Young Engineer Leaves Amazon for Meta: A Bold Move
In a significant career move, 23-year-old Manoj Tumu decided to leave his high-paying job at Amazon to join Meta, a decision that has garnered attention in the tech community. As a machine learning engineer, Manoj is now part of Meta’s advertising research team, earning a total compensation package of over ₹3.36 crore. His journey and insights serve as valuable lessons for students and job seekers in India and beyond.
In an essay for Business Insider, Manoj shared his experiences navigating the competitive hiring landscape of artificial intelligence. He pointed out that the field has rapidly evolved, shifting from classical techniques to advanced deep learning methods that utilize neural networks. The emergence of sophisticated tools like ChatGPT has heightened competition and diversified job titles, creating roles such as machine learning engineer, applied scientist, and research scientist. Manoj's own position at Meta blends research and practical application, ensuring the company stays at the forefront of AI technology.
Manoj emphasized the importance of professional experience when applying for jobs. He advised students to focus on securing internships during their college years, stating that while personal projects can be beneficial initially, they should eventually be overshadowed by relevant work experience. By the time he applied to Amazon and Meta, he had completely removed personal projects from his résumé, opting instead to highlight his professional roles.
Another critical piece of advice he offered was to prepare thoroughly for behavioral interviews. Manoj cautioned that going unprepared can be a significant mistake candidates make. He recommended that applicants tailor their answers to reflect the values of the companies they are interviewing with, as he did for Amazon’s leadership principles and Meta’s corporate values. His interview process for Meta consisted of several stages, including coding challenges and behavioral questions spread over six weeks.
Reflecting on his early career, Manoj admitted he missed out on an internship during college but managed to secure a contract role after graduation. When faced with the decision between machine learning and traditional software engineering, he chose the former, despite its lower pay, because it aligned with his interests. This choice ultimately led him to better opportunities, culminating in his current role at Meta.
