What candidates actually hear when you say “high bar”

And how to say what you actually mean

You’ve heard it before.

“We have a high bar for talent.”

It’s a phrase that always lands early in the process. Sometimes in the job description, sometimes five minutes into an interview. And understandably so. It sounds crisp, confident, and makes joining the company sound like some sort of exclusive club.

But for most candidates, it’s either too vague or just… confusing. 😬

Unless you explain what the bar is, it’s just noise. And for top talent with plenty of options, “our bar is super high” isn’t a helpful starting point.

What candidates actually hear

When companies self-describe as “high bar” without explanation, candidates often interpret it as:

1. We only consider candidates from FAANG companies.
2. We want someone who has already done this exact job, in this exact industry, but will be super excited to do it all over again (bonus points for less money).
3. We can’t agree on what we’re looking for, so you just have to be really impressive.
4. Our investors told us to say this.
5. We want you to work until 11pm every night (including weekends) and in return we’ll give you a high salary so you won’t complain.

And hey, if that’s what you actually mean, then own it! Communicate it. 🗣️

The problem isn’t the standards

No one is saying you can’t have high standards, but instead of defaulting to “we have a high bar,” try talking about what actually makes your company worth joining. And no… free snacks in the office won’t cut it.

If you genuinely want the best candidates out there, you’re going to have to make working for you worth their time.

Here are some ideas:

• Async-friendly culture so people can focus, not spend their days in endless meetings.
• Access to senior leadership on a regular basis.
• Proven market traction and genuinely innovative ideas and products (we can get into that word in another post 😉)
• Impressive benefits (money talks 🎶)
• Hard problems that smart people are actually excited to solve.
• Flexibility in where and when people work.
• Speed, from the hiring process to everyday decision-making.

tl;dr: self-describing as having a “high bar” is easy. Showing how you’ve earned it, is when the fun starts.

Need a hand showing candidates why you’re worth it? That’s our specialty. 🫡