2 ROUNDS AND A HR INTERVIEW ROUND. ALL ROUNDS WERE IN PERSON. I . Phone interview with HR/recruiter The first step in an interview process is usually a phone interview, also known as a phone screen. This is often conducted by a recruiter or someone from HR, not the hiring manager. ... 2. Interview with hiring manager ... 3. Interview with peers and/or executive leadership ... 4. Reference check ... 5. Background check ... 6. Job offer ...