How to apply to Amazon jobs online

Over the last two years, Amazon has grown to become the second-largest U.S.-based employer, adding 425,000 employees globally between January and October 2010.

Many of these employees work in their 110 fulfillment centers in the United States.

If you’re considering applying at an Amazon fulfillment center, you want your application to stand out from those of competing candidates.

With the following tips, you’ll learn what Amazon wants to see on the application and how to ace the interview.

What is Amazon?

Amazon is an American multinational technology company. They have a well-known e-commerce site where they and third-party vendors sell millions of products. Part of why they’re so popular is their low prices and fast shipping times. Most online shoppers are familiar with Amazon delivery.

But they also have cloud computing, game development, digital streaming, and even artificial intelligence as part of their company offerings. Because of this, they have a wide variety of career opportunities available for all types of job seekers.

However, their most well-known job opportunity is working in an Amazon fulfillment center.

What’s an Amazon fulfillment center?

Amazon fulfillment centers are large warehouses owned by Amazon. These warehouses are where orders from Amazon.com are received, stored, packed, and shipped.

The company itself stores its own products in these fulfillment centers. But third-party sellers can also take advantage of the warehouses and utilize the employees who work in them. Those third-party sellers use a service called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).

This means that employees who work in Amazon warehouses may interact with products and orders that belong to one of several thousand other companies.

Amazon fulfillment centers are growing quickly and need lots of workers to help keep up with this growth. The company has plans to hire 125,000 more people across the US.

Plus, they plan to open up 40,000 jobs in corporate and tech.

According to Amazon’s press release, local jobs in their fulfillment centers and transportation network offer a starting wage of $18/hr on average. They also offer signing bonuses of up to $3000 in certain areas. Corporate jobs have different starting salaries, but those depend on what department you work for.

Things to know before filling out your Amazon application

At an Amazon fulfillment center, you’ll be shipping, picking, and packing orders made by Amazon customers. The job comes with numerous benefits. If you like a fast-paced environment where you’re on your feet, you could do well at Amazon.

When you go to apply, Amazon won’t ask you for a resume. Instead, you’ll go through some information and fill out an application. If you have any trouble along the way, here is a FAQs page that Amazon hiring teams have put together.

Here’s a breakdown of the eligibility criteria for a typical Amazon fulfillment job.

Employment Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be 18 years of age or older

• You have a high school diploma or an equivalent

• You’re willing to complete a pre-employment drug test

• You must be able to lift up to 49 pounds, stand and walk for up to 10–12 hours a day, and be able to frequently push, pull, squat, bend, and reach, all with or without reasonable accommodation

Wages Offered:

• Hourly rate of at least $15, but workers make an average of $18 an hour

Shifts:

• Overnight (6:30 p.m. - 5 a.m. or 8:30 p.m. - 7 a.m.)

• Early morning (4:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

• Day (7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.)

• Weekend

Amazon is flexible with its shifts, and they vary based on the position you have. However, expect shifts to be up to 12 hours long, plus a 30–60-minute lunch break, four days a week.

There are plenty of opportunities to pick up extra shifts. If you’re looking for a position with ample overtime, Amazon could be a great place to work.

On the other hand, part-time positions are rare, as Amazon recruiters prefer to hire full-time employees. If you do find a part-time position, you’ll typically be working less than 20 hours a week.

What is the Amazon application process?

Here are the four steps in the Amazon application process:

1. Apply on Amazon’s Fulfillment and Operations page

When you’re applying at Amazon, you’ll be asked for basic information about yourself, required to do a short assessment, and asked to select your preferred shifts. Amazon will try to accommodate your shift preferences, but they make no guarantees.

Even though they don’t typically ask you to submit your resume, consider optimizing your online professional profiles. For instance, if you have a Jobcase account, make sure your profile describes your latest skills and professional experiences.

2. 30-minute virtual job preview

There is a 30-minute virtual job preview for all Amazon applicants who make it past the first screening. It requires no travel, as it’s done online, but it is mandatory. You’ll learn about your potential new job and what a typical day will look like should you get the position.

This preview can be done on any device, including your cellphone or laptop.

3. In-person office screening

After your job preview, the company will invite you to attend an in-person office screening that should take less than 20 minutes. Think of this as the interview, although it’s less formal. Make sure you bring your proof of identity.

Amazon has increased its hiring drastically throughout the pandemic. Because of that, the interview process moves along much quicker than usual job interviews.

Your in-person screening may vary depending on the specific warehouse you’re applying to. There are cases where you never have to attend an in-person interview at all.

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4. Attend online new hire orientation

The final step before you start your new Amazon career is to complete an online new hire orientation. You’ll only go through this step if you get offered a position.

Your online orientation is designed to prepare you for your first day. It outlines the uniform requirements, goes over workplace safety, and ultimately lets you know what to expect.

Other things you should know about when applying for a job at Amazon

Common Amazon interview questions

If you do attend the in-person screening, you likely won’t be asked any behavioral questions.

You’ll only be asked standard questions regarding your abilities as they relate to warehouse work, such as:

• Have you worked as a warehouse team member before?

• Are you comfortable standing for long periods?

• Can you lift up to 49 lbs comfortably?

• Are you able to sort boxes based on color and label?

Before you attend your interview, you should take a few steps to prepare — even if Amazon interviews are shorter than typical job interviews. For instance, you should practice how you’ll introduce yourself when you meet the hiring manager. Remain polite and remember to acknowledge all parties if more than one hiring manager is present.

If you’ve never worked in a warehouse before, think about other work experience you may have that translates well to warehouse work. For instance, if you’ve worked as a server, you’re probably familiar with working on your feet for hours on end.

The Amazon drug screening process

A pre-employment drug screening is a mandatory part of the application process. It may be as simple as going to the Amazon warehouse and completing the screening on-site, depending on where you’re located.

Keep in mind that different drugs stay in your system for different periods. If you’ve taken drugs recently, take this into account before you apply. Wait to apply if you have to — it’s better to wait than to lose the opportunity to get the job.

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Amazon’s background check

Amazon also performs a background check on all potential employees. You’ll need to consent to this background check when you submit your application online.

Here’s what Amazon will look for in your background check:

• History for the past seven to 10 years

• Criminal history

• Credit history

• Work history

• Education history

If you think you’ll run into issues, consider applying to Amazon anyway. There are many roles where issues with your background check won’t stop you getting hired. Just make sure you disclose the issue in your application. It’s better to be transparent than to be seen as dishonest.

Amazon’s leadership principles

Amazon has a set of 14 leadership principles that they expect their employees in every role to follow. Knowing these principles and how to embody them could help you in your Amazon career, leading you to promotions and other great opportunities.

If you happen to be interviewing for a fulfillment center supervisor position, these leadership principles can help you better prepare for your interview.

Amazon expects all of its employees to be fully focused on the customer, making sure they always have the best experience. They have high standards regarding employee performance and want their associates to take ownership of their work.

If these principles speak to you, you’ll likely thrive at Amazon.

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How to check your Amazon application status

When you go through the online application process, you create a username and password. Checking your application status is as easy as signing in.

The Amazon application process moves quickly, especially for fulfillment center positions. The company will quickly screen your application and put you through training, often within a week. If you apply now, you could be working in as little as a week.

Take the next step in your job search

Now you know everything you need to successfully apply for a job at an Amazon fulfillment center. Plus, you’ll know what to expect when it comes to interviewing and onboarding at your new job.

For more job opportunities, visit the Jobcase job search.