Amazon SDE 2 Interview Experience 2025: Preparation, Rounds, and Tips

Have you ever received a rejection email after pouring your heart into job applications? It’s a common experience, and yet, each rejection might just be a stepping stone towards your dream opportunity.

The Heartbreak of Rejections

Every software engineer experiences the sting of rejection. I opened my mailbox countless times, only to be greeted by familiar words: “We regret to inform you…” Each email felt like a pinprick, reminding me of all the hard work that seemed to go unnoticed. I spent countless nights grinding through problems on LeetCode, diving deep into data structures and algorithms (DSA), and brushing up on system design. Yet, despite this effort, each application still slipped through my fingers like sand. Whenever my motivation waned, I asked myself: “Are you really ready for the interview?” If the answer was no — and it often was — I pushed myself to learn more concepts, solve more problems, and stay one step ahead.

How I Applied for Amazon

Before I finally received the much-anticipated call from Amazon, I had applied over seven times and faced rejection each time, often without even landing an interview. I had no internal connections and no referrals — it was just me and my persistence. I applied to jobs daily, keeping a keen eye on LinkedIn for fresh openings. My process was simple:

1. Check for newly posted roles in the last 24 hours.
2. Read the job descriptions to see if my skills matched.
3. Apply directly on the Amazon career page.
   Once I hit “submit,” I rarely checked the application status. The focus was on applying as much as possible, not on dwelling in disappointment. Then one day, an Amazon recruiter reached out to let me know I would receive assessment links soon.

Interview Rounds: My Experience

Following the initial assessment, I advanced to four interview rounds for the SDE 2 role. Each round focused on a different core skill: coding, system design, and leadership principles. Spending time to understand the scope, format, and expectations of each session made a significant difference in my level of preparedness. Below, I break down what to expect in each stage and how I approached the challenges.

Round One: DSA Coding

This round lasted 45 minutes, with 30 minutes allotted to solve a tree-based problem similar to serialization and deserialization. After introductions, I asked clarifying questions and sketched a brute-force solution before optimizing. Although I got stuck twice and requested hints, I ultimately delivered a working approach. We wrapped up by discussing time and space complexities and answered a couple of behavioral questions.

Key Takeaway: Take your time understanding the problem, communicate your thought process clearly, and don’t be afraid to ask for hints when genuinely stuck.

Round Two: Advanced DSA

In the second 45-minute session, I tackled a graph problem reminiscent of the “rotten oranges” scenario. Confident from my LeetCode practice, I quickly identified the BFS pattern and delivered a complete solution in about 35 minutes. We then reviewed complexities and switched to questions about my work experience.

Round Three: System Design

This 60-minute round required designing a scalable Uber-like service. With limited system design preparation, I managed to outline roughly 40% of the solution, covering basic service components but struggling with caching strategies and horizontal scaling. Although my performance here wasn’t as strong, the feedback helped me map a clear path for improving my system design skills.

Round Four: Bar Raiser (Behavioral)

Amazon’s Bar Raiser round focused on leadership principles. In 30 minutes, the interviewer asked STAR-format questions such as “Tell me about a time when you delivered a simple solution to a complex problem.” I prepared by drafting examples from my experience, ensuring each answer demonstrated clear Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Result and Reflection

After a week of waiting, I contacted the recruiter and learned that my system design round didn’t meet the bar, resulting in a rejection. While disappointing, this experience gave me invaluable insights into Amazon’s interview process and highlighted areas for growth. I now feel more equipped to approach future interviews at top tech firms.

Final Tips for Your Interview Preparation

1. Master the basics of DSA and practice explaining your solutions clearly.
2. Ask clarifying questions — it shows engagement and critical thinking.
3. Invest dedicated time in mastering system design by building real-world scalable systems.

Are you ready to tackle your own Amazon SDE 2 interview? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below — let’s learn from each other!