HOW Posting Tiktox Helped with Prepare for an Amazon Job Interview

In May, Andrew Chen Couldn’t Stop Thinking About The Ticking Clock. He was just weeks away from earning his Computer Science Degree from the University of California San Diego – and Still Didn’t Have a Job Lined Up.

THEN A GLIMMER OF HOPE LANDED IN HIS INBOX: an email from Amazon Invitting Him to Interview for A Software Engineering Role in 10 Days. He knew he could have waste the opportunity, so he made a plan: hole up in his room to study – and document his preparation for the tiktok to hold Himself Accountable.

“I Canceled All My Social Obligations, Locked MySelf in My Room, and Basically Only Left the House to Have Lunch,” Said the 22-Yaar-Old. “I was thinking, if i don’t get this job, this is all for nothing.”

Chen is Among the Mary Recent College Graduates Who Have Struggled to Find Work. As of June, the Most Recent Data Avilable, 4.8% of Americans Ages 27 to Least a Bachelor’s Degree Were UNEMPLOYED-Higher than the 4.0% NonBess Rate Among the Broader Working Population, A Reversal from the Typical Trend in Recent Decades.

These challenges reflect a broader Hiring Slowdown That’s Hit Entry-Level Job seekers Espely Hard. Amid Tariff Uncetainty and the Early Effects of AI Adoption, US Companies Are Hiring at One of the Slowest Paces Since 2014. Tech Professionals, Including Computer Science Graduates Like Chen, have been participle Affected, with Layoffs at Firms Includ, Google, Google, Google Microsoft. On Indeed, US Development Job Postings Have declined by Over 70% from Their Peak in 2022.

While some new graduats are still searching, others, like chen, have users Creative Job-Search and Interview Strategies to Secure Offers.

Almost giving up on software Engineering

CHEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME NOB IN THE SUMMER OF 2024. AS A Computer Science Major, He’d Always Envisioned Starting His Career in Software Engineering. But after Applying to More than 400 Jobs and Struggling to Gain Traction, he expanded his search to include management and design roles.

But he didn’t give up on software Engineering. Between September 2024 and Early February 2025, CHEN APPLED TO SEVERAL SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AMAZON.

In Mid-February, he was ascked to completa an online assessment for one of the roles he had applied to-he’s still unure what one-that included a coding test He though he had done wells – news he excitedly shared with his parents – but the months passsed, he never reciped an update about his application status.

“My parents would kep nansing for updates on Amazon Becausea it a name brand,” he said. “And i eventually told i say GOT rejeCted – i though iF i hadn’t heard from say after months, it’s probably not going to happy.”

By the time amazon reached out in May, Chen Said he was deep in interviews for Product Management and Design Ros – and Had Nearly Given Up on Software Engineering Entirely.

The Unexpectted Opportunity to return to his preference Field was welcome, but its timing posed a challenge. AFTER FOCUSG ON OTHER TYPES OF ROES, HE’D LARGELY STOPPED PRACTICING HIS CODING SKILLS AND WOULED NEED TO QUICKLY BRUSH UP PRIXT.

Posting on Tiktok to Hold Himself Accountable

CHEN HAD JUST 10 days to prepare – and still had to carve out for interviews with Other Companies, in Addition to School Exams and Final Projects. SO he came to be plan of Attack, Dydoing His Days Into Blocks for Coding Practice on Leetcode, Behavioral Prep, and Studying for Other Interviews.

He set out to read everything he coulded on platforms like Redit and Blind About Amazon’s Process and Past Candidates’ Experiences, Practice Common Technical Questions, Study the Company’s Leadership Principles, and Memorize Star-For-Format stories that embodied is Values.

“This was the first Big Company That Had Given with a Chance in a while,” He Said, “SO i Really WANTED TO GET THIS.”

But pulling this all off seed daunting, and chen felt he needed to be help Him stay motivated. Then he had an idea. He’d been interests in creating social media Content for a while but haad posted a handful of tiktox. What if he started Documenting His Preparation for the Amazon Interview? Sharing updates publicly on tiktok, he figured, would Add the Kind of Pressure and Needed to Stay Locked in – and Maybe Attract Advice from Others who been Through the process.

On May 19, Chen Posted a tiktok with the Caption “10 days unil fang final interview,” Sharing How Much Prep He’d Done, How Many Classes he’d skipped, How Much Caffeine He’d Consumed, and How Many Showers He’d Taken. He followed it with simillar updates in the days that followed.

CHEN SAID HIS VIDEOS – WHICH RECEIVED AS MANY AS 2.6 MILLION Views – Drew a wide range of reaction, including skepticism that it could have gioven his limited preparation time.

“The video brought a lot of Doubt from Viewers, but thankfully Also a lot of Advice and Encouragement,” He Said.

Preparing for Behavioral Questions Prove to Be Essential

When Interviewing DAY ARRIVED IN LATE May, Chen was anxious and sleep-deprived. He Said HIS Amazon “Loop” Intervention Process Consted of Three Back-to-Back Virtual Interviews with Short Breaks in Between. The First Round Focused on Technical Questions, the Second on Behavioral SCENARIOS Tied to Amazon’s Leadership Principles, and the Third Included A Mix of Both.

“I was thinking that these few hours will determine if i am employed,” he said.

Chen gradually setled in as the day Went on and left the interviews Feeling like he’d done his best. On June 3, Shortly after Finishing his Third Interview of the Day for Non-Amazon Role, he saw an email notification on his phone. He’d received an offfer from Amazon with a sax-figure salary.

On june 5, chen posted a tiktok with the news that received over 941,000 views. He Graduated in Mid-June and, after Moving to New York City, Started Working Full-Time in July.

CHEN SAID HIS BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE AMAZON INTERVIEWS WAS THE COMPANY’S EMphasis on Behavioral Questions Tied to Its Leadership Principles – Something and Felt Played to His Strengths.

“They a lot about your success stories outside your technical expertise,” he said. “I think i’m a better talker than a coder, so i was very excited for that.”

One of His Top Pieces of Advice for Job Seekers: while Application Quality Matters, volume is essential in a tough market.

“Many Times I Did Feel Hopeless, but I think I Truly Is A Numbers Game,” He Said. “You Just Need to Apply to Everynding You’re Qualified for.”