Not to mention, a penchant for literature that your potential employer disagrees with-whatever it may be-could affect the hiring decision. Showcasing your home library behind you may send the message that you’re well-read and intellectual, but a busy bookcase or shelf could keep the interviewer focused on trying to read your book titles instead of what you’re saying. Here are what some common scenes in your home office may convey to a hiring manager. Keep in mind that what’s appropriate for more traditional career fields is different than for more casual or creative fields, so use your best judgment based on your knowledge of the profession. Anything you add to or take away from your video background should support your interview answers and overall candidacy.

What you display in the background could take away from what you’re saying-and that’s where the real focus should be. Beyond being clutter-free and professional, what does it reveal about you? That you love Star Wars? The causes you support and are passionate about? That you have kids?

The one downside of virtual interviewing is that with the camera on, the interviewer gets a peek into your personal life, and you may inadvertently reveal some things you want to keep private.Īs you create your Zoom interview background, give it a very critical look to make sure it’s sending the message you want. What Your Virtual Interview Background Reveals After all, this is your best chance to make a good first impression. It’s also important to prepare your video interview setting just as much as your wardrobe and answers. So, how do you make sure you have an acceptable interview environment, especially if you don’t already have a home office set up? The good news is that any space in your home can work, provided it is reasonably quiet, has good lighting, and is as free from distractions as possible. While you’ll present yourself as professionally as possible during your interview, an online video interview lets the interviewer into your most personal and private space-your home. However, they require some forethought that you don’t have to consider for an in-office interview, and it can be a bit paradoxical. Online video interviews are becoming the new normal for job applicants.

Weird zoom virtual backgrounds