I interviewed for a role at Bezos Academy and had two rounds of interviews — one with the hiring manager and another with a recruiter. Both were structured in a technical STAR-style format and seemed thorough on the surface. However, a clear pattern emerged throughout the process: it felt like there was a preferred candidate from the start. Communication became sparse, and despite being told I was still actively in consideration, weeks went by with no meaningful updates. Then, out of the blue on a Tuesday, I received a call informing me the role had been filled with their first-choice applicant. I want to be clear that the recruiters themselves were respectful and courteous — they were simply following the process. But the process itself was opaque and frustrating, especially given the time investment. If you’re not the early favorite, be prepared for long delays and little transparency.