How to pass a recruiter screening

The first call with a recruiter takes 15–30 minutes and decides whether you move on. There are almost no technical tasks, just a few predictable questions.

What the recruiter checks

Whether your experience matches the job (stack, years, level).
Salary and work format expectations.
Your English level, if the job needs it.
Motivation: why you are looking and why this company.
Timing: when you can start.

Common questions and how to answer

"Tell me about yourself": 1–2 minutes with years of experience, stack, your last project and your part in it. Not a life story.
"Why are you looking?": honestly and without complaining about your employer: "I want more backend work", "the project is ending".
"What are your salary expectations?": give a range you would accept and clarify what it means (before or after tax, which currency).
"When can you start?": a real date, usually 2–4 weeks.
"Any questions for us?": ask about the team, the interview process and the first months' work.

How to prepare in 15 minutes

Reread the job post and mark 2–3 requirements you have examples for.
Practise a short story about yourself out loud.
Decide your salary range in advance.
Open your CV: the recruiter will ask about what is in it.

The English part

If the job needs English, the recruiter may switch to it mid-call. Practise talking about yourself and your last project in English. You can run a mock interview for the exact job in your own AI chat: AutoApply builds the prompt for free.

FAQ

Can I avoid naming a salary first?

You can ask for the job's budget, but recruiters often still want your number. Better to have a range ready.

How long to wait for an answer after screening?

Usually a few days. After a week it is fine to ask for an update briefly.