not interviewing at UHG but I've placed a few people there and talked shop with their TA team at a conference last year. here's what I'd tell anyone going into the UHG recruiter phone screen.
first: it's a screen, not an evaluation. the recruiter is there to qualify you for the loop, not assess your technical depth. they're checking boxes.
what they're actually confirming: can you communicate clearly are your stated YOE and skills roughly real does your comp expectation overlap with the band are you actually interested in this specific role (not just spraying apps) any flags: location issues, start date, work authorization
typical questions on a UHG recruiter call: "walk me through your background" "why UnitedHealth / Optum specifically" (they do actually want an answer, healthcare angle helps) "what's your target compensation range" "are you a U.S. citizen or do you require visa sponsorship" "what's your availability for interviews and when could you start" sometimes: "what tech stack are you strongest in" (not deep, just surface)
what trips people up: saying "i'm open to anything" when asked about role type or location. be specific. also, if you don't have a comp number ready, you'll get an awkward pause. know your range.
one thing specific to UHG: they're a massive company with multiple business units. Optum (tech/services) and UnitedHealthcare (insurance) have different cultures. ask the recruiter which business unit the role sits in. it changes what you should emphasize.
typically 20-30 minutes. done. if it goes well you hear back within a week for the HM screen.