Screening Call Tips 2025: How to Impress Recruiters in the First Call

A screening call is usually the first conversation you’ll have with a recruiter. Many job seekers treat it with a casual approach, but in reality, this short call can decide whether you move forward in the hiring process or you are kept on hold. In this guide, we’ll cover what screening calls are, common questions recruiters ask in a screening call, tips to prepare for a screening call, and sample answers to it, so you can confidently make the best first impression.

1. What is a Screening Call?

A screening call is a 10–20 minute phone or video conversation between a recruiter and a candidate which is also the very first call that any recruiter makes after looking at your application or resume. This screening call is made to understand:

Your qualifications and experience. (are you actually what your resume claims)
Check your communication skills
Understand your salary expectations
Understand your availability to join
Assess whether you’re a cultural fit and fit all the requirements for the role.

1. What is a Screening Call?

A screening call is a 10–20 minute phone or video conversation between a recruiter and a candidate which is also the very first call that any recruiter makes after looking at your application or resume. This screening call is made to understand:

Your qualifications and experience. (are you actually what your resume claims)
Check your communication skills
Understand your salary expectations
Understand your availability to join
Assess whether you’re a cultural fit and fit all the requirements for the role.

1. What is a Screening Call?

A screening call is a 10–20 minute phone or video conversation between a recruiter and a candidate which is also the very first call that any recruiter makes after looking at your application or resume. This screening call is made to understand:

Your qualifications and experience. (are you actually what your resume claims)
Check your communication skills
Understand your salary expectations
Understand your availability to join
Assess whether you’re a cultural fit and fit all the requirements for the role.

2. Why Recruiters Conduct Screening Calls

Recruiters need to filter out candidates before sending them to hiring managers which saves alot of the time of the hiring team and interviewer’s. The first impression of any candidate flows up by these very recuiters. A screening call acts like the door which once opened will let you enter into the hiring process.

2. Why Recruiters Conduct Screening Calls

Recruiters need to filter out candidates before sending them to hiring managers which saves alot of the time of the hiring team and interviewer’s. The first impression of any candidate flows up by these very recuiters. A screening call acts like the door which once opened will let you enter into the hiring process.

2. Why Recruiters Conduct Screening Calls

Recruiters need to filter out candidates before sending them to hiring managers which saves alot of the time of the hiring team and interviewer’s. The first impression of any candidate flows up by these very recuiters. A screening call acts like the door which once opened will let you enter into the hiring process.

3. Common Questions Recruiters Ask

“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why are you interested in this role/company?”
Why are you looking for a job change?
“What’s your current salary and expected salary?”
“Are you open to relocation if you o not belong to the same city or remote work?
“What are real time problems that you faced in your previous role?”
“What is your total experience and relevant experience?”

“What tools have you used (role specific)?”

3. Common Questions Recruiters Ask

“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why are you interested in this role/company?”
Why are you looking for a job change?
“What’s your current salary and expected salary?”
“Are you open to relocation if you o not belong to the same city or remote work?
“What are real time problems that you faced in your previous role?”
“What is your total experience and relevant experience?”

“What tools have you used (role specific)?”

3. Common Questions Recruiters Ask

“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why are you interested in this role/company?”
Why are you looking for a job change?
“What’s your current salary and expected salary?”
“Are you open to relocation if you o not belong to the same city or remote work?
“What are real time problems that you faced in your previous role?”
“What is your total experience and relevant experience?”

“What tools have you used (role specific)?”

4. How to Prepare Before the Call

Before starting your job hunt the first thing anyone should do is sit yourself down and ask yourself a few questions.

Why am i really leaving my current job?
What are my motivations when it comes to work.
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to culture, manager, and expectations.
Am i really in a role which aligns with my natural insitcts.
What type of growth am i looking for.
What industry i like working in.
Are there any additional skills that would help me get a better opportunity

After you have answered a few questions for yourself, you get clearity on the answers to the questions any recruiter might ask you in a screening call and you won’t be blank while the very first interaction with any company recruiter.

After you have though these things through you would start applying but before applying make sure you do a little more research, cause recruiters do get impressed by candidates that know about the company cause it saves alot of their time which is put in explaining about their company.

Research the company and role
Practice a 2-minute self-introduction
Keep your resume handy
Be ready to discuss salary with a realistic range. (research about industry standards)

4. How to Prepare Before the Call

Before starting your job hunt the first thing anyone should do is sit yourself down and ask yourself a few questions.

