These days, the very next process involved in shortlisting candidates who have applied for a job is the basic recruiting/ screening call. Even the most talented and technical candidates fail to proceed further because they fail to impress the recruiter in the first screening test. So lets take a quick look on how to prepare/ get ready for a recruiter call.
What is a Recruiter Call?
The recruiter or the screening call is the very first interaction a candidate would have with a recruiter for the job they have applied to. Recruiters would want to evaluate and shortlist the applicants based on this primary screening call.
How to prepare for a recruiter call?
It becomes increasingly important to fascinate the recruiters and prove that you’re a valuable and a fitting candidate for the role. Here are a few tips to ace the preliminary screening test.
Tips to Prepare For A Recruiter Call
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the major causes of poor performance. Approximately over 93 percent of the people suffer from anxiety before an interview or a screening call, according to a survey by JDP. So its important to let your mind wander in-order to escape over-thinking and anxiety. Try taking a shower or a short walk to help you freshen-up. One of the perks of a screening call is that it takes place over the telephone virtually and not on-site. So this can be an opportunity for the candidates to feel at ease and relax a bit before or during the screening call. Make sure to have a glass of water near you during the call. Taking a sip of water whenever you feel over-whelmed can help to soothe the nerves and anxiety.
Simultaneously it is also important not to go in there with nothing on your mind. Practise what you’re about to inform the recruiter, all the while making sure that you have a relaxed mind.
Warm Greetings!
The next step is to attend the call/meeting without panicking. Greeting the recruiter formally at the beginning of the call puts you in a positive edge on the mind of the recruiter. It can help you to connect with the recruiter on a more personal level. Keep the conversation going in a positive way and ‘break the ice’ with some light-hearted jokes, but be careful not to over-do it. Don’t always try to speak whenever there’s a pause. Listen to the recruiter intently and let them know that you’re listening. Listen carefully to what the recruiter has to say and speak only when its your turn to do so. It is equally important to think through the stuff you want to speak. Speaking your mind without thinking it through and delivering your answers in a ‘point-blank’ or ‘matter-of-factly’ manner might lead you into trouble. So its important that the candidate shouldn’t come off as rude or impolite.
Introduce Yourself
The most basic question that is often asked during the screening test is “Tell me about yourself”. Candidates might underestimate this question but this generic question and how you answer it can tell a lot about yourself, the quality of your communication skills and your attitude. So its important to give a brief intro about yourself highlighting your strengths and letting the recruiter know that you’re a right fit for the job. The interesting thing about this question is that you get to control the perception of yourself on the recruiter’s mind. So you should list all the good qualities and sell yourself to the recruiter without making it look like you’re ‘blowing your own horn’. Recruiters usually don’t cater to boasting so you might want to define yourself, your qualities and skills without coming across as narcissistic. A nice and brief introduction about yourself can put you on a pedestal for the recruiter.
Be Concise
This is a very important trait to possess to get a positive result from the recruiter after the screening. ‘Beating around the bush’ and not actually getting to the point you were originally supposed to make only makes the recruiter confused and frustrated. Be precise and concise and cut to the chase right away as it could save a lot of time, both for the recruiter and the candidate. The recruiter might have a number of candidates left to evaluate or interview and they cannot afford to spend all their time with one candidate alone.
Avoid using a lot of words just for the sake of using it and keep it simple and short to get a positive response from the recruiter. So, the candidate must respect the recruiter’s time and schedule and act accordingly.
Background check
Before the screening call takes place it is best to do a background check on the company you’ve applied for, since it can give you an idea of what the company actually specialises in and how it does what it does. You can also find the basic questions usually asked in the screening call by just surfing through the internet. It is wise to have some knowledge about the company prior to the screening call instead of just going in there nesciently. This shows the recruiter that you’ve done your homework and that you’re really interested and devoted for the job.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions
One thing that most of the recruiters secretly admire is the candidate’s tendency to ask questions. Usually candidates are under the impression that only the recruiters are allowed to question them and not the other-way round too. It is, however, false. A prudent candidate should know when to ask questions and what questions to ask. So it shows that the candidate isn’t afraid or nervous to ask questions. Therefore, the candidate shouldn’t be hesitant to ask questions and get it clarified as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Ask the recruiters about the organisation’s work, about the position that you’ve applied to, and about the salary range of the position. It implies that you’re sincere and that you’re genuinely interested for the role.
Conclusion
These are the tips/ steps for the candidate to prepare to ace the preliminary recruiter call. The candidates should focus on their communication and vocabulary skills to make sure that they get a positive result and a possible second interview from the recruiter.
