Crushed the Odds? Here’s How to Nail Your First HR Screening Call

2 min readNov 3, 2024

💡 Did you know only 1 in 5 candidates make it to the interview stage? If you’ve landed that elusive first HR call after perfecting your resume and beating the odds, congratulations! But what comes next? Now’s the time to shine and prove why you’re the best fit.

Here’s a straightforward guide to acing that crucial first call and leaving a lasting impression.

How to Sell Yourself

🎯 Technique: Focus on impact, not just tasks.

When describing your experience, it’s easy to fall into a list of responsibilities. Instead, highlight the value you added. Here’s a simple framework:

What you did
How you did it
The result

For example, don’t just say, “I managed a team.” Instead, say:

“I led a team to improve our response process, reducing customer response times by 30%, which boosted satisfaction significantly.”

This approach shows you’re results-oriented and aware of your contributions’ broader impact.

Common Categories of Questions

📝 Be prepared for these essential types:

The Classics: These are go-to questions like “Why this role?”, “Why this company?”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, or “Why are you leaving your current job?”
Example: “I’m looking to grow in a role with more responsibility that aligns with my career goals.”
Scenario-Based Questions: Questions that start with “Tell me about a time when…”
Example: “We were behind on a project deadline, so I took on extra tasks to help the team finish on time.”
Behavioral Questions: Focus on understanding how you handle situations, such as “How do you handle stress?”
Example: “I stay organized and break down problems into manageable steps, which helps me handle pressure effectively.”

Knowing these categories lets you anticipate questions and approach them confidently.

Backpacking Your Stories

🛠 Keep a few key stories handy to answer questions about:

Your most successful project
A significant challenge you overcame
A difficult interaction and how you managed it
How you adapted to a major change

Make each story short but impactful, emphasizing your role and the outcome. This preparation will keep you from hesitating and help you respond naturally.

Avoid Clichés Like “I’m a Perfectionist”

🚫 Overused phrases like “I’m a perfectionist” can feel insincere and may not differentiate you from other candidates. Instead, be specific:

“I’m skilled at spotting small issues early, which has helped me prevent larger problems on projects.”

This phrasing is more authentic and demonstrates that you’re detail-oriented and proactive.

Seal the Deal with Confidence

Remember, the interview is your moment to show why you’re the best choice. You’ve already proven yourself worthy of this opportunity — now’s the time to seal the deal with confidence and purpose. 💪

Follow Gleo AI for more tips on how to master interview conversations, and let’s make your next interview your best one yet! 🌟