Did I tell you about my summer romance with Jeff Bezos?
I could hardly believe it when his people contacted my people to attend an event….
19 June 2020
Hi Michelle,
I hope you’re well.
I am reaching out on behalf of Amazon’s Finance Operations team to personally invite you to our Virtual Finance Networking Event via Amazon Chime our internal conference software. This will be an exclusive opportunity for you to meet our team as well as our senior leaders to understand more about what we do and the career opportunities available.
The event will include talks on interesting topics with leaders of our Finance and Operations team. There will also be the opportunity for you to take part in a Q&A session where you can find out more information about the roles we have available at Amazon Operations.
If you would like to join us and find out more information please secure your place at our event on Monday 29th June from 5:30pm by registering your attendance here:
We hope this is of interest and look forward to virtually meeting you!
Recruiter at Amazon
You’ve let Recruiter at Amazon know you’d like to learn more about this opportunity.
Hi Amazon Recruiter.
This looks very interesting. Thank you for the invitation.
I am keen to understand how attendees have been selected to attend this event?
Looking forward to engaging further.
Kind regards, Michelle
22 June 2020
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your message.
We have selected attendees based on their experience and fit for the role, our Finance team has specifically found that your profile aligns with what we would look for here at Amazon, and thought it would be great to invite you.Any further questions please let me know, I hope to virtually see you there!
Kind regards,
Recruitment
Perfect!
All registered.
Looking forward to seeing you as well.
29 June 2020
Agenda
5:30pm to 5:35pm
Welcome & Introduction
We look forward to welcoming you to our Finance Networking Event to virtually meet with Finance professionals from across Amazon’s team.
Introduction to Amazon and Customer Fulfillment
A site Leader will be presenting an overview of Amazon Operations and our Customer Fulfillment Network in the UK.
5:55pm to 6:10pm
An overview of Finance and our Vacancies
Finance Director will be providing an overview of Finance, and our vacancies.
6:10pm to 6:25pm
A Day in the Life of a Senior Finance Analyst
We will be hearing from Lyn, about her time at Amazon so far, and what a day in her life at Amazon is like.
6:25pm to 6:30pm
Women in Finance
HR will be giving us an insight into the world of Women in Finance at Amazon
6:30pm to 7:00pm
5:35pm to 5:55pm
How to Apply & Q&A
Q&A Session with Presenters
There were approximately 50 attendees at the virtual event. Amazon does not use recruiters. These events are the best way to engage with HR and hiring managers. The events are location specific so follow local Amazon employees and pages.
Chime is a good platform. There was a quiz for entertainment. I would be keen to see what a face-face Amazon recruitment event would be.
30 June 2020
Hi Recruiter!
Thank you for a brilliant session, yesterday. It was an absolute privilege to hear from passionate leaders at Amazon.
I would like to be put in touch with the Financial Manager to have a chat as he offered.
Further, I have applied online but keen to share my CV directly and move forward.
Michelle
“Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your message, great to hear you enjoyed the session I can definitely arrange a call between yourself and the FM, please send across a copy of your CV and times you’d be available to me and I can get this set up.
Kind regards,
Recruitment
Hi Recruitment.
Thank you again for a fantastic session.
Please see my CV and a little video about me attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGJ2VWcILxU
Looking forward to our next chat.
Kind regards,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your email
The hiring manager will call you tomorrow at 2 pm for an informal call.
Thanks,
Recruitment
Thank you.
Hiring manager, I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Michelle
The call with the hiring manager went something like this…
- A run-through of my CV. Basically, my pitch!
- He asked the following scenario based questions:
- What was the most INNOVATIVE thing, I had ever done?
- Tell me about a time when you went DEEP?
- He created space for me to ask questions.
- He inquired about my technical skills, regarding SQL.
- He then explained the process going forward:
- A numeracy test
- A written essay
- 5 interviews
- He advised that the Amazon Leadership principles form the basis when assessing candidates
20 July 2020
| Hi Michelle, We’re pleased to confirm that you have been successful in reaching the final stage in the recruitment process for the role of Senior Finance Business Partner – congratulations. The final stage will involve 5 x 45 min interviews with a number of our business leaders. Interviews will be held via video conference using Amazon Chime. Please find a guide attached. Did you know Amazon now has a dedicated team of Candidate Support Advisors! Should you have any questions or queries relating to your interview process outside of interview scheduling please contact the Amazon Candidate Support team who are on standby to help. The team can be reached via the following email address – candidatesupport@amazon.com. Just click on the link to open up a direct email and template to the team. Please find attached a written exercise document. Written and verbal communication skills are critical for success at Amazon – some people communicate better in writing, while others verbally, and we’d like to give you the opportunity to do both. Please return this before your interview date, do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. As part of the process, we also require you to complete a numerical assessment (SHL). Please read through the attached instructions and complete the test before your interview. If you have done this test already for a previous application, there is no need to repeat it. If you would like to try the test again, you are welcome to do so provided 6 months have passed since your previous result. Please follow this link to learn more about preparing for your interview day: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/landing_pages/virtual-interview-prep We look forward to meeting with you soon! Kind Regards, Recruitment Coordinator |
Numeracy assessment
Test Details:
- This test is designed to evaluate numerical reasoning skills.
