I'm preparing for an AWS Technical Account Manager interview loop and haven't been able to get clear guidance from recruiting about the technical interviews. During the phone screen, I was told that the Technical Depth interview would focus on two technical domains, but the loop details didn't specify which ones. How are those domains selected, and how advanced are the questions? Should I expect troubleshooting scenarios in addition to concept and architecture questions?
I'm also wondering how the Technical Breadth interview compares with the phone screen. Does it cover foundational questions across many areas, such as networking, compute, storage, and databases, and can it include troubleshooting as well?
3 Answers
Technical Breadth is usually more of a wide survey of fundamentals across multiple AWS domains. Interviewers may ask you to explain core concepts, compare services, or talk through a basic design. It is less deep than the dedicated depth interview, but they can still keep probing if you demonstrate strong knowledge. Troubleshooting may come up in either interview, especially when discussing how you would investigate a production issue.
In many interview loops, the topics are influenced by a technical self-assessment or questionnaire where candidates select their stronger areas. If you identified particular domains or claimed advanced proficiency, those are likely candidates for the depth discussion. Since you apparently didn’t complete such a questionnaire, it would be safest to confirm the scope with the recruiter if possible and otherwise review the major service categories and their fundamentals.
The depth interview is generally centered on about two technical domains and goes noticeably deeper than fundamentals. Expect follow-up questions that test how well you understand the services, how they work together, and how you would diagnose problems. Networking, compute, storage, and database services are common areas to prepare, but the exact domains may depend on the experience and skills you indicated during the hiring process.
That makes sense. I wasn’t given any domains in the loop email, so I’ll prepare those areas broadly and be ready for troubleshooting.