There are plenty of us heading into the Christmas holidays with big plans for the year ahead. One of the items on your to-do list may include searching for a new role or pursuing a different career in 2022. If you’re looking at changing things up and are getting ready to prepare for your first phone interview in a while, we’ve got all the top tips to help get you back into the swing of things and through to the next round.  SET THE SCENE OK, if the chat is over the phone you may not need to worry about this one as much but if it’s via video call, a little preparation can go a long way. It goes without saying that we’re all video call experts at this point but just in case you haven’t been on camera in a while and your future employer is looking to conduct your interview this way, remember to still treat it like a professional experience – even if you’re at home with dirty laundry at your feet and last night’s dinner in the sink. Find a (clean) space with good natural light, plenty of wi-fi coverage, a simple background nothing too distracting in view. You’ll want to make sure your laptop or computer screen is propped up so the angle of the camera is just right, and your interviewers can feel like you’re sitting across from them in the room. It goes without saying – a professional ensemble and personal grooming won’t go astray. Most importantly? Remember to smile. You may feel overwhelmed, but you don’t want this to come across in your interview. Smiling will also help connect you to your audience. If you’re chat is on the phone, be sure to set your device to ‘silent’ so you’re not interrupted by any incoming notifications and be sure to find a quiet space with good network coverage so there are no connection issues. PREPARE IN ADVANCE Prior to your interview, make sure to consider any questions you may be asked, and rehearse your answers if possible. By saying these out loud, it will allow you to practice your responses and get comfortable with talking about yourself, your experience and your skills. Employers are becoming more and more conscious of soft skills, so being able to speak confidently and calmly is a major bonus. When practicing your responses, take your time and speak at a regular pace. Pause and remember to breathe. When we get nervous, we tend to speak faster and use a lot of ‘umms’ and ‘aahhs’ – some of us even add a nervous laugh or giggle to the end of our sentences. The more practice and the more you’re aware of this – the less likely it is to happen. Not sure what answers to prepare? You can’t go wrong with practicing responses about your strengths, weaknesses, past accomplishments or why you’re keen to take on the role. LOOK TO THE HORIZON To help show that you’re right for the role – consider all the things you’d like to achieve or implement within the first six months of getting the job. You might think about the potential there is to tackle ongoing challenges differently, or the need for new processes going forward. This will not only show that you’ve thoughtfully researched the organisation and have an understanding of the latest industry advancements and trends – it demonstrates you’re a proactive candidate that can bring fresh perspectives and opportunities to the organisation. ASK YOUR OWN QUESTIONS Remember – an interview isn’t just a one-sided experience. It’s just as important for you to get answers to your own questions as it is for the hiring team to hear from you – especially this early on in the process. You want to make sure the role and the organisation is the right fit, so have a think about any questions you may have. The best time to ask these questions will be towards the end of the conversation and will provide the opportunity for you to display your personality attributes a little more. It will also reveal more about your understanding of the role and give you the opportunity to mention any past accomplishments that haven’t already been discussed.