Have you ever gone through an interview and wished you had the opportunity to speak to someone to get their firsthand experience of working at the company? Someone who wasn’t involved in the hiring or interview process? Well, you are in luck. That’s where Candid Chats comes in, Amazon’s candidate enablement program designed exclusively to provide you with an opportunity to meet one of our affinity group allies or members as part of your final interview stage. With this program, we aim to create a safe space for a candidate to envision themselves at Amazon, ask questions relating to personal needs, and to feel free of judgment.
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Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect during your Candid Chat:

Page overview

An informal conversation

1
An informal conversation
2
It’s completely optional
3
You get to learn more
4
The Amazon employee you’re speaking with 
1.
An informal conversation

This is not another interview to prepare for and given that the format is different and more relaxed. You can expect a 30-minute conversation that takes place virtually during your final interview stage. This is your designated time to ask questions about the company, and the call can be taken as a phone call or a Chime video call.

An image of a woman wearing a yellow shirt seated in front of a laptop in an office setting.
2.
It’s completely optional

We know interviewing can be time-consuming and it can be tempting to pass on an optional conversation that has no bearings on the final hiring decision. However, when we are reviewing past anecdotal feedback, Candid Chats have helped people make the decision to join Amazon easier. “The best part of my interview process was getting a window of time for a Candid Chat. The Amazon employee really added something unique to the interview. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about what a career with Amazon could look like, and it really convinced me that if I were offered the role, I would accept,” was one piece of anecdotal feedback we received recently.

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3.
You get to learn more

A Candid Chat is a great opportunity for you to learn more about Amazon, get a firsthand account of the employee experience and find out if this is a good match for you and your career aspirations. During the conversation, you may ask questions about Amazon culture, career growth, or work-life balance and your chatter will answer from their experience. Any questions specific to compensation, locations, or human resources related questions should be asked to your recruiter.

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4.
The Amazon employee you’re speaking with 

This Amazon employee you’re speaking with has no affiliation with the hiring team or recruiting process. Typically, you are matched with someone based on your interest selections. If you request a specific affinity group, our recruiting team will find a program participant (either a member or ally) from that group to speak with you. Our members come from various backgrounds and experiences, so you may find yourself chatting with someone from a different career path. If you don’t identify with any specific group, we provide you the option to meet with someone from one of our 13 affinity groups. Note, the conversation is not limited to their specific group but can be about anything in relation to culture and personal work experience.

We believe in setting you up for success and hope this helps as you prepare for your upcoming Candid Chat. For more information, visit our Candidate Prep Guide for additional interviewing tips and check out the FAQs on Amazon.jobs.