Agency recruiter here, placed a few people into DoorDash over the last two years. Also coached a bunch of candidates through their loops. Wanted to demystify the recruiter screen because it gets dismissed as "just logistics" when it actually matters.
What the recruiter phone screen covers:
Expect 30-45 minutes. Usually one recruiter, sometimes a coordinator also on the call. The call is not a box-check. It is a first filter.
They will ask: why DoorDash specifically? This is not a throwaway. DoorDash has churned through growth pains and a pretty rough post-pandemic period publicly, and they want people who have a genuine reason to be there beyond "big tech brand." Logistics, marketplace dynamics, the consumer side, specific products. Pick something real.
They will ask about your timeline and current situation. Be direct. Lying about offers you don't have is a bad bet at this stage. If you're early, say you're early. They'll usually tell you what the typical loop timeline looks like, which is useful for planning.
Expect: compensation. DoorDash recruiter screens almost always hit comp early. They will give you a range or ask for yours. Know your number. Don't give a huge range hoping to anchor high: it signals you haven't done the research. Come in knowing the L4 vs L5 band difference matters a lot there.
Also: behavioral at a surface level. Not full STAR stories, more like "tell me a little about a recent project you're proud of." This is the recruiter figuring out what story to tell the hiring manager about you.
What trips people up: Vague answers on "why DoorDash" and comp avoidance. Both make recruiters nervous. A candidate who sounds prepared and direct is a candidate who moves forward. The pool at this stage is large and recruiters are looking for reasons to advance or eliminate, not to uncover hidden gems.
If you don't hear back within 5 business days after the phone screen, a short follow-up email is totally normal. Not desperate. Recruiters are swamped.