Have you ever stressed about impressing a recruiter on a phone screening interview?

Here are some valuable tips for acing phone screens with recruiters, according to Mike Manalac, CPA, who used these strategies to land his dream accounting job at Google.

Mike points out that the recruiter is most likely not an accountant. So dazzling them with technical expertise often backfires. Mike says, "They probably don't know if you had any flubs or missteps in your answer to your familiarity with 606 or 820."

The recruiter wants to evaluate your communication skills and cultural fit, not nitpick your technical chops.

Instead, focus on proving your soft skills. Show you're an articulate team player who aligns with company values. Reframe your experience in understandable terms.

This can also help you feel more comfortable on the call. Mike says, "When you know you're not going to get called on something, your confidence is up. You're speaking more freely."

Have a formula ready to showcase yourself. Prepare a polished 60-second pitch summarizing your background. Share a couple of relevant stories highlighting key strengths like analytical thinking.

Mike perfected talking points to highlight his abilities smoothly.

Equally vital is conveying passion. Let your personality and enthusiasm shine through. Interest and confidence can sway recruiters more than credentials alone.

Ask insightful big-picture questions, too - like about company culture and training programs. Avoid basic queries found on their website.

In summary, tailor your phone screen approach to impress non-accounting recruiters. Show you’re a cultural fit brimming with potential.

Listen to Mike's episode on my Earmark Podcast for more accounting job interview tips: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com/54

With the right strategy, you can also ace those screening calls and land your dream job, just like Mike.