Interview Experience – Amazon | SDE Intern

College: Pune Institute of Computer Technology
Batch: 2027 | Branch: CE | Total Rounds: 3

Process Snapshot 📋

• Eligibility & Shortlisting:

  • CGPA Cutoff: 6.5 CGPA

  • Backlogs: No Active Backlogs

  • 10th & 12th Cutoff: 60%

  • Allowed Branches: CE, E&TC, IT, AIDS, ECE

  • Shortlisted for OA: Approximately 500 Students

• Application Route & Timeline:

  • Route: On-Campus process

  • Start: August 2026

  • Application Window: 6th August to 8th August 2026

Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: Online Assessment (OA) 💻

This round assessed various skills through different sections:

• Coding Question: A medium to hard LeetCode problem testing problem-solving and implementation.

• AI Assisted Debugging: Choose one option (Node.js, Django, SpringBoot, C++, etc.) and resolve problems in a workspace with the help of an AI assistant.

• Work Simulation: Scenario-based questions focused on software development decisions and typical SDEs at Amazon.

• Work Style Survey: Questions to understand your general working approach.

Round 2: Technical Interview 🎯

Out of 500 OA participants, 63 students were shortlisted for this elimination round.

• Focus: Primarily Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) and Problem Solving.

• DSA Problems: Two medium-level DSA problems were asked.

  • Approach: Explain multiple solutions, analyze their complexities, and then write the most efficient code on paper.

  • Flexibility: Be ready to modify your code based on the interviewer's suggestions.

• Behavioral Question: One behavioral question was asked after the DSA problems.

Round 3: Technical Interview 🗣️

This round was similar to Round 2.

• Initial Discussion: Started with questions about previous internship experience and contributions.

• DSA Problems: Another set of medium-level DSA problems.

  • Approach: Communicate brute force, then better, and finally the optimal solution. Analyze complexities before writing the code on paper. The approach was consistent with Round 2.

Difficulty, Topics, and Interview Focus

• Difficulty Across Rounds: OA was Difficult, Interviews were Medium.

• Most Asked Topics: DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms)

• What Interviewers Focused On: Problem-Solving was the Major Focus.

Final Outcome ✅

• Verdict: Selected

Mistakes to Avoid ❌

• Don't hesitate to ask questions: Many candidates avoid asking questions when they don't understand a problem.

• Communicate clearly: If you're stuck or don't understand, politely ask the interviewer for clarification. They are usually willing to explain it simply.

• Clarify doubts: It's always better to ask questions and get your doubts cleared than to proceed incorrectly.

Preparation Strategy 🚀

• What Helped Most (resources/plan):

  • Solved Striver's SDE Sheet.

  • Consistently practiced problem-solving on LeetCode.

  • Focused on consistency and developing logic-building skills, rather than participating in many contests.

• 7-Day Priority Plan for Juniors 🗓️:

  • Brush up on all known DSA concepts.

  • Revise all project concepts.

  • Revise System Design concepts.

Offer Details

• Role: SDE Intern

Quick Checklist for Students

• ✅ Maintain a CGPA of 6.5+ and no active backlogs.

• ✅ Ensure 10th & 12th scores are 60%+.

• ✅ Practice DSA thoroughly (medium-hard LeetCode level).

• ✅ Prepare for AI-assisted debugging and work simulation scenarios.

• ✅ Develop a structured approach for problem-solving in interviews (multiple solutions, complexity analysis, efficient code).

• ✅ Be ready to discuss previous internship experiences.

• ✅ Prepare for common behavioral questions (e.g., handling failure).

• ✅ Don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions during interviews.