I don't recruit for Datadog specifically but I recruit for companies with similar profiles, and a few of my placed candidates just went through the Datadog loop. Here's what the recruiter screen actually looks like based on what I've heard consistently.
It's a 30-minute call, usually on video now. Internal Datadog recruiter, not an agency screener.
What they cover:
1. Background walkthrough. Standard. They've read your resume but want to hear you narrate your arc. Keep it under 5 minutes. Nobody wants the unabridged version.
2. Why Datadog. They ask this every time. Candidates who say 'great product, growing company' get the minimum engagement. What lands better: specific things about their product area (like APM or infrastructure monitoring), why the observability space specifically, and something genuine about the team or tech stack. You don't have to fake it but you do have to think about it beforehand.
3. Comp expectations. They ask early. Know your number. 'Competitive with market' is not a number. If you're unsure, give a range and say it's based on what you've seen for similar roles in your market.
4. Logistics. Location, start date, work authorization. For a company growing as fast as they were in 2025-2026, they care about speed. If you have a 3-month notice period, flag it early.
5. Candidate questions. Leave time. The question you ask here signals what you care about. A candidate who asks 'what does success look like in the first 90 days' is showing intent differently than 'is there remote flexibility.'
One thing I tell everyone: the recruiter is your ally if you treat them like one. Give clear answers, be responsive, and flag any scheduling constraints upfront. A slow email response at this stage has killed more loops than a bad answer.