In a significant reflection on Amazon’s hiring practices, founder Jeff Bezos articulated the company’s hiring philosophy in a 1998 letter to shareholders. He emphasized that the success of Amazon.com hinges on the quality of its workforce. To guide interviewers, Bezos distilled his hiring approach into three essential questions aimed at maintaining high standards within the company.
Bezos advised that interviewers should consider: “Will you admire this person? … Will this person raise the average level of effectiveness of the group they’re entering? … Along what dimension might this person be a superstar?” He believed these inquiries would ensure that Amazon continually elevated its talent pool, allowing the company to thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of internet retail.
In a lighthearted manner, Bezos illustrated his point by mentioning a colleague who was the 1978 National Spelling Bee champion. While he acknowledged that such unique talents might not directly relate to job performance, he argued that they contribute to a more enjoyable work environment. “It does make working here more fun if you can occasionally snag her in the hall with a quick challenge: ‘onomatopoeia!’” he noted.
High Standards and the Bar-Raiser Program
This early doctrine eventually led to the establishment of Amazon’s “bar-raiser” program, a system of trained interviewers who assess candidates based on their potential to enhance the overall talent pool. Andy Jassy, who succeeded Bezos as CEO, continues to champion this initiative, calling it “one of Amazon’s crown jewels.”
Bezos’s commitment to high standards did not wane as the company expanded beyond its origins as an online bookstore. In a 2017 letter to shareholders, he reiterated that “high standards are teachable” and crucial for meeting increasing customer expectations. “Once you’ve tasted high standards, there’s no going back,” he summarized, reinforcing the importance of maintaining excellence in every aspect of the business.
Inside Amazon, these principles manifest in various ways, including the use of six-page narrative memos instead of traditional PowerPoint presentations. This year, the company formalized its rigorous interview processes into a public six-step guide for applicants, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to excellence.
The Impact of Relentless Standards
In the 2020 shareholder letter, Amazon reiterated that setting a high hiring bar would “continue to be the single most important element of Amazon.com’s success.” Critics argue that this relentless pursuit of excellence fosters a cutthroat culture, but Amazon’s leadership contends that such toughness has been instrumental in the company’s evolution into a global leader in logistics and cloud services.
As Amazon continues to grow, the foundational principles laid out by Bezos in 1998 remain a crucial part of its identity. The company’s focus on high standards not only shapes its workforce but also profoundly influences its overall strategy and operations, ensuring that it remains a formidable player in the competitive landscape of technology and retail.
