At just 23, Manoj Tumu has cracked the code many engineers spend years chasing - a $400,000 (Rs 3.36 crore) paycheck and a role at Mark Zuckerberg ’s Meta .
The Indian-American software engineer swapped Amazon for the social media giant earlier this year, joining its advertising research team, and now he’s sharing the playbook behind his rapid rise.
Why he left Amazon for Meta
Tumu admits Amazon gave him a solid foundation, but the lure of Meta’s projects was irresistible. “Though I had learned a lot at Amazon, I just thought there was more interesting work going on at Meta,” he told Business Insider. When the offer landed in June, he didn’t hesitate.
The AI shift that opened doors
Tumu says the timing was perfect. Machine learning has transformed in recent years, shifting from human-driven “classical” techniques to deep learning , where neural networks crunch raw data automatically. “That change has opened up exciting opportunities,” he explained.
His secret to cracking big tech interviews
If you thought referrals or flashy projects were the ticket in, Tumu disagrees. He revealed he got into both Amazon and Meta without a reference - just a “decent resume” and a lot of persistence. His advice? Ditch the college project section once you’ve gained two or three years of experience and focus on professional impact instead.
And when it comes to interviews, he insists the behavioral round is where many stumble. “At Amazon, I went through six rounds of interviews. I studied the company’s values, wrote a huge document of stories and follow-ups, and tailored my answers for every principle,” he said. His takeaway: knowing the company’s culture is as important as knowing your code.
Advice for aspiring AI engineers
For students, his golden rule is simple - grab an internship, no matter the pay. “Even low-paying internships can be beneficial. Experience matters more than money early on,” he said.
Tumu, who started his master’s program in 2022, also swears by cold emails. Sending them helped him get his foot in the door — something he says aspiring AI professionals shouldn’t shy away from.
The Indian-American software engineer swapped Amazon for the social media giant earlier this year, joining its advertising research team, and now he’s sharing the playbook behind his rapid rise.
Why he left Amazon for Meta
Tumu admits Amazon gave him a solid foundation, but the lure of Meta’s projects was irresistible. “Though I had learned a lot at Amazon, I just thought there was more interesting work going on at Meta,” he told Business Insider. When the offer landed in June, he didn’t hesitate.
The AI shift that opened doors
Tumu says the timing was perfect. Machine learning has transformed in recent years, shifting from human-driven “classical” techniques to deep learning , where neural networks crunch raw data automatically. “That change has opened up exciting opportunities,” he explained.
His secret to cracking big tech interviews
If you thought referrals or flashy projects were the ticket in, Tumu disagrees. He revealed he got into both Amazon and Meta without a reference - just a “decent resume” and a lot of persistence. His advice? Ditch the college project section once you’ve gained two or three years of experience and focus on professional impact instead.
And when it comes to interviews, he insists the behavioral round is where many stumble. “At Amazon, I went through six rounds of interviews. I studied the company’s values, wrote a huge document of stories and follow-ups, and tailored my answers for every principle,” he said. His takeaway: knowing the company’s culture is as important as knowing your code.
Advice for aspiring AI engineers
For students, his golden rule is simple - grab an internship, no matter the pay. “Even low-paying internships can be beneficial. Experience matters more than money early on,” he said.
Tumu, who started his master’s program in 2022, also swears by cold emails. Sending them helped him get his foot in the door — something he says aspiring AI professionals shouldn’t shy away from.
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