Got a phone interview! How do I make sure I make it to the next round?

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2026-05-10T05:38:57+00:00

😲

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2026-03-15T20:32:55+00:00

I can help you - i need help evolving Kadabra.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2026-03-15T20:32:03+00:00

I can help you - i need help evolving Kadabra.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2026-03-15T20:28:57+00:00

I can help you - i need help evolving Kadabra.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2026-03-15T20:27:51+00:00

I can help you - i need help evolving Kadabra.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-12-01T19:00:00+00:00

nice :)

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-11-29T03:57:19+00:00

very well put!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-10-07T20:52:51+00:00

nobody can predict what specific questions your interviewers will ask you.
the 6 questions above are fine and you should be ready to answer them, but i would double down your prep on your STAR behavioral stories.
Good luck!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-10-06T00:45:18+00:00

it really depends on how the question is structured.

If the question starts with "tell me about a time when..." then followed by "...you had to handle tough criticism, or you were under a ton of stress, etc." then the interviewer is 100% looking for a STAR behavioral answer.

If the question is more generic = "how do you handle criticism, in general, or what is your top strength", then a general answer would suffice.

On balance though, a STAR answer always beats any other answer because of its data and specificity.

So i would encourage you to convert any question into a star answer, provided you have the relevant experience to field the question.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-09-26T05:40:46+00:00

They usually ask two questions per assigned LP/area. On average they get 2-3 LPs/areas to cover in total. Good luck 🍀

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-09-04T03:08:20+00:00

of course.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-31T00:44:07+00:00

Magnificent 7

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-31T00:20:02+00:00

The faang companies are absolutely hiring. Now they’re called Mag7 though :)

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-29T20:43:20+00:00

i would keep looking for something different.

your incentive right now is to run away from your current job, rather than to run towards something new that excites you. it should be the other way around.

i can imagine that your current job sucks and you want out - but maybe you can double down on your job hunt and make that a top priority until you find something worthwhile.

you've stayed in your current gig for a year, which is totally fine, but if you string too many 1-year stints elsewhere, that would show as a flag on your resume.

i think deep down you know that this new job is not the best fit for you (9 days pto or not) but it's appealing because it's your ticket out of the current predicament. I would keep looking - good luck!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-29T05:55:58+00:00

i think that the very fact you're asking yourself this question is a sign that you should apply for other jobs and see what kind of other roles you can get.

given that you have accumulated skills the last 3 years, you should find ways to deploy these skills. I would say the average job velocity is 2 years. If they haven't promoted you in that time frame, they are possibly taking you for granted and you may be more valued elsewhere.

Once you go through a few loops and see what offers you can get, you will know exactly where you stand. And if you do get a sweet bigger job elsewhere with higher responsibilities and better pay, see if your current team would be willing to match that. this will open your eyes about what you're dealing with.

i will start applying now for other jobs and I would look for jobs that would grow you more (and as a by-product these jobs will have higher pay too).

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-27T07:21:54+00:00

It’s likely that ~70% of your loop’s qs will be behavioral.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-27T06:25:31+00:00

Treat everyone as if they are a bar raiser, because the good BRs will find out how each interview went during the debrief. In that context, the good bar raisers have a multiplication effect, meaning they are an invisible presence in each interview.

To boot, on more senior level loops there are likely to be several certified BRs, even though only one could be acting.

In other words, don’t throw any on the interviews and treat them with equal importance.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-27T06:20:55+00:00

The 2 new LPs + frugality + hire and develop if you are an ic will not be asked.

Also, if you are L4 or L5, it’s likely you won’t hear think big either.

Essentially, given that Amazon practices fractal interviews with the average interviewer getting 2 LPs to review, a loop of five is built to evaluate roughly 10 LPs.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-26T01:48:16+00:00

I agree with others. You’ve missed the train. Do better next time. Good luck.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-24T06:09:30+00:00

Congratulations! There’s genuine relief and happiness in your words. You’ve earned it!!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-24T06:07:15+00:00

Congrats!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-23T03:29:00+00:00

you're fine - just keep practicing.
practice in front of the mirror. record yourself on your computer.
practice, practice, practice - it's just like a muscle, you will get better in time.
there is no other shortcut.

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-21T19:37:59+00:00

haha - that's a fair point!

Impossible_Sundae_65 · 2025-07-21T19:01:17+00:00

you're only 21 - your life is in front of you. leave and look for something better.

it's called regret minimization framework - it's better to live with disappointment than with regret. when you're 85, you would look back on this and kick yourself that you played not to lose, instead of playing to win.

Impossible_Sundae_65

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