First, Amazon work from home jobs are real! The mega online retailer is just one of many remote-friendly companies out there. In fact, Amazon has an entire division devoted to its virtual workers.
So, if you’re on the hunt for real wfh jobs, Amazon should definitely be on your radar. Keep reading to learn more about the Amazon remote jobs and how to get hired there.
About Amazon
Before we dive into what it’s like to be a part of the Amazon work from home team, let’s talk about the company first.
Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce retailers in the world. E-commerce is just a fancy way of saying buying and selling online. As of 2021, Amazon is the top online retailer according to Statista’s Top Online Stores Worldwide report.
And because Amazon shows no signs of slowing between its ecommerce platform and subscription services like Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music Unlimited (to name a few), there’s a near constant demand for new talent.
Jobs at Amazon
In fact, Amazon has literally thousands of open roles available at any given moment. For example, there are nearly 10,000 available Software Development jobs at Amazon as I type this 😳
However, that’s just scratching the surface. Of course there are plenty more Amazon roles in their many distribution centers. But, what about remote jobs?
Amazon Work From Home Jobs
At the height of the pandemic, the majority of Amazon Corporate employees worked remotely. Today, Amazon is continuing to offer flexibility in where many of its employees work.
For example, some of the top categories for remote location at Amazon include:
- Software Development
- Human Resources
- Sales & Account Management
- Customer Service
- Design
Of course, this is just a small sampling of top categories. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on Amazon’s Remote Locations Hiring Page for a full list.
The Hiring Process at Amazon
Keep in mind, each role will have a slightly different hiring process. However, most remote jobs at Amazon follow a general application flow:
- Online Application
- Assessment
- Phone Interview
- Virtual Interview
Thankfully, Amazon does a pretty good job of keeping applicants updated during the hiring process. So, you can check the status of your application at any time to see where you’re at.
1. Fill Out Your Online Application
First, you have to find remote jobs at Amazon you’re interested in. To do this, head over to Amazon’s Virtual Locations page. From there, narrow search results using filters like:
- Job Type
- Category
- Country/Region
After you find a role you want to apply for, you’ll create an Amazon.jobs account. Note: This will be separate from any personal Amazon shopping account you have.
You will use this account to access your profile, fill out applications, and check on the status of your applications. make sure to fill out the application in full. It’s a good idea to have a copy of your resume and cover letter to fill in all the required details.
2. Assessment
Next, Amazon uses online assessments for some of its remote roles. These assessments help Amazon get to know you better and to determine if you have the right skills to be successful.
Typically, the two main types of assessments Amazon gives its applicants are:
- Work Style Assessment – This is a 10-20 minute personality-type test. It helps Amazon discover your unique working style.
- Work Sample Situation – These are specific to individual roles at Amazon. You may be asked to perform sample tasks you are likely to encounter if you were hired.
Remember, assessments are pretty standard in the world of remote work. Additionally, many companies ask applicants to take work style assessments too. If you take one, try not to overthink it and answer the questions honestly.
3. Phone Interview
After assessments, Amazon invites select candidates to a phone interview. Remember, you should always do pre-interview homework. And, at Amazon that should include reading its Leadership Principles. After all, Amazon evaluates all candidates against its unique Leadership Principles!
4. Virtual Interview
The final step before being hired is an interview. For work from home jobs, these interviews are done virtually. In order to attend the virtual interview you will need to download Amazon Chime and Google Chrome. Then your recruiter will give you a meeting ID# so you can join the session. Since this is a virtual interview always remember to:
- Have good lighting
- Test your internet connection
- Make sure your webcam and mic are working
Additionally, prepare for your interview ahead of time by practicing answers to common interview questions!
Amazon Seasonal WFH Customer Service Jobs
Now that we’ve broadly covered all remote jobs at Amazon, let’s look at one of its most popular wfh roles: Customer Service.
Each year, Amazon ramps up hiring during the busy shopping season. And, one of the roles it heavily recruits for is Virtual Customer Service reps.
Keep in mind, these are often seasonal roles. In other words, your employment is only for a short period of time. However, there are chances to snag permanent Amazon work from home part-time and full-time gigs. Additionally, some seasonal workers are offered full-time roles in the future!
What You’ll Be Doing As an Amazon Work From Home Customer Service Rep
Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve taking inbound calls from Amazon customers. You may also respond to support emails or incoming live chats.
Most interactions with customers will deal with orders — either questions about an existing order or difficulties when trying to place an order.
But you may also help solve problems or provide support. Keep in mind, most customers contact Amazon by live chat or phone — so you’ll have to be quick when offering solutions to customers!
Where Does Amazon Hire?
Good question! Although the virtual customer service positions at Amazon are work-from-home, you still need to reside in one of the following states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
At the time I’m writing this, these are the only states Amazon currently hires virtual customer service reps.
