I'm not at CrowdStrike, but I've placed a handful of folks there over the years and talked through their recruiter process in detail. Going to write what the first call actually covers because candidates consistently under-prepare for it.
The CrowdStrike recruiter phone screen is 20-30 minutes. It's not a formality. At CrowdStrike specifically, the recruiter has a structured set of questions and they score the call. Candidates who blow it off get filtered out before the technical rounds.
Here's what gets covered:
Why CrowdStrike, why now. This is the most weighted question on the screen. Vague answers like "I want to work in security" don't move the needle. They want to hear that you understand what CrowdStrike does (EDR, threat intelligence, Falcon platform) and have a specific reason you're interested in their approach. Candidates who mention specific products or recent news in the security space score higher.
Current comp and expectations. They will ask. California candidates might get some protection but outside of that, they will ask your current total comp and your target. Have a real number ready. Saying "I'm open" is a miss.
Situation check: role clarity. They'll confirm you read the job description. I've heard of candidates passing everything technically and failing this because they'd applied to three CrowdStrike roles and didn't know which one they were talking to a recruiter about. Don't do that.
Work authorization. Comes up every time, early. They do sponsor H1B but they want to know upfront.
Basic background. Quick resume walk. Where you are now, how long, what you're working on. One to two minutes tops.
The recruiter call is your first impression and at CrowdStrike it's actually evaluated. Go in prepared.