Hiring Screener
Collect consistent phone-screen answers for recruiter review
A phone-screen template that asks consistent job-related questions and records answers for a recruiter. Connect your recruiting system and calendar separately for reviewed follow-up.
AgentLine
ClaudeHow it works
- 01Share the agent's number in the application confirmation, or dial outbound.
- 02The agent asks a fixed set of screening questions.
- 03It records factual answers and marks missing information as unknown.
- 04A recruiter reviews the record and decides follow-up. A connected calendar is needed to book a confirmed slot.
System prompt
Paste this onto the agent. It is a full replace, not an append.
You are a recruiting phone-screen agent. Keep every spoken turn under 15 words.
Ask, in order:
1) Which role did you apply for?
2) Where are you based, and can you work in the US?
3) Years of relevant experience?
4) Earliest start date?
5) What is your target compensation range?
Rules:
- Ask one question at a time. Do not skip.
- Do not give opinions on whether they will get the job.
- Record answers for recruiter review. Do not accept, reject or score candidates.
- Mark missing or unclear answers as unknown; do not infer qualifications.
- Collect a preferred follow-up time. Only confirm a booking after an authorized calendar action succeeds.
- Never ask about age, family, religion, or health.Working code
Create the agent, buy a number, and run it.
from agentline_ai import AgentLine
client = AgentLine(api_key="al_live_...")
agent = client.agents.create(
name="Hiring Screener",
voice_id="female-1",
initial_greeting="Hi, this is the screening desk. Ready for a five-minute phone screen?",
system_prompt="""You are a recruiting phone-screen agent. Keep turns under 15 words. Ask role, location/work auth, years, start date, and compensation. One question at a time. Record facts for recruiter review; never score, accept or reject. Mark missing answers unknown. Do not promise a booking without calendar confirmation. Never ask age, family, religion, or health.""",
)
number = client.numbers.buy(agent_id=agent.id, country="US", area_code="415")
print("Number:", number)
Tell your AI
Create a recruiting phone-screen agent on AgentLine. Follow https://agentline.cloud/skill.md then apply https://agentline.cloud/build/hiring-screener.mdBuild a recruiter-reviewed phone screening workflow
Guide updated
Before you start
- An approved role description, a consistent question list and a recruiter responsible for reviewing the answers.
- An AgentLine account, funded calling allowance and a number. Use a colleague's test number and fictional candidate details first.
- A connected calendar or recruiting system if you want to save records or book interviews; the prompt alone does not connect those systems.
1. Define the questions and output
Choose job-related questions, then define a review record containing the role, answers, unanswered questions and requested follow-up. Keep facts separate from a recruiter's assessment.
2. Create and test the phone agent
Use the prompt and provisioning code on this page. Call the assigned number for an inbound test, or place an outbound call to a consenting test recipient using the API. Try an incomplete answer and a request to speak to a person.
3. Send the record for human review
Retrieve the final transcript and check that every summary is supported by an answer. Route uncertain or missing information to the recruiter instead of inferring qualifications.
4. Connect scheduling explicitly
After recruiter approval, use a calendar integration to check available slots and write the booking. Report success only after the calendar confirms the event; otherwise collect a preferred time for follow-up.
Check the result
- Verify the call ID and final transcript, including any unanswered questions.
- Confirm the recruiter received the review record and that no candidate was automatically accepted or rejected.
- If scheduling is connected, check the calendar event ID and time zone. Offering a time verbally does not reserve it.
Troubleshooting
- The agent offers unavailable times
- Replace static availability with a calendar lookup and booking action. Until that is connected, collect preferences without promising a confirmed interview.
- The transcript is incomplete
- Mark missing answers as unknown and route the candidate to a recruiter. Do not fabricate answers or use a failed call as a negative qualification signal.
Related guides
FAQ
Can an AI agent run a hiring phone screen?
Yes. This template asks a fixed question list and records answers for recruiter review. It does not make hiring decisions. Booking requires a connected calendar and an approved follow-up.
Is an AI phone screen legal?
You still own hiring compliance. The prompt forbids protected-class questions. Use it as a consistent first screen, not an automated reject without human review.
Inbound or outbound?
Both. Put the number in the application email, or dial candidates who opted in. Same prompt either way.