Back to Situations
Job Interviews

First-Round Screening Interview

A brief initial interview (often virtual or over the phone) focusing on basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit to determine if a candidate should proceed to further rounds.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Hiring Manager (Male)
Good morning, Maya. Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. My name is Andrew, and I'm the hiring manager for the Marketing Coordinator position.
2
Candidate (Female)
Good morning, Andrew. It's a pleasure to speak with you too. Thank you for this opportunity.
3
Hiring Manager (Male)
Great. So, this first call is just a quick screening to learn a bit more about your background and what you're looking for. Could you start by telling me a little about yourself and what attracted you to this role?
4
Candidate (Female)
Certainly. I've been working in marketing for the past three years, primarily focusing on digital campaigns and content creation. I was really drawn to this role because of [Company Name]'s strong reputation and the opportunity to work on projects that align with my passion for sustainable initiatives.
5
Hiring Manager (Male)
That's excellent to hear. Your experience with digital campaigns certainly stands out. Our team is rapidly expanding in that area. What kind of marketing tools or platforms are you most proficient with?
6
Candidate (Female)
I'm highly proficient in HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and various social media management platforms like Hootsuite and Buffer. I'm also quick to pick up new technologies.
7
Hiring Manager (Male)
That's a solid set of skills. Just one more question for this round: what are your salary expectations for a role like this?
8
Candidate (Female)
Based on my research and experience, I'm looking for something in the range of $55,000 to $60,000 annually, depending on the overall benefits package. I'm open to discussing this further.
9
Hiring Manager (Male)
Understood. That's within our budgeted range. Maya, thank you again for your time. We'll be in touch by the end of the week regarding the next steps. Do you have any questions for me at this point?
10
Candidate (Female)
Yes, just one quick question. What's the typical timeline for filling this position? I'm quite eager to learn more.
11
Hiring Manager (Male)
We're aiming to have someone on board within the next 4-6 weeks, ideally. Great question. Thanks again, Maya. Have a good rest of your day.
12
Candidate (Female)
You too, Andrew. Goodbye.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

screening

A preliminary check or interview to see if someone is suitable for a job, like an initial filter before deeper interviews.

background

Your past experiences, education, and work history that make you qualified for a job.

attracted

Drawn to or interested in something because it appeals to you; use this to explain why you want a job.

proficient

Very skilled or expert in using something, like tools or software; common in job interviews to describe abilities.

salary expectations

The amount of money you hope to earn in a job; interviewers ask this to see if it matches their budget.

budgeted range

The planned or allocated amount of money a company is willing to pay for a position.

timeline

A schedule or expected time frame for completing something, like hiring process steps.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today.

This is a polite way to start a conversation, showing appreciation for the other person's time. Use it at the beginning of interviews or meetings to build rapport.

Could you start by telling me a little about yourself?

A common interview question to learn about your experience. It's an open-ended prompt; respond with a brief summary of your professional background, not personal details.

What attracted you to this role?

Interviewers ask this to see your motivation. Answer by connecting your skills or interests to the job and company; it shows enthusiasm.

I'm highly proficient in [tools or skills].

This structure highlights your expertise. Use 'proficient in' followed by specific examples; it's useful for answering questions about qualifications.

What are your salary expectations for a role like this?

A standard question about pay. Research market rates first; respond with a range to show flexibility, like 'in the range of $X to $Y'.

I'm open to discussing this further.

This shows willingness to negotiate. Use it after stating expectations to keep the conversation positive and collaborative.

Do you have any questions for me at this point?

Interviewers often end with this to see your interest. Always prepare questions, like about the role or company, to demonstrate engagement.

We're aiming to have someone on board within the next 4-6 weeks.

This gives a hiring schedule. 'On board' means starting the job; use similar phrases to set expectations in professional discussions.