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Description

Telephone Pre-Screening: Building the Script, Questioning and Deciding

Three hours to turn a ten-minute call into a genuine filter ahead of the recruitment interview

  • 0.43 days — 3 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

The pre-screening call is often treated as a formality. Availability and salary expectations are checked, and the candidate is invited in. Interview diaries then fill up with applications that could have been screened out earlier. The strongest candidates, meanwhile, receive a call so poorly prepared that they lose any interest in continuing the process.

These 3 hours focus on conducting the telephone pre-screening interview. Participants build a short script based on the criteria that genuinely differentiate candidates for the role. They work on the wording of their questions and practise closing the call with a reasoned decision rather than a deferred answer.

Learning objectives

  • Define the criteria that genuinely differentiate candidates for a role before the call
  • Build a telephone interview script that fits within a short time frame
  • Phrase open questions that verify a specific element of a candidate's background
  • Present the role and the organisation in an attractive and accurate way
  • Close the call with a reasoned decision and a clearly stated next step

What makes this programme different

Simulated calls with no visual contact, to work on listening alone
A pre-screening script tailored to a role brought by the participant
Focused work on the questions that get a candidate talking in under ten minutes

Programme

1Preparing the Call

Criteria and script

  • Extracting the differentiating criteria from the job description
  • Deciding which points to verify by telephone and which to keep for the interview
  • Building a short and repeatable script
  • Preparing the message to leave when the candidate does not answer

2Conducting the Interview

Listening, questions and pace

  • Opening the call and checking that the candidate is available to speak
  • Open questions on background and achievements
  • Spotting vague answers and probing further without sounding accusatory
  • Presenting the role and answering the candidate's questions

3Deciding and Recording

Once the call ends

  • Writing up a call report the hiring manager can actually use
  • Decision criteria and how to justify a rejection
  • Stating the next steps to the candidate during the call
  • Record-keeping and respect for personal data requirements

Who is it for

Recruitment officers · HR assistants · recruitment agency consultants · managers making their first screening calls themselves.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

12 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.