Gen Z’s Sooraj Kumar Lands Amazon Job After Tough 5-Hour Interview
UPDATE: Sooraj Kumar, a 28-year-old recent graduate, has successfully navigated Amazon’s rigorous five-hour “loop” interview process to secure a coveted analyst role, marking a significant achievement after a challenging yearlong job search. Kumar, who moved from Pakistan to the U.S. in January 2022, faced numerous obstacles but ultimately triumphed in the competitive tech job market.
Kumar’s journey began in November 2022, when he started applying for full-time positions, despite facing hurdles due to his work authorization status. The job market was particularly tough, as global tech companies, including Amazon, have collectively laid off over 80,000 employees since the start of 2025, according to Layoffs.fyi. This decline has significantly impacted recent graduates, making it even more difficult for candidates like Kumar to find their footing.
In August 2023, after a series of interviews for a business analyst position, Kumar received a verbal job offer, which was later rescinded due to a prolonged background check—a shocking turn of events that left him reeling. “That last-minute decision from the company shocked me,” he stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of the experience.
Determined not to lose momentum, Kumar took an unpaid internship to maintain his visa status and kept applying for jobs. By September, he was submitting up to 50 applications daily. His perseverance paid off when he applied for a business analyst position at Amazon, despite having no referral.
After a preliminary phone interview, Kumar was invited to Amazon’s “loop” interview—a daylong series of five virtual interviews. “The interviews were separated by only about five minutes,” he recalled. Successfully completing the loop, Kumar received a formal job offer from Amazon just before Christmas 2023, which included a six-figure compensation package.
Kumar’s preparation involved mastering Amazon’s leadership principles, such as “customer obsession” and “ownership,” and utilizing the STAR method for effectively communicating his past work experiences. He believes his previous interview experiences were crucial to his success: “If I didn’t have all the previous interview experience, I might have never ended up at Amazon.”
As he reflects on his job search, Kumar emphasizes two key takeaways: the importance of applying widely and the diminishing value of referrals in securing job interviews. “I don’t think that many referrals carry much weight anymore,” he noted, highlighting that most of his interviews stemmed from cold applications.
Sooraj Kumar’s story serves as an inspiring reminder of resilience in the face of adversity. As he embarks on this new chapter at Amazon, his journey underscores the challenges many job seekers face in today’s volatile job market. For others navigating similar paths, his experience offers valuable insights and hope.
