Part 4/4 - The AWS Loop Interview Experience for TAM role
How to prepare and what to expect
Hey, Prasad here 👋 I'm the voice behind the weekly newsletter "Big Tech Careers."
Amir Malaeb, one of the participants of my Big Tech Interview Preparation Workshop, cleared AWS interview recently. He is sharing his journey of transitioning from a restaurant business owner to Technical Account Manager (TAM) at AWS in a four-part article series.
In this final part of the series, he is sharing his experience of clearing the AWS loop interview for the TAM role.
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Back to the article. Over to you Amir!
AWS Loop Interview for Technical Account Manager role
After passing the online assessment and the technical phone interview, I reached the final and most comprehensive stage: the AWS Loop Interview. This was the moment everything had been building toward—the chance to prove not only my technical expertise but also my problem-solving skills, leadership, and alignment with Amazon’s Leadership Principles (LPs).
Going into this stage, I knew preparation was everything. The right approach can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling in control. I did extensive research, read countless Glassdoor reviews, and practiced relentlessly. In total, I prepared 22 stories—more than enough to cover any type of behavioral question that could come my way. In the end, I used 13 of them, reinforcing the importance of being well-prepared.
Rehearsing became second nature. I practiced while eating, in the shower, and during any quiet moment I could find. I recorded myself over 75 times on video, rewatched my responses, and kept refining them. Every story had to be clear, concise, and structured using the STAR format. By the time my interviews arrived, I could deliver my stories naturally—like storytelling rather than reciting a script.
One of the best investments I made during this stage was joining Big Tech Careers with Prasad Rao, a community where I received valuable feedback on my stories. Having direct input helped refine my storytelling skills and boosted my confidence. Practicing with my wife and friends also helped solidify my responses and make them feel more conversational. If I thought I was ready, I prepared again—this mindset ensured that I left nothing to chance.
The Loop Interview Format
The Loop Interview at Amazon consists of multiple 1-hour interviews, typically four to five rounds, but the structure and scheduling can vary depending on interviewer availability. In some cases, all interviews are scheduled on the same day, while in others, they may be spread out across two or more days.
How It Was Structured in My Case
In my case, the loop was spread over two days, and I had 22 days between my technical phone interview and the Loop, which gave me plenty of time to prepare thoroughly. Amazon also schedules a prep call before the Loop to help candidates understand the structure, expectations, and best practices for approaching the interviews. If you’re invited to this prep session, attend it—it’s a valuable opportunity to clarify doubts and align your preparation.
My Loop Structure
Day 1: Two Technical Interviews
Technical Breadth Interview : Covering multiple technical domains
Technical Depth Interview: Going deep into specific areas + behavioral questions
Day 2: Two Behavioral Interviews
Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on leadership principles & role alignment
Bar Raiser Interview: Behavioral deep dive
Each interview typically follows this structure:
✔️ Brief introduction from the interviewer
✔️ Main interview (40-45 minutes)
✔️ 5-15 minutes for your questions (Always have 2-3 thoughtful questions ready!)
Since the scheduling varies, be flexible and plan accordingly. You may have back-to-back interviews on the same day, or they may be spaced out over multiple days. Either way, treat each round with equal importance and maintain consistency in energy and engagement.
Let’s look into the topics covered in each of these interviews.
First Interview – Technical Breadth
The first technical interview was very similar in structure to my technical phone interview. It was focused on general technical knowledge across domains such as:
Compute (virtualization, serverless, containers)
Storage & Databases (file, block, object storage, SQL vs NoSQL)
Networking (VPCs, subnets, load balancing, security groups)
Security (IAM, encryption, compliance)
DevOps (CI/CD, automation)
Application Architecture (scalability, fault tolerance)
The questions were rapid-fire, and my interviewer made me feel comfortable. I was only asked one behavioral question: “Tell me about yourself.” After that, it was all back-to-back technical questions.
Second Interview – Technical Depth
This round was designed to push my limits. The deeper I answered, the deeper they went. The more correct answers I gave, the harder the follow-ups became. This is how they assess how much you truly know.
This interview also included three Tell Me About A Time (TMAAT) questions:
A success story
A challenging project
A time I had to solve a technical problem under pressure
Key takeaways from this round:
Stay calm and confident when the questions get harder.
Expect follow-ups based on your responses—they want to see how deep you can go.
Be ready for TMAAT questions that assess problem-solving and leadership.
Third Interview – Hiring Manager Interview
This was my first fully behavioral interview, and it was all about Amazon’s Leadership Principles.
I was asked five behavioral questions, all following the “Tell Me About A Time” (TMAAT) format. My hiring manager wanted to understand:
How I handle customers
How I solve complex problems
How I show ownership and leadership
How I deliver results under pressure
At this point, I realized something important: This wasn’t just an interview—it was a conversation. Instead of thinking of it as answering questions, I engaged in a meaningful discussion about how I work and think.
Fourth Interview – Bar Raiser
This is the most crucial interview, as the Bar Raiser job is to ensure Amazon only hires top talent who align with the company’s culture.
My Bar Raiser was fantastic. It didn’t feel like an interrogation—it was more of an insightful conversation about my experience.
Questions focused on:
Leadership principles in action
How I drive impact in teams
Handling failures and learning from them
Customer obsession and long-term thinking
Tips to prepare your stories
The Power of Themes Over Specific Questions
There are hundreds of potential interview questions, but the key to success is not memorizing questions—it’s mastering themes and adapting your answers dynamically. That’s why I don’t think sharing actual questions would be helpful, you can find questions all over the internet. Focus on the themes below instead.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned from Big Tech Careers with Prasad Rao was breaking down my stories into eight core themes, ensuring I had at least two adaptable stories per theme:
Customer Focus
Success
Failure
Conflict Resolution
Problem-Solving
Learning & Growth Mindset
Leadership
Time Management
Instead of trying to memorize responses to 100+ questions, focus on refining your stories around these core themes. Amazon’s Leadership Principles are woven into every behavioral question—so structure your stories with these principles in mind.
