Can a former Amazon ‘bar raiser’ actually help you get a job?
Nov 21, 2018, 3:18 PM
(AP)
(AP)
A former Amazon “bar raiser” is offering his services to prospective employees interviewing at the company. But is it actually worth it, or is it about as helpful as an SAT training course?
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Nick Dimitrov worked at Amazon for five years, three of those as what’s known at the company as a “bar raiser.” Part of Amazon’s intensive interview process involving large teams of employees, a bar raiser is counted on to ask tough questions, and ultimately has final veto power, even if the rest of the interview team disagrees.
Dimitrov is now using his knowledge as a bar raiser to help people before they go into the lion’s den, charging $200 for an essential course in Amazon interviewing, $700 for an eight-hour workshop, and $4,500 for several hours where he acts as the bar raiser in mock interviews, with current employees of the company joining the panel that grills you.
“I think this could be invaluable information for people who want to get hired,” said KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney on the Tom and Curley Show.
As for the pricey, $4,500 option, Tangney argues that the short-term investment could pay off big down the line.
“You may pay $4,500, but if you get hired, you’re going to make a nice six figure salary that’s well worth the $4,500 investment,” he said.
Filling in for John Curley on Wednesday’s show, 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny O’Neil didn’t quite agree.
“This is so lame,” said O’Neil. “Look, it’s teaching you to game the system. This isn’t different than any of those SAT training courses,” O’Neil argued.
More than that, he argued, someone who actually thinks an Amazon interview functions well wouldn’t be teaching people how to beat it.
“If he believed in the actual process that Amazon goes through, he wouldn’t be selling the secrets to it,” O’Neil pointed out.
For what can be a grueling, hours-long process talking to multiple people, it could very well help to have some inside knowledge going into a job interview at Amazon. You’ll just have to pay to find out for yourself.
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.
