The recruiter phone screen feels low-stakes. It isn’t. It’s a filter, and most candidates get cut here for reasons that have nothing to do with whether they could do the job.
What the recruiter is really checking
Three things: can you communicate clearly, are your basics a fit (level, location, salary range), and are you actually interested. That’s it. You don’t need to be brilliant — you need to be clear and easy.
Have these ready
- A 60-second version of your story, ending at why you’re looking now.
- Your salary range, said without flinching.
- Two specific reasons this company caught your eye.
Half the people I screen out aren’t unqualified. They just couldn’t tell me what they wanted in plain language.
Tomáš Novák, Senior Recruiter
Take the call somewhere quiet, stand up, and smile — it carries down the line. Then ask what the next step looks like before you hang up.