5 AI Phone Screening Tricks That Save Recruiters 20 Hours a Month

In 2026, the recruitment landscape continues to evolve, and companies are increasingly turning to AI phone screening to enhance efficiency. A staggering 75% of recruiters report that they spend at least 40 hours a month on screening candidates, leading to burnout and inefficiencies. However, by implementing strategic AI phone screening tricks, recruiters can save up to 20 hours each month. This article explores five specific tactics that can streamline the screening process, allowing your team to focus on higher-value tasks.

1. Automate Initial Screening Questions

One of the most time-consuming aspects of recruitment is conducting repetitive initial screening interviews. By using AI phone screening technology, recruiters can automate these initial interactions. AI can ask predefined questions, such as availability, salary expectations, and basic qualifications, allowing candidates to respond at their convenience.

Expected Outcome

This process reduces the time spent on initial calls from an average of 30 minutes to just 5 minutes per candidate, providing recruiters with a clear overview of qualifications without manual intervention.

2. Implement Real-Time Scoring and Feedback

AI phone screening systems can provide real-time scoring of candidate responses based on key criteria, such as communication skills and relevant experience. This immediate feedback allows recruiters to make informed decisions faster.

Expected Outcome

With AI scoring, recruiters can reduce decision-making time by up to 15 minutes per candidate, accelerating the overall screening process. For a typical role with 20 candidates, this can save 5 hours.

3. Use Multilingual Capabilities

In a globalized job market, being able to screen candidates in multiple languages is crucial. AI phone screening solutions like NTRVSTA can conduct interviews in 9+ languages, including Spanish and Mandarin. This feature is particularly beneficial for companies with diverse workforces or those hiring in various markets.

Expected Outcome

By reducing language barriers, recruiters can increase candidate completion rates to over 95%, compared to the 40-60% completion rates often seen with traditional video interviews.

4. Integrate with Your ATS for Seamless Workflow

Integrating AI phone screening with your Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is essential for maximizing efficiency. NTRVSTA offers over 50 ATS integrations, including popular platforms like Greenhouse and Bullhorn. This integration allows for automatic candidate updates and streamlined data management.

Expected Outcome

With a seamless flow of information between systems, recruiters can save up to 2 hours a week on administrative tasks related to candidate data entry and tracking.

5. Utilize Candidate Analytics for Better Insights

AI phone screening technology can gather and analyze data on candidates' performance during interviews. By leveraging these analytics, recruiters can refine their screening processes and improve candidate quality.

Expected Outcome

With access to actionable insights, teams can increase the quality of hires, reducing the average time-to-hire by up to 30%, which translates to significant time savings in the recruitment cycle.

Conclusion: Actionable Takeaways for Recruiters

1. Automate Initial Screening: Implement AI phone screening to handle the first round of questions, saving an average of 25 minutes per candidate.
2. Real-Time Feedback: Use AI scoring during calls to make quicker decisions, saving up to 5 hours per week.
3. Multilingual Screening: Leverage multilingual capabilities to enhance candidate completion rates and broaden your talent pool.
4. ATS Integration: Connect your AI screening tool with your ATS to streamline data management and reduce administrative time.
5. Analyze Candidate Data: Utilize analytics to continuously improve your screening process and reduce time-to-hire.

By adopting these strategies, recruiters can reclaim valuable time and focus on building stronger teams.