What should I do when a recruiter screens me for a role I'm not a perfect fit for?

Use it as practice and keep your minimum threshold at roughly 50% overlap with the role requirements. Don't apply to things with only 10% alignment, but don't hold out for 99% alignment either. Recruiter calls are low-stakes practice: you can refine your stories, calibrate how they land, and get pipeline moving without emotional investment. If it becomes a matter of prioritizing where to invest prep time, rank by the size of the opportunity, not by degree of role overlap. And remember — even an imperfect role conversation puts you in front of a recruiter who may have other roles, refer you, or become a warm contact at that company.