You are in an initial recruiter/phone screen for a software engineering role. The recruiter asks a mix of logistics, employment-history, motivation, and behavioral questions.
Prepare clear, professional answers (no need to write full scripts, but outline what you would say) for the following:
Work setup and logistics
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What are your thoughts on potentially working in-office / hybrid?
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Do you require employment sponsorship?
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What would be your preferred coding language for the technical interview?
Current role and employment history
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You’re currently a software engineer at Company X — is that correct?
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When did you depart from Company X?
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What was the nature of your departure? (e.g., layoff vs. performance vs. resignation)
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Were you a full-time employee or a contractor?
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How long were you at Company X in total?
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Did you go through promotion cycles while you were there? What level did you start at, and what level were you when you left?
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Give a high-level overview of the work you did. Was it similar when you re-joined Company X (if applicable)?
Behavioral signal
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Describe a recent project with significant ambiguity. How did you work through it and deliver?
Search process and motivation
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Are you in early conversations, final rounds, or holding offers?
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What timeline do you have for your job search?
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Why are you interested in this company?
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Have you interviewed here before?
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Do you know anyone who currently works here?
Compensation
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What was your base compensation and equity previously?
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What are your compensation expectations now?
Assume the recruiter is evaluating: clarity, integrity, seniority/impact, communication, role fit, and risk (timeline/comp/work authorization).