#13 You've got the recruiter call - yay! But, now what?

You finally got the email.

A recruiter screen is on the books.

Cue the panic: “It’s been years since I’ve done one - what do I even say?”​​

Let’s clear something up:

A recruiter screen isn’t an interrogation or a skills test.It’s a fit check — to confirm the basics before they move you forward.

They’re listening for a few things:

• Do you meet the minimums for the role (skills, level, background)?

• Do you sound like you want the role? As it is written - at this level, pay and seniority?

• Do you understand the kind of problem this team is solving?

• Can you explain your work clearly and directly?

• Are the logistics workable (location, comp, timeline)?

• And tech companies are sorta notorious for wanting to know: "why did you pick us?"

That’s it.

Their job is to de-risk the process.​Your job is to make it easy for them to say yes, this person fits.

How to show up well:

1️⃣ Know what they’re screening for.​

They’re not evaluating deep technical or functional nuance - that comes later.

They’re checking for alignment: background, intent, communication, and logistics.

They want to know that you're keen on the company, the role and that you'll likely say yes to an offer at the end of the process and stay for a couple of years. ​

2️⃣ Anchor your story in relevance.​

When they ask, “Walk me through your background,” don’t give them your life story. I know, but some MBA career councillors did us dirty on this one.

You've got 60-90 seconds to make it obvious why this role makes sense for you.

“I’ve spent the last three years at Amazon Pay as a Product Marketing Manager, leading GTM for new checkout experiences and helping merchants increase conversion. Before that, I built HubSpot’s first lifecycle marketing program, which lifted activation 20% in 90 days. What drew me to this role is the opportunity to solve similar adoption and growth challenges in a new context.”

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3️⃣ Be clear about your journey​

How you've navigated your career is likely to come up - usually as "why did you leave your last role?" Even if the conversation is flowing and you're feeling like the recruiter is your new bestie - don't hit them with "my manager was a jerk".

That's a flag.

If a role was impacted by layoff, say that, but otherwise, think about how each step gave you an opportunity to grow and learn. We want to communicate progress and intentionality as much as possible.

​4️⃣ Keep it tight and confident.​

You’re not trying to prove you can do everything under the sun.​You’re showing that you can do this job — clearly, directly, and without wandering.

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Remember:​

Depth isn’t the point.

Fit is.

If you can help them picture you in the job, you’ll get the next call.

​Sending you good vibes for a successful call!

Mel

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👀 Related: Your LinkedIn profile is often the first place recruiters check when you apply. If it’s not telling a clear, relevant story, you’re leaving traction on the table.

Need help there? Join my Recruiter Magnet workshop on Nov 12 - we’ll cover the sections that matter most to making your fit obvious. [Save your seat → register on zoom]