Video Interview Background Tips: What to Include and More

By Rachel Pelta

Online video interviews are becoming the new normal for job applicants. However, they require some forethought that you don’t have to consider for an in-office interview, and it can be a bit paradoxical. 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.

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.

It’s also important to prepare your video interview setting just as much as your wardrobe and answers. After all, this is your best chance to make a good first impression.

What Your Virtual Interview Background Reveals

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.

As you create your Zoom interview background, give it a very critical look to make sure it’s sending the message you want. 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?

What you display in the background could take away from what you’re saying—and that’s where the real focus should be. Anything you add to or take away from your video background should support your interview answers and overall candidacy.

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. Here are what some common scenes in your home office may convey to a hiring manager.

— Books

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. Not to mention, a penchant for literature that your potential employer disagrees with—whatever it may be—could affect the hiring decision.

What to do: Reduce the number of books displayed to just a few, or only those books that may harmonize with your desired job in some way.

— Souvenirs From Traveling

Your much-loved souvenirs convey that you’re well-traveled, cultured, and adventurous, which is a wonderful aspect of your personality. But not only can souvenirs be distracting to an interviewer (especially if they love to travel too, and feel inspired by your wanderlust!), but having them in your background can lead to potential assumptions about your lifestyle—whether true or not.

What to do: The key here is to select only a few souvenirs. Focus on some that may be a good talking point or show a bit of your personality, and choose those appropriate to your profession.

— Your Bedroom

Having your home office in your bedroom or guest room may work for your daily office needs, but a view of your bed or guest bed during your video interview, even if it’s nice and well-kept, may not be the most professional background setting. You want your interviewer to see you as a professional that has a legitimate work-from-home setup.

What to do: Adjust your camera angle to eliminate the bed from view. Even move furniture around if you have to. Remember, this isn’t a permanent situation—you only need to create this temporary space for your video interviews.

— General Clutter

You might think nothing of the piles of paper behind you or the trinkets haphazardly placed on the shelf, but to a recruiter, they may be a sign of questionable organizational skills. Even if you know the clutter has no bearing on how you work—after all, it may not even be yours—the interviewer might wonder if the lack of organization is likely to carry over into your job.

What to do: Clear the clutter before the interview, knowing you can always put it back afterward. Clean surfaces will help focus the interviewer’s attention on you.

How to Improve Your Video Interview Setup

Now that you know potential pitfalls and what to avoid, here’s what your background should reveal for a successful video interview.

— Start With Lighting

To look your best on a video interview, move your desk, lamps, and other equipment around to get the best lighting. Well before your interview, test out different setups to find what works well for you.

FlexJobs Career Experts say:

“The best lighting for any video interview is natural light that is positioned in front of you. If there’s a window you can sit in front of or next to, that’s ideal. The sun shouldn’t be shining directly through the window because that can be too bright, washing out your image and causing you to squint. Indirect, natural light coming through a window is your best bet.”

If you don’t have a window perfectly positioned near your computer, lamps and other electrical lights can work well too. Try to place those behind your camera, so the light will be in front of you and shine evenly across your face.

Avoid backlighting (where the light source is behind you) because it makes the light on your face incredibly dim, and the interviewer will see you in a shadow.

— Evaluate What’s in View

Once you find a good setup for your lighting, turn on your computer’s camera and check out what’s behind you on the screen. the Career Experts offer:

“If there’s artwork, make sure it’s professionally appropriate and not too flashy, shiny, or busy. If it’s a blank wall, is it clean? Removing scuff marks with a handy Mr. Clean magic eraser pad is an easy way to clean things up. Is the paint chipped or otherwise damaged? If possible, patch up that paintwork for a fresh background. If it’s furniture or household items, are they clean and organized? Are they professionally appropriate?”

Think about the type of company you’re interviewing with. Is it traditional, buttoned-up, and conservative? Or is it more casual or creative? Style your video background in a way that is appropriate for each company’s version of professionalism. You can find clues about this on a company’s social media, its website, and even in the job listing itself.

— Get Pets Under Control

You may be used to your dog sleeping on the floor behind you, but what happens when he decides to start a midday cleaning session or the UPS driver shows up? If possible, leave pets out of the space during your interview.

If you let your pet stay in the room, take off their collar to reduce the noise of pet tags jangling together. If they usually bark or growl when someone approaches your front porch, hang a sign at the front door politely asking people not to knock or ring the doorbell.

— Make It a “Do Not Disturb” Zone

Just because you’re doing your video interview from home doesn’t mean you’ll be alone. Although employers understand that “things happen,” it’s still best to keep your video interview environment quiet and distraction-free. Close the door if you have one, and remind children and other family members that you’ll need an hour or so of quiet “alone” time to complete your interview.

— Go Virtual

Sometimes, professional and tidy just isn’t an option. When that’s the case, consider a virtual background instead.

Just like an actual background, though, choose something that’s professional and fits the company’s culture. For example, if you’re interviewing with a more traditional company, a neon tie-dye background may not be the way to go. Likewise, no matter where you’re interviewing, pictures of you dancing on the table during your last vacation may not send the right message, either.

When in doubt, a plain background will always do. But if you want to inject a little of your personality into the interview, consider going with something a little more creative. For example, if you’re applying for a food blogger position, consider using a background with your favorite foods around the edges.

Get More Video Interviewing Help

If you’re getting ready for a Zoom interview, stay calm. Remember that—no matter what space you choose—if you simply clear out the area behind you and make your background a plain wall, door, or closet, you’re likely to have a distraction-free interview where you, not your environment, are the focal point.

Looking for more interview advice? FlexJobs has you covered! In addition to the articles on our blog, we offer members exclusive access to our jobs database, career resources, skills tests, and more. Take the tour to learn more about all of the ways a FlexJobs membership can support you in your job search and throughout your career!

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