What Is a Bar Raiser?

Full Definition

The Bar Raiser program at Amazon is one of the most distinctive hiring mechanisms in tech. Each interview loop includes one designated Bar Raiser: an Amazonian (typically 3+ years tenured) who has been trained and certified in the Bar Raiser program. The Bar Raiser is from a different team than the hiring team — they have no hiring incentive — and they have veto power over the offer. The Bar Raiser's job is to ensure the candidate would be in the top 50% of current employees at their level. If the Bar Raiser votes no-hire, the candidate does not get an offer even if the hiring manager and other panelists vote yes. The Bar Raiser also runs the debrief meeting and is the final calibrator on whether the bar was actually met. From a candidate's perspective, the Bar Raiser round is often the toughest behavioral round in the loop — they will probe deeper, ask harder follow-up questions, and grade more strictly on LP fit. Candidates can sometimes identify the Bar Raiser in advance (they are usually the panelist with the most cross-team tenure on the interview schedule), but more often you only find out afterward.