What to Expect in a Technical Phone Screen

Short answer

A technical phone screen is a 30-60 minute call with an engineer or recruiter. It typically includes a brief introduction, one or two coding problems, and time for questions.

How it works

The interviewer shares a collaborative editor or asks you to use your own IDE. They evaluate your problem-solving approach, communication, and code correctness.

Example

You are asked to reverse a string. The interviewer watches you write the code and asks about time and space complexity. Then they ask if you can do it in-place.

Why it matters

Phone screens filter candidates before on-site interviews. Performing well here gets you to the next round, so preparation is crucial.