We spoke with Amazon employees and asked them to share their experience at the company, as well as tips for those who aim to build a career in a global business.
Alibek Kaliyev, 23, city — New York, Software Development Engineer, linkedin
About me and the company
I work at Amazon Web Services — the cloud division of Amazon. We provide companies and developers with scalable computing power, data storage, and machine learning tools. AWS is the global leader in cloud technologies. Our clients include Netflix, Airbnb, and NASA. My team is developing Amazon Q Business — an AI solution for working with enterprise data. It enables employees to get answers based on internal company information, respecting access levels.
I’m a software development engineer. My tasks include feature development, system architecture design, and collaboration with other AWS teams. I take part in Agile meetings, conduct code reviews, and discuss architectural decisions. I also work closely with security teams to ensure product reliability. An important part of the job is on-call duties: 24/7 monitoring and prompt incident response. Even at night, I need to be ready to fix issues quickly.
To succeed in software engineering in the U.S., you need both technical and soft skills. Strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures is crucial for interviews. Experience with cloud services, especially AWS, is highly valued. You need to know modern programming languages — for me, it’s Java, TypeScript, and Python. It’s also important to understand distributed systems, microservice architecture, and how to write clean, maintainable code.
Among soft skills, communication, critical thinking, and adaptability are key, along with the ability to work in international teams and understand cultural differences, as well as being proactive and independent.
I constantly work on my development and am also pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Texas to stay current with the latest in machine learning.
Career path
My journey to AWS started while studying at Lehigh University. Before my third year, I actively applied for internships and received an offer from Amazon. The process included an online assessment with two algorithmic tasks and a final 45-minute interview with two technical problems and behavioral questions.
In 2023, I completed a summer internship in New York, working on infrastructure automation that made deployments 15 times faster. After the internship, I was offered a full-time position and have been working as an engineer at AWS since June 2024.
The path wasn’t easy: I applied to over 200 companies. I failed my first Amazon interview, but came back a year later better prepared and got an offer.
On the way to my current role, I faced several challenges. One of the biggest was the language barrier: coming from Kazakhstan, I had to quickly adapt to professional communication in English.
The high level of competition added pressure too — thousands of people around the world apply for every role at companies like Amazon. I also had to quickly learn new technologies and internal AWS tools. All these challenges helped me grow both professionally and personally.
I stood out among candidates due to my machine learning experience and real-world project results, like improving classification accuracy from 47% to 92% at Merck & Co. That showed I could solve business problems.
My education in Computer Science and Business gave me a broad perspective, and interview preparation using the STAR method helped me tackle any question. As an international student from Kazakhstan, I brought a unique viewpoint. During my internship, I demonstrated not only technical skills but also teamwork and the ability to complete tasks ahead of schedule.
Adapting
Adapting to American culture is a challenging but valuable process. In the U.S., directness and initiative are valued, so I had to learn to express my opinions openly. Networking was also difficult at first, but over time I got comfortable and began building connections.
Talking to international students and colleagues helped me adapt. I studied Amazon’s corporate culture, observed others, and always welcomed feedback.
There are a few differences between work environments in our countries. In the U.S., especially in tech, the hierarchy is less pronounced. Junior employees can freely communicate with leadership, share opinions, and pitch ideas, while in Kazakhstan the structure is often more vertical. American companies embrace a strong culture of experimentation and innovation, where failure is seen as part of learning, not as something negative.
Meritocracy is a key part of the American workplace. Career growth is based on results and achievements, not age or seniority. In the U.S., outcomes matter more than process or hours worked, which gives you more flexibility in managing your time.
There are busy periods at Amazon, especially before releases or during on-call shifts. My day typically runs from 9 AM to 6 PM: I start with remote work, then go to the office for daily standups and task execution.
While on-call, I’m available around the clock, but shifts rotate. For balance, I try to separate work from personal time and use weekends to rest and pursue hobbies. I work out regularly and study part-time for my master’s degree.
