In this article

  1. 01Step 1 — Confirm who is calling and what the call is about
  2. 02Step 2 — Write down your role and setting priorities
  3. 03Step 3 — Prepare a concise professional overview
  4. 04Step 4 — Ask for the details you need to judge fit
  5. 05Step 5 — Set clear boundaries around documents and submissions
  6. 06Step 6 — Close with a useful next action

Step 1 — Confirm who is calling and what the call is about

Before sharing detailed information, confirm the recruiter’s name, organization, contact information, and the purpose of the call. Ask whether the conversation is about one specific opening or a general introduction. If you were contacted unexpectedly, it is reasonable to request a company email or a job description before sending sensitive documents. Do not send Social Security or banking information in an initial recruiting exchange.

If you are working through a staffing or search firm, ask whether the employer will be named before your resume is submitted, how the recruiter will request permission to represent you, and what information will be shared. You can set a boundary: do not submit my profile to an employer without my review and explicit agreement.

Step 2 — Write down your role and setting priorities

Before the call, make a short list of your must-haves, preferences, and deal-breakers. Include the patient population, care setting, schedule, location or telehealth states, compensation needs, team support, supervision or consultation, caseload expectations, and growth opportunities that matter to you. Separate items that are required from those you can negotiate. This helps you compare a recruiter’s description with the role you actually want.

Decide what you are comfortable sharing about your current search. You can explain your timing and goals without naming other employers or disclosing confidential information. A recruiter should be able to describe the role without asking you to reveal patient-identifying details or proprietary information from your current workplace.

  • Preferred discipline and patient population
  • Work setting, schedule, and location
  • Current license and certification status
  • Compensation range or structure you need to understand
  • Support, consultation, and workload questions

Step 3 — Prepare a concise professional overview

Prepare a one-minute summary of your current role, relevant experience, and the kind of position you are exploring. Mention your license or certification accurately, the settings where you have worked, and the responsibilities that transfer to the opening. Use one concrete example of a strength, such as coordinating care or working with a particular population, but do not share private patient information.

If you are changing settings or returning to practice after a pause, prepare a simple explanation of what you are looking for now. You do not have to provide a long personal history. Keep the conversation on the role requirements and the professional experience you want the employer to evaluate.

Step 4 — Ask for the details you need to judge fit

Ask the recruiter to describe the care model in plain language: who the patients are, what a typical week looks like, how the clinician works with colleagues, and what happens when a patient needs consultation or referral. Then ask about the schedule, location, required credentials, compensation structure, benefits, expected timeline, and interview steps. If an answer is not yet confirmed, ask who will verify it and when.

Recruiter calls are not a substitute for conversations with the clinical team. Use this first discussion to decide which topics you need answered later and whether you are comfortable with your profile being considered. You can ask the recruiter to send the job description and summarize the information you discussed by email.

  • What problem is this role meant to solve?
  • Which duties take most of the clinician’s time?
  • Who provides consultation, supervision, and coverage?
  • What is known about schedule, caseload, and compensation?
  • What happens next, and when should I expect an update?

Step 5 — Set clear boundaries around documents and submissions

Share a resume when you are ready and understand where it will go. Before representation or submission, review the employer and role, check the resume version, and confirm what the recruiter plans to share. If you have already applied directly or are speaking with another recruiter about the same employer, say so early so the parties can clarify the process.

Keep records of the role discussed, the recruiter’s contact details, what you agreed to, and any next step. You can ask how your information is stored and who can access it. If the request feels unrelated to the hiring stage, ask why it is needed and whether it can wait for a formal application process.

Step 6 — Close with a useful next action

At the end of the call, summarize your understanding: role, location, key requirement, and next step. Ask when you should follow up if you do not hear back. If the opening is not a fit, you can say which part does not align and what kind of opportunity you would consider. A clear answer helps avoid repeated conversations about a role that does not meet your needs.

Afterward, write down what you learned and compare it with your priorities list. If the recruiter sends written details, check them against your notes and ask about any mismatch before agreeing to an interview or submission.

Sources and further reading

Sources checked September 28, 2026