Current Events > Got interrupted during an Amazon coding interview. Is it possible to get a redo?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Had a job interview with Amazon, was interrupted by a family emergency and by my current job as well (short notice emergency release testing for feature we worked on going to production)

So I completely bombed the interview. Tried to multitask but couldn't handle all 3 at the same time.

Is there a possibility at getting a redo?


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Sir, this is CE. Not Amazon.

Do they know a family emergency came up?

Either way I think a big company like Amazon would be reasonable.

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This is an Amazon question not a CE one. I'm doubtful they will, but you could always contact them and ask.

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Gamefaqs.gamespot.amazon.com

I emailed my recruiter explaining that I had a family emergency, didn't mention the situation with my other job though

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That would be a question to ask them buddy lol

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I'm upset because I'm just now realizing a job with Amazon would double my salary. Am making 63000 a year. Amazon entry level software engineering is about ~$120,000 in my area

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So you didnt mention anything during the interview about the family emergency, and instead just tried to continue interviewing while also dealing with your current work situation and your family emergency ?

probably should have mentioned something during the interview

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AlCalavicci posted...

So you didnt mention anything during the interview about the family emergency, and instead just tried to continue interviewing while also dealing with your current work situation and your family emergency ?

probably should have mentioned something during the interview

Yeah, this would have been the best route if it wasn't going well. It's much easier to elicit empathy when you're actually talking face to face

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AlCalavicci posted...

So you didnt mention anything during the interview about the family emergency, and instead just tried to continue interviewing while also dealing with your current work situation and your family emergency ?

probably should have mentioned something during the interview

I should have, but I can't contact her (the recruiter) anyway except by email and the clock was ticking down

Actually the coding part of the interview is done, but the second part where you explain your answer I haven't pressed the start button on that so technically im still im the middle of the interview.

I emailed the recruiter already explaining about what happened

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RemixRBG posted...

I should have, but I can't contact her (the recruiter) anyway except by email and the clock was ticking down

Actually the coding part of the interview is done, but the second part where you explain your answer I haven't pressed the start button on that so technically im still im the middle of the interview.

I emailed the recruiter already explaining about what happened

ohh I see, so you were doing like a coding test and not actually speaking with someone ?

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AlCalavicci posted...

ohh I see, so you were doing like a coding test and not actually speaking with someone ?

Right it was an internal coding interview

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RemixRBG posted...

Right it was an internal coding interview

gotcha. Yeah, that sucks. Hopefully the recruiter will give you a pass

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I hope she does too. In really upset too because the first question didnt seem too hard.

Kinda upset that my job has me working on Sunday. If it was just the situation with my Family I still might have been able to do it. I wish I just told the job I was unavailable for the next two hours but could join later

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RemixRBG posted...

I wish I just told the job I was unavailable for the next two hours but could join later

i hope it works out for the better for you, life is very hard right now :(.
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yeah looks like this did just happen and you made the wise decision to exclude the job emergency. good call, i think it will work out for you but if not you took the optimal choices at least
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What was the coding test like? Java or other languages?

Rathinor posted...

What was the coding test like? Java or other languages?

Two problems in Java both search related in handling Strings

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No_U_L7 posted...

yeah looks like this did just happen and you made the wise decision to exclude the job emergency. good call, i think it will work out for you but if not you took the optimal choices at least

Should I have included that?

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Damn, good luck man. I hope you can get the redo. If not, be sure to put in your explanation that you had the emergency. The one reviewing your test won't be the recruiter, but the project head, so them understanding the situation could give you points in your favor.

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kirbyakaZ posted...

Damn, good luck man. I hope you can get the redo. If not, be sure to put in your explanation that you had the emergency. The one reviewing your test won't be the recruiter, but the project head, so them understanding the situation could give you points in your favor.

I have a second part of the interview to go, should I try to explain in the boxes where you explain your answer that I had an emergency that prevented be from doing the interview?

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RemixRBG posted...

I have a second part of the interview to go, should I try to explain in the boxes where you explain your answer that I had an emergency that prevented be from doing the interview?

Yes that's exactly what I meant.
Because the one reviewing your answers will be the one who would be your boss, not the recruiter. If the boss goes "wow, he can get that close while dealing with XYZ? Nice." You're in.

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kirbyakaZ posted...

Yes that's exactly what I meant.
Because the one reviewing your answers will be the one who would be your boss, not the recruiter. If the boss goes "wow, he can get that close while dealing with XYZ? Nice." You're in.

I deleted what I coded and had the answers blank for the coding interview part. The second one I never started there first one I removed what I had

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RemixRBG posted...

Should I have included that?

No, you shouldn't have answered a work call regardless so better to exclude that
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Don't get your hopes up.

Companies like Amazon have a pretty high number of applicants and they likely already have a batch that completed the coding interview that they are sorting through. I'm guessing they will just say "better luck next time".

Think about it from their perspective. They are hiring the best of the best in terms of software developers and you are saying "I had stuff come up so I couldn't complete the test you gave me".

RemixRBG posted...

I have a second part of the interview to go, should I try to explain in the boxes where you explain your answer that I had an emergency that prevented be from doing the interview?

No, stop and don't even look at the rest. Otherwise they may think you're lying and trying to use an unfair advantage so you can prepare better next time
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No_U_L7 posted...

No, stop and don't even look at the rest. Otherwise they may think you're lying and trying to use an unfair advantage so you can prepare better next time

Okay thanks what else should I do, should I just submit the rest blank then wait for the recruiters feedback?

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RemixRBG posted...

Okay thanks what else should I do, should I just submit the rest blank then wait for the recruiters feedback?

actually if you have no other way to contact the interviewers directly, i dont see any harm in writing in one of the fields that you had a family emergency and cant complete the exam, and hope to reschedule. keep the explanation as brief as possible
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RemixRBG posted...

I deleted what I coded and had the answers blank for the coding interview part. The second one I never started there first one I removed what I had

Oh, I assumed you submitted what you had. No idea what to tell you then.

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amazon does not give a damn about you or your family

the fact that you had enough compassion to interrupt your machine-simulation-task and be a human is reason enough to not call you back for an interview. They need sociopaths, not social workers.

Naysaspace posted...

amazon does not give a damn about you or your family

the fact that you had enough compassion to interrupt your machine-simulation-task and be a human is reason enough to not call you back for an interview. They need sociopaths, not social workers.

It isn't sociopathic to expect productivity out of people you are hiring, particularly if you are going to be paying them six figures. There is also a difference between showing compassion and understanding to your employees and hiring someone that is already a problem child.

They aren't adopting a kid they are hiring an employee.

Naysaspace posted...

amazon does not give a damn about you or your family

it's the truth. they don't.
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