Phone Interviews and Questions to Ask a Recruiter

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Published on
December 3, 2024
Updated on
January 19, 2026
Joseph Burns
Founder

I help companies hire exceptional talent in Latin America. My journey took me from growing up in a small town in Ohio to building teams at Capital One, Meta, and eventually Rappi, for which I moved from Silicon Valley to Colombia and had to recruit a local tech team from scratch. That’s where I realized traditional recruiting was broken, and how much available potential there was in Latin American talent. Almost ten years later, I still work closely with Latin American professionals, both for my company and for clients. They know US business culture, speak great English, work in the same time zones, and bring strong skills and dedication at a better cost. We have helped companies like Rappi, Globant, Capital One, Google, and IBM build their teams with top talent from the region.

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Maximize your phone interview opportunity by asking recruiters insightful questions that reveal crucial details about the role and company culture. At Lupa Recruiter, we understand the significance of phone interviews in the modern recruitment process. These initial conversations are not only about making a strong impression but also about assessing the potential fit both for the candidate and the organization.

This article will guide you through the essential questions to ask during a phone interview, helping you gauge the role’s suitability and the company’s culture.

Strategic Questions to Uncover Role Insights

  • Cultural Project Involvement: Inquire about the types of projects you will handle, which helps understand the scope and the challenges of the position.
  • Skills Utilization: Discuss the technologies and skills primarily used in the role to ensure they align with your expertise and career goals.
  • Professional Development: Ask about growth opportunities within the company. Understanding the career progression pathways can indicate whether the company invests in its employees' futures.

Assessing Company Culture and Expectations

  • Work Environment: Questions about work-life balance and company culture can provide insights into the daily working environment and whether it aligns with your personal and professional life balance expectations.
  • Team Dynamics: Understanding the team structure and the interaction within team members can give you a glimpse into the company's collaborative environment.

Putting It All Together

Asking well-thought-out questions during a phone interview can transform a simple call into a powerful tool for evaluating potential job opportunities. These inquiries not only demonstrate your interest and proactive nature but also equip you with essential information to make informed decisions about your career path.

By Joseph Burns
Founder

Joseph Burns is the Founder and CEO of Lupa, a company that helps clients hire exceptional talent from Latin America. With more than ten years of experience building teams in the US and Latin America, he combines product leadership at global companies with a strong understanding of nearshore hiring and remote work strategies.

Before starting Lupa, Joseph led product and engineering teams at Rappi, one of the biggest tech startups in Latin America. He built local teams from scratch in nine countries. He also worked at Meta and Capital One, where he focused on using data to make decisions and building products for many users.

Since starting Lupa, he has worked with over 300 clients around the world, hired more than 1,000 candidates, and helped reduce recruitment costs by about 60 percent. His clients include top startups and Fortune 500 companies like Rappi, Globant, Capital One, Google, and IBM.

Joseph is originally from Ohio and has lived in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. He speaks both English and Spanish and is passionate about connecting talent across borders and creating global opportunities for professionals in Latin America.

Areas of Expertise: Remote hiring and international team building, North America–Latin America recruiting dynamics, talent market insights and workforce strategy, global staffing models and compliance, and cost and efficiency optimization in hiring.

Testimonials

"Over the course of 2024, we successfully hired 9 exceptional team members through Lupa, spanning mid-level to senior roles. The quality of talent has been outstanding, and we’ve been able to achieve payroll cost savings while bringing great professionals onto our team. We're very happy with the consultation and attention they've provided us."

RaeAnn Daly
Vice President of Customer Success, Blazeo

“We needed to scale a new team quickly - with top talent. Lupa helped us build a great process, delivered great candidates quickly, and had impeccable service”

Phillip Gutheim
Head of Product, Rappi Bank

“With Lupa, we rebuilt our entire tech team in less than a month. We’re spending half as much on talent. Ten out of ten”

Dan Berzansky
CEO, Oneteam 360
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