The first job interview phone call
Updated: Aug 3
The First Call: How to Handle the 15-Minute Screen
Before anyone invites you in for a real interview, someone from the company will want a quick call — usually 15 minutes, by phone or Zoom — to get to know you a little.
It's short, it's informal, and it's still a filter. The goal isn't to win the job on this call. The goal is to get to the next one.
How They'll Reach Out
Email. It is very easy for a scheduling email to get buried, land in spam, or get skimmed and mistaken for a rejection. Check your junk folder regularly, keep your inbox tidy enough that new mail actually stands out, and read anything from a company carefully before you react to it. They'll either send you a link to pick a time slot or ask when you're free — those need different replies.
WhatsApp or SMS.
In Israel, being contacted by WhatsApp for a job is completely normal, professionally and socially acceptable.
Make sure the number on your CV is actually reachable on WhatsApp. If you'd rather not move your WhatsApp over to your Israeli number, download WhatsApp Business — it's a separate app, so you can run your Israeli number there and keep your existing account as it is.
A phone call, out of nowhere.
Get comfortable answering unknown numbers. If they catch you at a bad moment, that's fine — just say so and offer a specific alternative: "I can't talk right now, but I'm free tomorrow after 2pm, would that work?" Naming a time is much better than "I'll call you back."
Before the Call
Look up who you're speaking with. Their full name is usually in the calendar invite. A quick LinkedIn search tells you whether you're talking to an internal recruiter, an agency, or the hiring manager — which changes how technical the conversation will be.
Be somewhere quiet. For Zoom, check your internet connection in advance. Don't take the call while driving, walking down Ibn Gabirol, or standing in a supermarket queue.
Refresh yourself on the company. Did they raise a round recently? Launch something? Move offices? Skim the website and their LinkedIn.
Save the job description as a document. Postings get taken down mid-process, and you'll want to reread it before the next interview.
Keep your CV in front of you — plus a few notes: your dates, your numbers, and the two or three points you want to make sure you mention.
Questions You Can Expect
Do you know what we do here?
Are you currently working?
Why are you looking to leave your current company? (Or: why did you leave your last one?)
Tell me about your experience.
Are you interviewing anywhere else?
What are your salary expectations?
Do you have any questions for me?
Keep your answers short. On a 15-minute call, a four-minute answer to "tell me about your experience" eats a quarter of the conversation. Aim for a minute or two, then stop and let them ask.
If they ask whether you're interviewing elsewhere, honest and brief is fine. You don't owe them names. "Yes, I'm in a couple of processes" is a complete answer — and it doesn't hurt you.
Always have a question ready at the end. If they haven't explained the interview process, ask about it — how many stages, who you'd meet, and their timeline.
The Salary Question
This one deserves its own section, because it's the one people panic about.
Do your research first.
Look at Glassdoor and Israeli salary surveys, and — more useful than either — talk to people actually working in your field here. Industry WhatsApp and Facebook groups are full of people willing to share ranges.
Know that in Israel, the default is gross monthly salary in shekels. That's what they're asking for unless they say otherwise. Some global companies work in annual figures, so if you're unsure which they mean, ask — it's a normal clarifying question, not a stumble.
Decide in advance whether you'll give a number or a range, and say it confidently. Hesitating, apologizing, or drifting upward mid-sentence undercuts whatever number you land on. Practice saying it out loud until it sounds unremarkable.
Expect a follow-up. Almost always they'll either ask whether you're flexible or tell you your range is above their budget. Neither is a rejection — it's the start of a negotiation. Decide beforehand what your actual floor is so you're not improvising under pressure.
After the Call
Thank the recruiter for their time before you hang up.
Then send a short thank-you email. Very few candidates do this, which is exactly why it works — a three-sentence note the same day keeps your name in front of them while they're deciding who moves forward.
© 2026 Gila Bublick | Linkedin | gbublick@gmail.com
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