Why am i really leaving my current job?
What are my motivations when it comes to work.
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to culture, manager, and expectations.
Am i really in a role which aligns with my natural insitcts.
What type of growth am i looking for.
What industry i like working in.
Are there any additional skills that would help me get a better opportunity

After you have answered a few questions for yourself, you get clearity on the answers to the questions any recruiter might ask you in a screening call and you won’t be blank while the very first interaction with any company recruiter.

After you have though these things through you would start applying but before applying make sure you do a little more research, cause recruiters do get impressed by candidates that know about the company cause it saves alot of their time which is put in explaining about their company.

Research the company and role
Practice a 2-minute self-introduction
Keep your resume handy
Be ready to discuss salary with a realistic range. (research about industry standards)

4. How to Prepare Before the Call

Before starting your job hunt the first thing anyone should do is sit yourself down and ask yourself a few questions.

Why am i really leaving my current job?
What are my motivations when it comes to work.
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to culture, manager, and expectations.
Am i really in a role which aligns with my natural insitcts.
What type of growth am i looking for.
What industry i like working in.
Are there any additional skills that would help me get a better opportunity

After you have answered a few questions for yourself, you get clearity on the answers to the questions any recruiter might ask you in a screening call and you won’t be blank while the very first interaction with any company recruiter.

After you have though these things through you would start applying but before applying make sure you do a little more research, cause recruiters do get impressed by candidates that know about the company cause it saves alot of their time which is put in explaining about their company.

Research the company and role
Practice a 2-minute self-introduction
Keep your resume handy
Be ready to discuss salary with a realistic range. (research about industry standards)

5. Best Practices During the Call

Speak clearly and confidently move to a place where there is no disturbance and has a good network.
Keep answers short and focused
Show genuine enthusiasm

Ask at least one thoughtful question (e.g., “What does success in this role look like?”)

5. Best Practices During the Call

Speak clearly and confidently move to a place where there is no disturbance and has a good network.
Keep answers short and focused
Show genuine enthusiasm

Ask at least one thoughtful question (e.g., “What does success in this role look like?”)

5. Best Practices During the Call

Speak clearly and confidently move to a place where there is no disturbance and has a good network.
Keep answers short and focused
Show genuine enthusiasm

Ask at least one thoughtful question (e.g., “What does success in this role look like?”)

6. Mistakes to Avoid

Giving long, unfocused answers
Speaking negatively about past employers
Sounding distracted or uninterested

Not asking any questions

6. Mistakes to Avoid

Giving long, unfocused answers
Speaking negatively about past employers
Sounding distracted or uninterested

Not asking any questions

6. Mistakes to Avoid

Giving long, unfocused answers
Speaking negatively about past employers
Sounding distracted or uninterested

Not asking any questions

7. Sample Script: “Tell Me About Yourself”

"I’m a software engineer with 3 years of experience in backend development. At my last company which was a software solutions company, I worked on scaling a payments API that reduced transaction errors by 20%. I’m now looking to apply my skills in fintech, cause that’s the industry i myself am passionate about and love working where I can contribute to building secure and scalable systems and use my innovative skills as well. I left my last company cause i realised i would be able to contribute more in the fintech industry. And i have read the jb description while applying for this role i know the location is in Mumbai and the company has been in the Fintech industry for more than 5 yrs. "

Thats how you create a unforgettable impression for a recruiter.

Recruiters dont only appreciate this behaviour but also speak about it with interviewers and internal teams.

7. Sample Script: “Tell Me About Yourself”

"I’m a software engineer with 3 years of experience in backend development. At my last company which was a software solutions company, I worked on scaling a payments API that reduced transaction errors by 20%. I’m now looking to apply my skills in fintech, cause that’s the industry i myself am passionate about and love working where I can contribute to building secure and scalable systems and use my innovative skills as well. I left my last company cause i realised i would be able to contribute more in the fintech industry. And i have read the jb description while applying for this role i know the location is in Mumbai and the company has been in the Fintech industry for more than 5 yrs. "

Thats how you create a unforgettable impression for a recruiter.

Recruiters dont only appreciate this behaviour but also speak about it with interviewers and internal teams.

7. Sample Script: “Tell Me About Yourself”

"I’m a software engineer with 3 years of experience in backend development. At my last company which was a software solutions company, I worked on scaling a payments API that reduced transaction errors by 20%. I’m now looking to apply my skills in fintech, cause that’s the industry i myself am passionate about and love working where I can contribute to building secure and scalable systems and use my innovative skills as well. I left my last company cause i realised i would be able to contribute more in the fintech industry. And i have read the jb description while applying for this role i know the location is in Mumbai and the company has been in the Fintech industry for more than 5 yrs. "

Thats how you create a unforgettable impression for a recruiter.

Recruiters dont only appreciate this behaviour but also speak about it with interviewers and internal teams.