The Phone Screen

How to complete The Phone Screen

The recruiter screen isn't a deep technical test; it's a filter for people who are pleasant, coherent, and clearly want the role. Passing it just means a real human came away thinking you'd be easy to put in front of the hiring manager.

1. Research the company and role for ten minutes so you can name why you applied without scrambling.
2. Have your own resume open and a one-line answer ready for the salary and notice-period questions.
3. Take the call somewhere quiet with good signal, standing or sitting upright so your voice carries energy.
4. Answer the 'tell me about yourself' opener with a tight 60-second arc, not your whole life story.
5. Close by asking about next steps and timeline so you sound interested and organized.

Tips

• Smile while you talk; it genuinely changes your tone over the phone.
• Don't trash a current or past employer, even if invited to.
• Keep answers to roughly a minute and let the recruiter steer; rambling is the most common fail.

What counts as done

The recruiter ends the call by scheduling the next round or saying they're passing you to the hiring team.