Screening call
Also known as: phone screen
A screening call is a short early-stage conversation, often 15 to 30 minutes, used to confirm a candidate's basic fit, interest, and key requirements before committing to a full interview. It filters the shortlist and protects everyone's time.
The screening call checks the essentials: relevant experience, genuine motivation, compensation expectations, and any dealbreakers such as location or notice period.
Candidates who clear it move into a structured interview scored against the scorecard; those who do not are declined early, before either side has invested real time.