilling to learn about a wide range of programming skills and topics, as well as software engineering industry practices such as testing and requirements when tackling big problems. I also gained insight into the job application process at Amazon, in addition to their leadership principles, which really boosted my confidence in applying for a job at Amazon and reassured me that Amazon will be a good fit for my career.

Yes

I would advise anybody who wants to or is looking to apply to Amazon to study up on leadership principles. This is because leadership principles genuinely drive the day-to-day operations at Amazon and there are interview stages dedicated to assessing candidates on how well their values and behavioural patterns align with the leadership principles at Amazon. Also, generally gain plenty of practice in Leetcode and get comfortable with a certain programming language. This will be helpful in online assessments and technical interviews.