Application Review: This initial stage involves screening your resume, cover letter, and any other materials submitted. Recruiters look for relevant experience, skills, and qualifications that match the job description. Initial Phone Screen: The recruiter conducts a short phone call to clarify your background, confirm your interest, and discuss your experience and skills. This screen often includes questions about your work history and reasons for applying, along with an overview of the role and company culture. Technical or Skill-Based Interview: Many roles, particularly in fields like software engineering, data analysis, and quantitative trading, include a technical assessment. This could involve coding challenges (often in languages relevant to the job), problem-solving exercises, or specific tasks that test core skills like algorithmic thinking, data analysis, or domain-specific knowledge. For data-related roles, expect questions on data structures, algorithms, SQL, data modeling, or applied statistics.