Acing Behavioral Interviews: Actionable Interview Insights from Amazon and Google Insiders - Softcover

Sahay, Sanjeet; Soni, Abhishek; Shrivastava, Saurabh

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798282201673

Publisher: Independently published, 2025

Synopsis

"This book has all the insider interview secrets from big tech companies. Direct to you from engineering and architecture leaders and a bar raiser. Imagine what will you do with the distilled insider interviewing wisdom from combined 20+ years at Amazon and Google" -- John L., SDE at Amazon

"This book changed my perspective on behavioral interviews. I went from feeling unprepared to confident and ready to ace every question." – Priya R., Software Engineer at Google

"The 100+ questions and scenarios alone are worth the price. It helped me structure my answers in a way that clearly communicated my impact and learning." – John Li., Engineering Manager at Microsoft

"I’ve recommended this book to everyone in my team. It’s a must-read for anyone serious about landing their dream job in tech." – Jaison D., SDE II at Amazon

Acing Behavioral Interviews is a comprehensive and practical guide designed to help technical professionals excel in the most critical part of the hiring process—behavioral interviews. Whether you're preparing for a role at a top-tier tech company like Google, Meta, or Amazon, or aiming for success in any technology-driven organization, this book provides actionable strategies, real-world examples, and insider insights that will transform your approach to behavioral interviewing.

Written by Sanjeet Sahay, former Amazon Engineering and Architecture Leader, with extensive experience on both sides of the interview table, co-authored by Abhishek Soni, Google Customer Engineer and former AWS Solutions Architect, and Saurabh Shrivastava, Amazon Bar Raiser and Senior Solution Architecture Manager at AWS, this book draws from 50+ years of combined experience in engineering, hiring, and mentoring candidates across the technology sector. Collectively, this team has hired 500+, so they know what they are talking about.

This book is needed because behavioral interviews are often underestimated or poorly prepared for, despite their significant influence on hiring decisions. Many candidates struggle to articulate their experiences effectively under pressure, leading to missed opportunities. Acing Behavioral Interviews bridges this gap by offering a deep understanding of what interviewers are really looking for, along with tools such as the STAR+ framework and 100+ interview questions and answering strategies to help you deliver compelling, structured responses.

The book is ideal for:
- Software Engineers
- Engineering Managers
- Solution Architects
- Program Managers
- Any technical professional preparing for roles at top tech companies

With detailed guidance on how to build a personal story inventory, avoid common pitfalls, and tailor responses to specific company cultures, this book empowers readers to showcase not just their skills, but their unique value and leadership potential.

Divided into 4 parts, here are the chapters:

• CHAPTER 1. WHAT ARE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWS?
• CHAPTER 2. INSIDE THE INTERVIEWERS MIND
• CHAPTER 3. STAR+ FORMAT
• CHAPTER 4. IDENTIFYING YOUR STORIES
• CHAPTER 5. COMMON PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
• CHAPTER 6. YOUR WEEKLY PRACTICE PLAN
• CHAPTER 7. SOFTWARE ENGINEER EXAMPLES
• CHAPTER 8. ENGINEERING MANAGER EXAMPLES
• CHAPTER 9. SOLUTION ARCHITECT EXAMPLES
• CHAPTER 10. PROGRAM MANAGER EXAMPLES
• CHAPTER 11. ADAPTING TO COMPANY CULTURE
• CHAPTER 12. NAVIGATING AMBIGUOUS AND UNEXPECTED QUESTIONS
• CHAPTER 13. MASTERING FOLLOW-UPS AND PROBING QUESTIONS

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798282201673
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 421