At Amazon, results and time efficiency are valued more than hours logged. The job requires engagement, but with proper planning, there’s time for personal life and self-development.
How to get into a global company
To prepare, practice on LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeForces. Revisit algorithms and data structures. For more senior roles, study system design and scalable architectures. Practice explaining solutions out loud.
Learn the company’s values. Prepare STAR-format answers with examples from your experience. Practice English responses, focusing on clarity.
Research the company and position. Prepare questions for interviewers. Do mock interviews. Improve your English and create a GitHub portfolio. Get a good night’s sleep before your final interview. I spent three months preparing for Amazon.
Recommendations
To enter the global market, invest in education and self-learning. Use international platforms — Coursera, edX, Udacity. Get degrees abroad or online. My U.S. education helped me enter the market and get work authorization.
Improve your English, build a professional brand with a GitHub portfolio, write a blog or share your knowledge on social media. Attend international conferences and hackathons. Create a LinkedIn profile with a full description of your experience in English.
Gain experience on international projects or in open-source. Be ready for rejections — they’re part of the journey. Build resilience and flexibility.
Use cultural diversity as an advantage and stay connected with your compatriots for networking. Develop both technical and soft skills — communication, teamwork, and leadership. Remember, breaking into the global market is a long process that takes time and effort, but it’s worth it.
Sanjar Aubakir, 27, city — Luxembourg, Software Development Engineer, linkedin
About me and the company
I work at Amazon — the largest company in online retail, cloud computing, and more. My office is in Luxembourg. I hold the position of Software Development Engineer. My responsibilities cover the entire development process: from planning with stakeholders to system design, infrastructure deployment, business logic implementation, test automation and deployment, as well as support and monitoring.
My work requires a combination of technical skills and soft skills. I often make decisions that must balance implementation speed and project reliability. These goals can conflict, so it’s important to make quick decisions and be ready to roll them back when needed. Amazon emphasizes efficient processes that support speed and resilience. These are called two-way door decisions — meaning we choose solutions that are easily reversible if unsuccessful.
Career path
Getting into Amazon wasn’t easy: I spent a year preparing for the interview. I focused on algorithms, data structures, and system design. The hiring process had three stages: an online technical task, a phone interview, and a panel with multiple interviewers.
Selection at Amazon is tough, as the company attracts talent from around the world and helps with relocation. Competition is high, and expectations are above average for engineers, allowing the company to continuously raise the bar.
I applied to Amazon during the pandemic, which made relocating harder. But now the process has become simpler.
Adapting
I had already worked in an international environment: I spent over two years in South Korea. Still, adapting was a big challenge, because Amazon sets a high bar, and I had to learn many new technologies and skills.
Luxembourg, like Kazakhstan, is home to people from many countries. We have a multinational team, and I learn something new about different cultures and languages every day. The atmosphere is always friendly.
I enjoy great work-life balance. I often work from home with a flexible schedule, which helps me spend more time with my family.
How to get into a global company
Candidates often apply through job portals without getting referrals from current employees. It’s better to ask friends, former colleagues, or acquaintances working at companies you’re interested in — this can significantly improve your chances.
It’s also important to choose the right time to apply. Companies aren’t looking for “the next Einstein” for every standard role — they want people who can succeed in that position. Try to apply to fresh job postings and do so regularly. It’s a matter of timing, and you’ll have to go through many rejections before getting an interview and offer.
Each company is unique and has its own interview approach, though some formats are similar. Use sites like Glassdoor or LeetCode to understand what to expect in interviews. Also, keep improving your English, technical, and soft skills.
Recommendations
Don’t doubt your skills. During my short time working in Kazakhstan, I saw many talented and capable engineers. All of them could succeed in the global market, but fear of rejection and lack of confidence often hold them back.
Think of interviews as just another test you can prepare for. With hands-on experience, you’ll definitely succeed.