Manoj Tumu Meta AI Engineer Success Story: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are incredibly popular today. Everyone, from children to college students and professionals, dreams of a career in this field. But the real question is how to get ahead in this competitive world and land a high-paying job. Here's the success story of 23-year-old Indian-American engineer Manoj Tumu, who built his career in AI/ML and secured a lucrative salary.
Manoj Tumu is currently a Machine Learning Engineer at Meta (Facebook's parent company) with an annual salary package of approximately Rs 3.36 crore. He previously worked at Amazon. In an article for Business Insider, Manoj shared his journey, explaining how he landed jobs at top companies without referrals, the mistakes he made, and what students should learn.
Manoj explains that the landscape of machine learning has completely transformed in recent years. While traditional math-based techniques were once prevalent, deep learning and neural networks now dominate. AI tools have made the field even more competitive. Various job titles exist in this industry, such as Machine Learning Engineer, Applied Scientist, or Research Scientist. Manoj's role at Meta blends research and implementation, focusing on keeping the company at the forefront of AI.
Many students initially focus on showcasing projects on their resumes. However, Manoj shares that internships and work experience are far more valuable than projects. Companies prioritize real-world experience. He advises students to focus on internships during college. When applying to Amazon and Meta, Manoj removed all his projects from his resume and highlighted only his work experience, which became his greatest strength.
It's often believed that referrals are essential for getting into big companies. But Manoj secured his jobs without any referrals. He applied directly through company websites and LinkedIn. He believes a strong resume is the most powerful tool.
According to Manoj, the biggest mistake candidates make is not preparing for interviews. He explains that every company has its own values, and answers should align with them. For Amazon, he prepared by studying their leadership principles, while for Meta, he focused on the company's values. His Meta interview lasted about six weeks and included coding, machine learning, and behavioural rounds.
Manoj admits his biggest mistake was not pursuing internships during college. However, after graduation, he started with a contract role. He had two options: a high-paying software engineering job and a lower-paying machine learning job. He prioritized his passion and chose the machine learning role. Today, he believes this decision was the turning point in his career, leading him to Meta.