- The test has 18 multiple choice questions, to be completed in 25 minutes.
- The test has to be completed within a single login session.
- If you have applied for several roles, you may receive this email more than once –
however, you will need to take this test only once.
How to take the test:
1.Please make sure that you are in an uninterrupted environment when taking the test
and also have pen, paper and calculator at hand.
- To take the actual test please sign up here with the email address used for this
message.
- You also have the opportunity to do a practice test in order to prepare for the real
numerical assessment test. If you would like to take a practice test please go to
SHL’sPractice Website and select ?Numerical Reasoning Test?. - Please note that the practice test will not count towards the assessment.
I was very nervous about the numeracy test. It caused, lying on the grass in my garden, type anxiety. To prepare I reviewed all the practice tests on the SHL website. https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests.
The questions themselves are not complex. The questions are tricky and requires some arithmetic gymnastics, however, they are not complex. The issue is the intense time pressure. After a week of procrastination, I bit the bullet and took the test, armed with my newly purchased financial calculator.
I BOMBED!
27 July 2020
Hi Michelle,
Hope you’re well!
I am now pleased to share with you your interview day agenda for 29th July to be conducted via Amazon’s Chime video conference.
Your interview day will consist of 5 x 45 minute interviews with interviewers from different business areas. Please see below your interview day agenda.
Please note your Chime ID for all the interviews: 1123456
Interview schedule for Wednesday, July 29, 2020
9:00am – 9:45am (BST) | Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Senior Financial Analyst
10:15am – 11:00am (BST) | Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Senior Ops Manager
11:15am – 12:00pm (BST) | Wednesday, July 29, 2020
HR Manager
1:00pm – 1:45pm (BST) | Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Regional Finance Manager
2:00pm – 2:45pm (BST) | Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Senior Operations Manager
Please also find attached to this email the following documents:
· About Amazon
· Interviewing Guidelines (please go to Interviewing at Amazon for more details)
· Competency Based Questions
· Chime User Guide (please let me know if you’d like to have a quick test call ahead of your interviews)
Dress Code:
At Amazon we do not have a formal dress code so please wear whatever you are the most comfortable in.
Should you require any assistance with your agenda please feel free to contact me.
Please Confirm Safe Receipt of this Email.
Kindest regards,
Recruitment
The day before, my interview the recruiter called to check-in. She confirmed the process, emphasized the leadership principles and answered any questions. It was a nice touch.
Interview preparation:
*I watched videos about the leadership principles.
*I prepared 2/3 case studies from my work history per principle.
*I planned my answers according to the STAR method.
*Researched each interviewer on my panel.
*I read white papers and articles on the specific aspect of the business
Useful resources:
Holly Lee-You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCShf_nITGYv875NmLrkmoKQ
29 July 2020-Interview day
Being “extra,” I dressed in Amazon colors, I had a chalk-board with the Amazon leadership principles behind me and my husband took the day off work to keep my toddler entertained.
- I was first interviewed by a fellow finance business who tested the following principles:
- Go Deep
- Innovation
- Human Resources
- Ownership
- Earn trust
- Operations
- Bias to action
- Customer obsession
- Hiring Manager
- Reviewed my written submission. He probed into the detail.
- An independent person
- The project I am most proud of
Interviewer five was the “BAR RAISER.” Let me explain.
What is a Bar Raiser? A Bar Raiser is an interviewer at Amazon who is brought into hiring loops to be an objective third party. By bringing in somebody who’s not associated with the team, the best long-term hiring decisions are made to ensure the company is always serving, surprising, and innovating for customers.
Bar raisers can VETO a candidate
They are talented interviewers who have conducted numerous interviews across the group
As the title suggest they aim to ensure, new hires are 50% more skilled than individuals in a similar role.
What is a ‘Bar Raiser’ at Amazon? – Day One Blog – Amazon.eu
blog.aboutamazon.eu
5 hours of interviews was tiring and enjoyable. I had the opportunity to spend 5 hours with professionals working at the company that is creating the future. You can be assured that I made the most of it.
All interviewers were humble, considerate and compassionate.
At the end of the day, I was satisfied with my performance. I could not have prepared more and interviews don’t phase me in general.
03 August 2020-The feedback
There’s a theory that bad news is delivered on a Monday. This was indeed true in my case. I started losing hope when I had not heard back by 1pm. If it was good news, they would have told me in the morning.
I heard it in the recruiters voice immediately. She sounded as distraught as I felt.
“I’m sorry, its a no this time.”
I was disappointed. A little shocked. Angry. And exhausted.
The rejection was tough. It felt like I really messed up a good thing.
After working through the stages of grief, I realised, that there was no conspiracy. I just wasn’t what they were looking for, at this time.
Though our romance was short-lived, the experience shifted my perspective of the “possible.” Never had I thought that a guy like him, would be interested in a girl like me. Rubbing shoulders with his circle, made me realise, that they are all just people.
Did I fall in love?
Yes
Did I get hurt?
Yes
Was it meant to be?
NOT TODAY…
XXX
Going Brogues 
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