Initial interview was just to get a feel of applicants interests, motivations and personality. Assessment Day is a group interview that included a technical interview, which wasn't very technical but more about how you handle new or difficult situation. It also included an interview with someone in the HR/people operations. Lastly, it included a team assessment to see how you work with other candidates and align with company values. My disappointment wasn't because I wasn't selected, it was due to them telling lies and a lack of transparency. During assessment day, we were advised it two weeks we would receive an update about our status, I did not receive my rejection until 3 weeks later and I had to reach out to three different HR reps before I could even receive the rejection email. We were also promised that feedback would be provided, but I along with several other rejected applicants, have reached out to our HR rep more than three times and have still not received feedback and it's been almost one week. The team activity is a poor reflection of how individuals work as a team because it's not a technical assessment, but a personality assessment. There will always be one or a few person who takes charge and does not let other people participate and if you try to assert your opinion, you'll come off as aggressive, it's a lose-lose. The entire assessment is based on personality, not aptitude or skills. Those who are more outgoing and disingenuous are more likely to be offered a position. The talent academy is intended to train employees in AWS and increase the diversity in the workforce; however, preference in selection was given to those with a college degree (regardless of their major) even if they did not have previous experience or in the field. There were plenty of applicants with technical backgrounds and AWS or IT certifications who were not selected. The solution to truly addressing a lack of diversity in tech spaces is not to simply only hire people who are of underrepresented genders, races, sexual orientations, etc., but have the same exact generic background as all other current employees.