How to prepare for a Zoom job interview

You got that job interview and it’s in progress scaling.

If you haven’t had much experience using a video conferencing platform for work, you may have questions like, “Can I really just wear pajamas?” or “Are people really pantsless in Zoom meetings?”

(The answers are no, and if they do it right, no one will ever know.)

As telecommuting remains popular even as some companies move back to the office, your next company may not be located locally, making Zoom (or Microsoft Teamsor Google Meetetc) the way you are likely to speak to your potential new employers.

When it comes to a virtual job interview, there are three main considerations: the company’s workplace culture, your personal Zoom environment, and basic on-camera tips to look professional.

When in doubt, get dressed

If the job is corporate, you can’t go wrong by dressing business professionally, with a suit or jacket and tie. And no, you don’t have to worry about going all out in a skirt or pants, but you should wear something other than pajama bottoms in case you need to get up suddenly for whatever reason.

If you know for sure that the company’s office culture is sloppy, you may still want to become more professional than you would in the office or follow the general rules of business sloppiness, which is different from random random.

What is the difference?

• Business casual is a less formal type of business attire. Instead of a full suit and tie, for example, an employee might wear khakis or jeans with a button-down shirt or blouse or a collarless sweater and perhaps a jacket. Ties are optional, but business casual allows for a more personal style. Scarves, prints and brighter colors are acceptable — and if a tie is part of your personal style, feel free to wear one.
• The important thing is that casual business attire is neat and clean and doesn’t make you look like you’re having a day off.
• Casual wear is casual wear, pyjamas, beachwear and worn-out t-shirts (although t-shirts in good condition are often suitable for business casual, especially when paired with a jacket). You might actually go to work in casual clothes, especially if you’re working remotely, but you want to look more professional for a job interview—and once you get the job, the same goes for business meetings.

In the end, always look for cues. If you get an email before an interview that says “We’re strictly casual, no suits ever!” then that’s the guide you’re following.

(And workplace leaders, remember: any written dress code policy must be gender neutral.)

Your background environment

If you’re new to video conferencing, it’s a good idea to think about where you’ll be placing your laptop for the interview, including your surroundings.

A blank, neutral wall is safe – maybe a little boring, but safe. It may take some rearranging of furniture to get such a wall behind you if your desk usually has your back to the room, but it’s worth the effort if it means you’re not standing and holding your laptop or phone. That won’t work and it definitely won’t look professional.

Ideally, you have a corner of your space where you can arrange a backdrop – perhaps a bookshelf or piece of art behind you. It adds just a little bit of your personality without exposing too much. Just don’t overdo it to the point of distraction (and check Room raters for inspo).

If you have no choice but to have a full view of a room in the background, make it as clean as possible. You can also use Zoom’s blur feature for more privacy or a simple, neutral Zoom background.

Things to avoid:

• Outdoors — this is fine for informal work meetings, but you shouldn’t look too relaxed for a job interview. They want to see you in an “office” setting. Depending on the location, noise can also be a problem outdoors.
• Coffee Shops — Again, fine when you have work and attend informal meetings, but coffee shops can be noisy and distracting and you’ll need to speak loudly to the interviewee about your business in public.
• New Background – It can be a fun thing to do when interacting with team members, but a background that puts you on a space station or in Middle Earth or on a tropical island doesn’t show that you’re serious about getting the job.
• Sitting in front of a window or other light source — Backlight is not your friend in front of the camera. If you have a lot of natural light, maneuver your setup so you’re facing it.

If you don’t feel comfortable with your space, you might consider using a free study space or meeting room at your public library (reservations are usually required), community center, school, or coworking space.

Camera tips

Unless you use Zoom a lot, you should do a test by yourself or with a friend before the interview to make sure everything is ready for the interview time.

Quick Checklist:

• Is the camera height correct? You should be looking straight into the camera, not down at it. And while the tall camera makes for flattering selfies, you don’t have to look up either. If your desk can’t be adjusted for height, use books or boxes to place your laptop at eye level (and consider buying a laptop stand).
• Is the light bright enough? A ring light can make your eyes pop, and little “selfie” rings that can be attached to your laptop are cheap. Otherwise, move a lamp near your setup to light things up if needed.
• Your outfit should set you apart from the background. If your background is white, choose a bright color; if your background includes a piece of art or stacks of books, wear solid colors if you want to follow the advice of the many Zoom fashion advisors that have appeared since 2020.
• If you choose to wear makeup, make sure the light doesn’t make it look streaky or uneven, and that any lip or eye color complements your shirt on camera.
• Don’t overdo the filters. Zoom has a filter called “retouch my look” under the video settings that gives you a subtle boost that should be imperceptible. Applying more filters than this will soon become noticeable to most people and look unnatural, potentially off-putting to interviewers.

Once you understand this, Zoom interviews and meetings will start to become less stressful. Just watch out for Zoom burnout once you get the job.

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