TLDR: what is HR actually looking for in a 5 minute phone call pre-screening?
Before I berate the HR profession, I recognize they are important and, generally I've had a good experience with them. However, it still boggles my mind that they perform a "first screening" before sending resumes to the hiring manager.
Recently spoke with HR team at a fairly well known firm (keeping close to the vest for anonymity). HR's questions for me:
- Why are you looking to leave current company?
- Why did you leave previous company?
- When are you finishing your MSRE degree (to which the answer was on the resume)?
- What are your salary expectations?
They offered nothing about the role, company, expectations, etc. They asked no specific questions about my background. At the end, I clarified if they wanted to know anything else except the above questions, to which they said "Nope, we'll send backgrounds to the hiring managers and determine next steps." How can they possibly turn around to the hiring manager and say "this person is/is not a fit for XYZ reasons" if there was no discussion about past experience/technical skills?
I answered their questions with tact and didn't BS them/waste their time. Are they just making sure candidates have a pulse?
End mini rant.
