Knowing what to expect during a screening call with your Headhunter can help you prepare for an important step in securing a new role. To help you get the most out of your call, we’ve put together a short guide below.  

 

 

Before the call – prepare yourself 

 

Make sure you have a good phone signal and your environment isn’t too loud. Hotel lobbies, parks or coffee shops (outside of busy hours) make a good place to conduct the call.  

 

Before the phone call, think about what you would like to get out of it and prepare a few questions.  

 

When you prepare your questions, you should have two goals in mind: 1. obtain information on the role / firm to help you decide if you want to take this further and 2. determine if you have the skills required for the role/s the Head Hunter is working on.  

Also, make sure you do your due diligence on the Headhunter. Read Working Efficiently with Headhunters to help you with this process. 

 

 

During the call 

 

At least 65% of our communication is non-verbal which means you need to place extra emphasis on the clarity of your message.  

 

To be prepared during the call, here’s a checklist of what you should have: 

  • A copy of your resume in front of you with key achievements highlighted 
  • A copy of the job posting (if you have it) 
  • Your preparation work for easy reference during the conversation  
  • A comfortable environment without distractions.  

 

Let the Headhunter set the agenda for the call. S/he will ask you to explain your experience and deep dive on certain projects. Although s/he won’t be asking you to whiteboard a problem, a good Headhunter should understand the details of your projects and drill down.  

 

Focus on the role you are discussing and ensure that you discuss the relevant skills and experience that you’ve had in relation to that role. The experience you had as an intern may be interesting but if it’s not relevant for the role, focus on the stuff that is.   

 

 

After the call  

 

The Headhunter should let you know next steps and give you an indication of timelines. If you are moving forward it’s in the Headhunters best interest to move quickly however they are at the mercy of the client. A good Headhunter should keep you posted on progress, even if there hasn’t been any.