I've done a lot of recruiter screens in the last few months (layoff life, you know the vibe) and ELC's stood out enough that I wanted to write it up.
The call was 35 minutes. Most recruiter screens I do are basically 'walk me through your resume, here's the job, do you have questions.' This one had more substance.
Here's what she asked:
Standard stuff: current role/what you're looking for, timeline, compensation expectations (asked early, not at the end), and visa/work authorization.
The unexpected part: she asked me to describe the intersection of my background and ELC's business. Not 'why do you want to work here' but more like 'what specifically about your experience is relevant to what we're building.' I had to think on my feet. She wasn't trying to trip me up but it was a real question that required a real answer.
They're transparent about the process: she walked me through every stage unprompted. OA, technical phone screen, virtual onsite with four panels, then debrief. She estimated 6-8 weeks total from this call. Appreciated that. So many recruiters are vague on purpose.
Comp question: she asked my expectations before telling me the band. I gave a range and she said it was within scope without being specific. Later I found out the base range for this role in NYC was around $140-165k for senior IC, with a 15-20% target bonus on top. That's below pure tech but solid for CPG.
What I'd do differently: I wasn't prepared for the 'intersection of your background and our business' question. Write a two-sentence answer for that before your call. Think about it from a product/consumer angle, not just technology.
Overall the recruiter was sharp and the process felt respectful of my time. Not the experience I usually have when I'm a volume applicant.