<aside> 💡

La Screening Call es la primera vez que alguien en el poceso te va a ver, así que tenés que ir preparado para que la primera impresión te ayude a avanzar. Haciendo Interview Ready vas a aprender cómo lucir y presentarte en escenarios de reuniones con cámaras de quienes hacen estas entrevistas.

</aside>

♟️ Interviewer Experience

<aside> 💡 The result of a screening or behavioral interview can affect the excitement and strength of an offer as well as the pass or fail rate. Go well-prepped to maximize your chances at a strong offer!

</aside>

The success criteria for a Screening or Behavioral interview is getting the interviewer excited about knowing you. You want them to want to interview and know you better, for a faster and better interview process.

On a base level, the interviewer wants to check that your resume and application match your identity, and verify your English, communication skills, and work experience.

However, especially if the interviewer is a founder or hiring manager, you will be assessed deeply for your understanding of the company, the product, and how you self-selected for this position.

✅ Screening Call Checklist

• Make a free Loom.com account and record yourself to test the following topics

• Check yourself

  • You must be able to introduce yourself in under 3 minutes.
  • Ensure you only speak about the most relevant aspects of your profile for the position - your work experience, your technical stack, and your expertise in the domain
  • Present yourself tidy - clean, groomed, and appropriately dressed
  • Do not show up tired, stressed, or in a rush. Make good space for the interview, and give yourself the time to do it appropriately.

• Check your setup

  • Internet

    • You must have a reliable and working internet connection. You must not interview from a spotty connection, it is better to reschedule.
    • You must go to a coworking space if your home has a spotty connection. Do not use coffee shops or bars. They are noisy and unreliable and give a bad impression.

  • The Environment

    <aside> 💡 You must demonstrate control over the environment - this is how you work every day in the eyes of the interviewer. A chaotic environment demonstrates low productivity and a professional demeanor.

    </aside>

    • The room or space must be tidy, clean, and unencumbered. It should not have unfinished construction work like hanging lights, or missing light switches.
    • It should not have other people walking by or talking, or kids. It should also not be a space other people can or maybe in. Secondary desks or monitors, for example, give the impression that there is no privacy.
    • Eliminate background noises - close open windows, turn noisy artifacts down or off
    • Mind the room lighting - it must be well-lit and visible. Natural sunlight is important - do not interview in closed spaces with artificial light during daylight. Basements, unlit rooms, and closed spaces look unhealthy and makeshift.
    • Reduce and manage possible distractions before the meeting - pets, timed devices, doorbells, deliveries.
    • ❗Do not use virtual backgrounds or blurring. These backgrounds imply covering deficiencies like those mentioned above.

  • Hardware

    • Invest in a good microphone and camera. Low-quality cameras and bad microphones give terrible impressions.
    • Apple hardware is generally good by itself. Beware of using the microphone on airpods - the audio quality could be better.

  • Software

    • Video software like Slack, Zoom, and Meet will require permission and it's best to have them set up before the interview.
    • Check the interview’s technical screening software - make an account, set permissions, and test it to ensure you are familiar with it.
    • Close messaging applications - they are distractions and noises that can seriously hamper both the experience and your capacity to communicate well. Close Slack, Whatsapp, Discord, Telegram, and any other software that could interrupt you mid-interview.
    • ❗ If you use AI notetakers, make sure that they are disabled for interviews with companies. It is uncomfortable for companies to have to reject or mention disabling recording software during interviews.

• Check the Company & Role

  <aside> 💡 A screening call is different from a sales pitch to you. It is your sales pitch to the company. You must be well-informed and aware of the company's needs.

  Do not ask questions you can find out by yourself by googling.

  </aside>

  • Product
    • If applicable, try the product - install it, buy it, use it.
    • What are the technical and product challenges they have? What works, and what doesn’t?
    • What are the competitors? Is the product leading in its category?
    • How many users or revenue does it have? Can you estimate it?
  • Company
    • Check the podcast episode Evaluando Empresas
    • What’s the company revenue?
    • How many engineers does it have?
    • What’s the Series? Who are the investors?
    • What are the Company Values?
  • Interviewer
    • Who is interviewing you? Check their LinkedIn Profile
    • Is it a technical person, or a hiring manager? What is their work experience?
    • What do they do and what do they think makes a great candidate?