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Language Foundation

Phone screen

A phone screen is an initial job interview conducted by telephone to assess whether a candidate should move to later stages of the hiring process.

In plain English

It is an early conversation with a job candidate by telephone. The employer uses it to judge whether the person should continue in the hiring process.

In context

Here, it names the early telephone interview used to decide whether an applicant moves forward in hiring.

Situation
Applying for jobs, reading vacancy labels, and following recruitment status
What it communicates
names an initial interview step by phone.

Meaning limits

The term itself does not show whether the candidate will advance after this call.

Examples

“Before any in-person interviews, each shortlisted applicant had a phone screen with the recruiter.”

Core meaning

“The recruiter invited three applicants to a phone screen after reviewing their CVs.”

In context

  • screening interview Broader Term

    A phone screen is one kind of screening interview.

  • telephone interview Broader Term

    A phone screen is one kind of telephone interview.