did my Zoom recruiter phone screen last month for a senior PM role. sharing what the call was like because I think people either way over-prep or under-prep for these and it helps to know exactly what to expect.
the call was 30 minutes, on Zoom obviously. the recruiter was friendly, moved efficiently through the agenda.
what they covered: quick 2-3 minute background overview. they asked 'walk me through your experience quickly' not 'tell me about yourself.' small difference but I found the framing easier. why Zoom specifically. not 'why do you want to work here' in the vague sense but specifically what drew you to Zoom vs other companies. have a real answer. 'I like the product' is not enough, especially if you're in tech and they know you have options. role fit: a few questions about what you're currently working on and whether it connects to the scope of this role. logistics: location/time zone (they asked about my flexibility for hybrid), compensation expectations, timeline. they asked comp early and it felt direct. I gave a range.
what they do not ask: no behavioral questions in the recruiter screen. no case questions. no technical anything. this is purely about fit and whether it makes sense to go to the hiring manager screen.
the recruiter explained the process clearly: recruiter screen, then HM screen, then full virtual onsite loop (3-4 rounds). she gave me a rough timeline (1-2 weeks to move to next stage) and she was pretty accurate.
one thing: they do look at your LinkedIn before the call. the recruiter referenced a specific role from my background unprompted. make sure your LinkedIn is current.