Interviewing

Amazon Bar Raisers receive special training in the [interview] process. One participates in every interview loop. The name was intended to signal to everyone involved in the hiring process that every new hire should “raise the bar,” that is, be better in one important way (or more) than the other members of the team they join. … The Bar Raiser could not be the hiring manager or a recruiter. The Bar Raiser was granted the extraordinary power to veto any hire and override the hiring manager.⊕ (Bryan and Carr 2021, chap. 2)

People often want to have a say in hiring their manager and may be upset if they are excluded from the process, but it is a mistake for direct reports to interview a prospective boss. It’s uncomfortable for the candidate during the interview, and the direct report will learn about the candidate’s weaknesses, and other employees’ views of those weaknesses, during the debrief–which could lead to problems for the future functioning of the team.⊕ (Bryan and Carr 2021, chap. 2)

The method that Amazon interviewers use for drilling down goes by the acronym STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result):

• “What was the situation?”
• “What were you tasked with?”
• “What actions did you take?”
• “What was the result?”⊕ (Bryan and Carr 2021, chap. 2)
  
  

The Bar Raiser leads the meeting, which should be held as soon as possible, usually no more than a few days after the interviews have been completed. The meeting begins with everyone reading all the interview feedback. Afterward, the Bar Raiser may kick off the meeting by asking the group, “Now that everyone has had a chance to read all the feedback, would anyone like to change their vote?”⊕ (Bryan and Carr 2021, chap. 2)

The hiring manager, not the recruiter, then calls the references to further explore and confirm the candidate’s skills and past performance. One question that often gets a telling response is, “If given the chance, would you hire this person again?” Another is, “Of the people you have managed or worked with, in what percentile would you place this candidate?”⊕ (Bryan and Carr 2021, chap. 2)