Debriefing with the Bar Raiser: Ensuring Objectivity
How the Debrief Meeting Works
The debrief meeting is a crucial step in Amazon's hiring process, where all interviewers come together to discuss their assessments and make a final hiring decision. Here's how it typically unfolds:
All interviewers gather, either in person or virtually, led by the Bar Raiser.
Each interviewer presents their feedback, focusing on specific examples and alignment with Leadership Principles.
The Bar Raiser facilitates discussion, asking probing questions and ensuring all perspectives are heard.
The team discusses any discrepancies in assessments and shares additional context if needed.
Each interviewer provides their final recommendation: Strong Hire, Hire, No Hire, or Strong No Hire.
The Bar Raiser summarizes the discussion and guides the team towards a consensus.
A final hiring decision is made, with the Bar Raiser having veto power to ensure high standards are maintained.
Role of the Bar Raiser in Maintaining a High Bar
The Bar Raiser plays a critical role in Amazon's hiring process, ensuring that the company maintains high standards across all hires. Their responsibilities include:
| Responsibility | Description |
|---|---|
| Objectivity | Provides an unbiased perspective, as they are not from the hiring team |
| Quality Control | Ensures candidates meet or exceed the bar for their level across the entire company |
| Process Integrity | Guarantees the hiring process is followed correctly and fairly |
| Facilitation | Leads the debrief discussion, ensuring all voices are heard |
| Decision Making | Has veto power on hiring decisions to maintain high standards |
Scenarios Where Votes May Change Based on New Insights
During the debrief, it's not uncommon for interviewers to change their votes based on new information or perspectives shared. Here are some scenarios where this might occur:
- An interviewer misinterpreted a candidate's response, and clarification from others provides a new perspective.
- Additional context about a candidate's background or experience is shared, shedding new light on their responses.
- A pattern of behavior becomes apparent when all feedback is combined, which wasn't evident in individual interviews.
- The Bar Raiser provides insights on how the candidate compares to others at the same level across the company.
- Discussion reveals that a perceived weakness in one area is outweighed by exceptional strengths in others.
Diagram of a Debrief Meeting
Here's a visual representation of a typical debrief meeting, highlighting the key participants and their roles:
Bar Raiser
Facilitates the meeting and ensures high standards
Hiring Manager
Provides context on team needs and culture fit
Interviewers
Share feedback and vote on hiring decision
Key Discussion Points:
- Candidate's performance against each Leadership Principle
- Technical skills and problem-solving abilities
- Cultural fit and potential for growth
- Comparison to the bar for the role and level
- Any concerns or reservations about the candidate
- Final hiring recommendation and justification