Now, if you’re looking for other virtual jobs at Amazon, be sure to read the job description from the Virtual Locations Hiring Page. Those jobs may or may not be location-specific. However, when it comes to their work from home customer service jobs, you will need to live in one of the states listed!
What Experience Do I Need to Work From Home For Amazon?
Generally speaking, Amazon likes to see the following experience for their virtual customer service reps:
- High school diploma (or equivalent)
- 1+ years in a service environment
- Basic typing, Internet, phone, and research skills
It’s also helpful if you possess the following qualities:
- Customer focus
- Ability to prioritize customer needs
- Patience
- Conflict resolution
- Ability to assess customer needs & deliver appropriate solutions
That’s it! This is a really great opportunity to use your real world experience in retail, hospitality or other service-based industry to snag a work-from-home job.
What About Technical Requirements? What Will I Need?
Like all work from home jobs, you will need to meet certain tech requirements in order to be considered for a position. And the Amazon work from home jobs are no different. The basic tech requirements needed for their virtual customer service jobs include:
- A Windows PC
- 64-bit operating system running either Windows 8.1, Windows 10, OSX 10.9 or higher
- Minimum 10 mbps download speed (test your speed over at Speedtest.net)
- No wifi — must be hardwired to the internet via Ethernet cable — sorry no satellite!
- Laptops are OK, but you must have an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse
- Windows Auto Update
- Windows Defender
You’ll also need to be able to take phone calls. But don’t worry, you won’t need a landline! Once you’re hired, Amazon will ship you a headset for taking calls via Internet. You’ll also receive a Gemalto token, which will turn your PC into a super-secure powerhouse for both your protection and the customers you interact with!
So Far So Good. What Will My Schedule Be Like?
Your schedule will largely depend on demand. Sometimes, Amazon specifically hires work from home customer service agents just to handle calls during high-volume times. Remember, Amazon’s peak times run from Thanksgiving to mid-January. During those months you may be working full time or even overtime to meet the increase in online shoppers.
During off-peak times, Amazon’s virtual support center is open from 3 a.m. to midnight PST. Your shift could fall anytime during these hours. And you’ll be expected to have a pretty flexible schedule to accommodate these hours. You may be assigned any combo of day, afternoon, or evening shifts. Most reps will work at least one weekend day with many working both Saturday and Sunday.
You’ll also have to attend and complete paid training which may have a completely different schedule. Fortunately, your recruiter will go over all that information with you so you won’t be caught off guard when it comes time to train.
What About Amazon Work From Home Salary? How Much Will I Make?
For customer service reps, the Amazon work from home salary is the same: $10.00/hour (unless you reside in a state where the minimum wage is higher).
This includes paid training while you’re learning the ropes! Virtual reps also have bonus opportunities that can boost their $10 hourly rate.
Remember, Amazon has additional virtual work from home jobs available which will likely pay higher, but for customer service reps there is an across-the-nation pay rate of $10/hour.
Additional Facts About Working for Amazon
You’re probably an Amazon customer already and know about its Prime Membership and 2-day shipping. However, there are some interesting details about Amazon I want to share from an employment perspective.
Amazon ranks number 14 on Forbes World’s Best Employers List
- They will hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses prior to 2024
- As part of their Upskilling Program, Amazon offers free skills training to US employees
- 400,000 new jobs were created in 2020 aloe
- Full time employees receive comprehensive benefits on Day 1
- Its Amazon Technical Academy trains employees to become software engineers in just 9 months
Feel free to browse additional Amazon Facts as you learn more about this company and how they work.
Hint: It’s a good idea to know these things before applying and a definite must before an interview!
I Want To Be A Part Of the Amazon Work From Home Team!
That’s the spirit! Remember, Amazon has a lot of different work from home jobs available. They hire throughout the year for a ton of different roles from Software Development to Human Resources and more!
Additionally, Amazon typically hires a group of seasonal remote customer service agents for the holiday season. As a remote job seeker, be sure to determine your career ideals before you start applying to different jobs!
Whether you want to work from home temporarily for Amazon or grow your career there full time follow these steps:
- Search for opening on the Virtual Locations Career Page
- Create an Amazon Jobs Account
- Apply to positions using your resume and cover letter
- Complete any necessary assessments
- Prepare for a phone interview or virtual interview
Need additional help? Let me know in the comments below! I’m happy to help you prep for your work from home job search at Amazon.
Happily,
Ashlee
P.S. This post might have affiliate links. What are affiliate links? They’re a way for me to earn a little cash recommending products and services to you. Even so, I only suggest products, brands, and services I know, trust and use. Need to know more? No problem. I’ve written a disclosure statement you can read 🙂
