ran into a few people recently who went through okta's process and the recruiter phone screen surprised them. thought i'd put together what i've heard since the format is a bit more structured than a lot of companies.
okta's recruiter screens are roughly 30-45 minutes and split pretty clearly into two halves:
first half: background and fit typical stuff but they do care about specifics. expect: walk me through your background (2-3 minutes, they want concise) why okta, why now (have a real answer, not 'i think it's a great company') what you know about okta's products (they make auth/SSO/lifecycle management; if you've implemented or evaluated anything in this space it's worth mentioning) current comp range and timeline (yes, they ask early)
second half: logistics and soft screening remote vs. in-office preferences and your location (they have hubs in SF, Toronto, London, Atlanta; confirm which office/team you're being considered for) visa/work authorization status (no judgment, just logistics) any competing offers or timelines they should know about
what they're actually filtering on: not trying to screen you out on personality. they're filtering for: (1) communication clarity, (2) whether your background plausibly fits the level they're hiring, (3) whether comp expectations are in range before investing more time.
the recruiter will also briefly explain the full loop format so you know what's coming. pay attention. the loops vary a little by team.
one tip: come with 2-3 specific questions about the role or team. i've heard from okta interviewers that candidates who ask nothing during the recruiter screen feel disengaged. the recruiter screen is a two-way call even if it doesn't feel like it.
overall tone is pretty warm. not a stress-test. just be specific, be honest about your timeline, and you'll be fine.