Amazon Work Style Assessment: Personality 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the Amazon Work Style Assessment, you are shown two statements and asked to pick the one most like you. Which response best reflects the 'Customer Obsession' Leadership Principle?
- I prioritize what earns and keeps customer trust above all else (Correct answer)
- I focus mainly on outperforming competitors
- I complete tasks exactly as assigned and nothing more
- I avoid changes that might inconvenience my team
Correct answer: I prioritize what earns and keeps customer trust above all else
Customer Obsession means leaders start with the customer and work backwards, earning and keeping their trust.
Question 2: When the assessment asks how you respond to a task with unclear instructions, the answer most aligned with Amazon's expectations is to:
- Wait until a manager fully explains every detail
- Take ownership, ask clarifying questions, and move forward (Correct answer)
- Skip the task until it becomes urgent
- Hand it off to a more senior colleague
Correct answer: Take ownership, ask clarifying questions, and move forward
'Ownership' and 'Bias for Action' favor proactively clarifying and acting rather than waiting.
Question 3: The Work Style Assessment measures your preference for working pace. Which statement best fits Amazon's 'Bias for Action' principle?
- Many decisions are reversible and don't need extensive study (Correct answer)
- Every decision requires full consensus first
- Speed should always be sacrificed for certainty
- Delaying decisions reduces all risk
Correct answer: Many decisions are reversible and don't need extensive study
Bias for Action notes that many decisions are reversible (two-way doors) and value speed.
Question 4: If asked whether you prefer detailed routine work or constantly changing priorities, the most Amazon-aligned response leans toward:
- Strongly preferring fixed, unchanging routines
- Being comfortable adapting to shifting priorities (Correct answer)
- Refusing tasks outside your job description
- Avoiding any work without a fixed schedule
Correct answer: Being comfortable adapting to shifting priorities
Amazon's fast-paced environment rewards adaptability and comfort with change.
Question 5: The assessment presents a scenario where you spot a problem outside your direct responsibility. The best response is to:
- Ignore it since it isn't your job
- Note it but take no action
- Speak up and help resolve it because leaders own outcomes (Correct answer)
- Report it only if directly asked
Correct answer: Speak up and help resolve it because leaders own outcomes
Ownership means leaders act on behalf of the entire company, never saying 'that's not my job.'
Question 6: When the test asks about handling feedback or criticism, the response most consistent with Amazon's culture is:
- I become defensive when challenged
- I welcome being challenged and view criticism as a chance to improve (Correct answer)
- I ignore feedback that disagrees with me
- I only accept feedback from senior leaders
Correct answer: I welcome being challenged and view criticism as a chance to improve
'Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit' and 'Earn Trust' value being self-critical and open to feedback.
Question 7: On a personality item about goals, which answer best reflects Amazon's 'Insist on the Highest Standards' principle?
- Good enough is usually acceptable
- I set and continually raise high standards even when others think they're too high (Correct answer)
- I lower standards to meet deadlines
- I match whatever standard my peers set
Correct answer: I set and continually raise high standards even when others think they're too high
This principle says leaders have relentlessly high standards that many may think are unreasonably high.
Amazon Work Style Assessment: Personality 2
On the Amazon Work Style Assessment, you are shown two statements and asked to pick the one most like you.
Which response best reflects the 'Customer Obsession' Leadership Principle?