Exhibiting Amazon’s Leadership Principles
Amazon’s Leadership Principles are not just words—they define the way Amazon operates. If you don’t align with them, you won’t succeed in the interview. They are embedded in every step of the process, especially in the Loop Interview.
Customer Obsession → How do you prioritize customer needs?
Ownership → Have you taken responsibility beyond your job description?
Bias for Action → Have you acted quickly in uncertain situations?
Deliver Results → Can you demonstrate measurable impact?
I strongly recommend reading Amazon’s Leadership Principles and aligning every answer with at least one or two LPs.
The Power of “I”
One crucial thing to always remember:
Amazon is hiring YOU—not your previous team.
During the interview, always use “I” instead of “we” when answering questions.
❌ Weak Response: “We developed a solution that optimized storage.”
✅ Strong Response: “I led the effort to optimize storage by implementing X, which resulted in Y.”
You need to demonstrate your individual contributions, as Amazon is looking for people who take ownership and deliver results.
The Importance of Metrics and the STAR Method
Amazon loves metrics. When answering behavioral questions, quantify your impact whenever possible:
❌ Weak answer:
“I improved a system and made it more efficient.”
✅ Strong answer:
“I implemented an automation pipeline that reduced deployment time by 40% and saved the team 10 hours per week.”
This is why structuring responses using STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is crucial. Always end with measurable results.
A Sample Story: Customer Obsession & Invent & Simplify
Here is one of the story that I prepared:
🎯 Situation: As a member of an astronomy club, I helped organize an event aimed at inspiring students about space. The available resources were too technical for the target audience (ages 10-18).
📌 Task: I aimed to simplify the experience by building a web app that allowed attendees to explore NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) in an interactive way.
⚡ Action:
✅ Developed a serverless app using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and S3.
✅ Integrated NASA’s APOD API so users could view space images from their birthdate.
✅ Added a random picture feature for exploration.
🚀 Result:
✅ 150+ students used the app at the event.
✅ It received 1,500 views in the first week.
✅ The organizers praised it for making science engaging.
Questions to ask the Interviewers
At the end of each interview, you’ll have 5-15 minutes to ask your own questions. Here are some example questions I prepared to ask:
What are the expectations for a new TAM in the first six months to a year?
How does the TAM team collaborate with Solutions Architects and other AWS teams?
How does AWS support ongoing learning and career growth for TAMs?
Can you share an example of a TAM who has excelled in this role? What made them successful?
Avoid asking basic questions like “What does a TAM do?”—by this stage, you should already know.
Why Amazon & Why the TAM Role?
While I personally wasn’t asked these questions, they are very common in this interview round, and I highly recommend preparing strong responses. These are opportunities to demonstrate your understanding of Amazon’s culture and how your experience aligns with the role.
Why Amazon?
Amazon is known for its customer obsession, innovation, and fast-paced culture. When answering this question, you should:
Show that you understand Amazon’s Leadership Principles and how they resonate with you.
Talk about Amazon’s impact in cloud computing and how AWS aligns with your career goals.
Share your passion for problem-solving, customer success, and innovation.
Why the TAM Role?
The Technical Account Manager (TAM) role blends technical expertise with customer engagement. This is your chance to highlight:
Your passion for working with customers and helping them succeed.
Your ability to bridge technical solutions with business goals.
Your experience in problem-solving, cloud technologies, and consulting.
Final Thoughts and Last Tips
The Loop is the most demanding yet rewarding stage of the Amazon interview process. It’s where all the preparation, practice, and learning come together. It’s not just about answering questions—it’s about demonstrating your problem-solving mindset, leadership skills, and ability to thrive in Amazon’s fast-paced, customer-obsessed culture.
Here are my top tips:
Treat the Interview Like a Conversation
Think of the interviewers as future colleagues, not examiners.
Use the STAR Method Effectively
Structure responses using Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR).
Master Amazon’s Leadership Principles
Live and breathe these principles in every answer.
Rehearse Until Your Answers Flow Naturally
Practice responses repeatedly to ensure a smooth and confident delivery.
Confidence, Humility, and Adaptability Matter
You won’t know everything—and that’s okay.
Take Your Time and Stay Composed
Pause and think before answering, take a sip of water if needed.
Get Feedback from a Trusted Mentor or Community
Joining Big Tech Careers with Prasad Rao proved to be one of my most valuable investments. The direct feedback, peer discussions, and structured preparation process were invaluable. I highly recommend finding a community or mentor who can help refine your answers and push you to be your best.
Watch Dan Croitor’s YouTube channel for insights on the Amazon Loop Interview
A Heartfelt Thank You
This journey has been one of the most intense and transformative experiences of my career. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Big Tech Careers by Prasad Rao, and everyone who provided guidance, feedback, and motivation along the way. I also want to thank my wife, friends, Digital Cloud Training, Teegan Bartos and the LinkedIn community who believed in me and encouraged me throughout this process.
To anyone preparing for the Loop—trust yourself, put in the work, and keep pushing forward. You don’t need to be perfect, but you do need to be prepared, structured, and confident.
I hope this article series helps those on their Amazon interview journey. Good luck, and keep aiming high!
I would like to extend a big thank you to Amir for sharing his journey with Big Tech Careers readers. Here are links to the first three parts of the four-part article series he has written
Part 1/4 - From a restaurant business owner to an AWS TAM role
Part 2/4 - How to get resume shortlisted and clear online assessment of AWS TAM role
I encourage you to follow Amir on LinkedIn for further insights.
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