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Zoom rules?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I know that some of you have been right in there with the shift to video calls because of Covid. I have not been, but have one coming up (actually on a Microsoft platform—“zoom” in the title is generic). I’d like to look competent, confidant, dynamic (which are code words for young) and reliable. Can you help me out?

Are moire effects a thing anymore or would a tiny pattern/false plain be ok?

Are bare arms any more acceptable than in person?

How close to the camera should I sit/how much of me should be visible?

What about rules for formality? In person, I’d likely arrive in a topper, even if the weather was too warm to keep it on, with a comment about the weather when I slipped it off. That sounds really dumb when we all know I’m sitting in my own home the whole time. Is there any kind of nod to formality thing like that on a video call?

F2F, there’s no way I’d wear shorts for this. I doubt I’ll have to get up during the call. If I do, it will be because of some big thing that will be very evident. Is it ok if I then happen to have shorts on? (As part of an outfit—not “I’m not wearing any pants” boxer shorts)

F2F, I’d look at the person I was speaking to (there will be 3 of them) to let them know who I’m talking to. Does that work on video or do I need to constantly call everyone by their name? I plan to have their names written clearly on a piece of paper in front of me.

Readers (glasses): can I flip them on/off, or should I make a choice before the call & then stick to it?

What else do I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

Dressing

39 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Related to bare arms/how close to sit: I feel like these might work (sans purse strap & with better facial expression), but some of them only close up. #1 is a tank top. The wall behind me will be white, so I think #2 could be boring with my hair back/up. #3 has a very faint pattern that I think would come across without looking distracting, but it’s not an office dress once you get past the waist. #4 is striped. #5 is navy.

Also, do I need better lighting? 4 & 5 are in the same lighting conditions I’d planned for the call.

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Sal

Veteran

I am not a professional but I think the key things are

- angle. Have the camera a little higher - I put my laptop up a bit to enable this.
- lighting and background - clean and clear, or interesting. I have two angles that work.
- I wear my glasses usually.
- I think any top that is in a flattering colour and pattern is fine. If it is a first time meeting I would choose a woven blouse or shirt or similar in summer (or dress), but really anything that is smart casual. I don't think you need a jacket in most instances.

I was in an online meeting on Friday last week and the client made a joke about my colleagues tee-shirt (it was a very bright saffron) - my colleague was quite offended and it became quite awkward. That's unusual though.

Synne

Veteran

How exciting! Yes, angle is rule #1. The camera should be slightly aimed looking down on you, hence no double chin and "I'm actually on the toilet rn"-vibes. Also I would suggest your hair up. Maybe that lovely braid of yours? And background check. Meaning no clutter or compromising items in the background. Best of luck!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Welcome to the world of video conferencing! We use it a lot, and I hate it lol
One thing to note is that you can open up your room or link prior to the actual call and test how you look in frame. I highly suggest doing this. You will probably want to raise your camera if you're using a laptop- put it on a taller piece of furniture or stack of books. Your head and shoulders should ideally be in the center of your frame, so back up quite a bit. Check your background. If you can position yourself in front of some bookshelves or artwork, this is best. If you can't, you can blur your background or choose a false set. If you use a background, be aware that it is set to a certain depth in the image of you, and if your body moves back further than the background, then you "disappear" into it. If you tend to fidget quite a bit in your chair, I recommend not using a background because this is quite distracting.
For some reason, these virtual meetings are usually referred to as "calls". You can't look directly at people because not everyone will see the different callers in the same configuration (part of this is settings), so address folks by name if you're speaking directly to someone. In larger meetings, it is assumed that you will mute yourself on entry and only unmute when speaking. You may want to do this for your meeting if there's any background noise. Immediately when you come onto the call, I would just say good morning to whoever is already on call and assess whether or not you are still waiting for anyone. Make sure to keep a glass of water nearby. I always like to have my phone, too, so that I can give it a quick check if I get an alert (I keep it on silent), but mine are usually big, boring staff meetings.
Good luck- you will be fine

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks all of you!

Background: I think I'm stuck with plain white, or maybe pale grey cabinet doors. Only have about 20 actual books here (more are on the way--can't wait), no framed art. It'll be mostly clear, but maybe some curtain on one side. Hope that's ok.

Angle: golly, how did I not think of that? But if I put the laptop up, how do I look anything up during the call?

Lighting: I need more than 4 & 5 above, don't have a fancy ring light. Have a ceiling fixture and two gooseneck-type lights. Are there tricks to positioning them? I need to wash out those wrinkles and the zit on my chin.

Hair/makeup: hair will be back, probably in a braid. Def not down flowerchild style or in a topknot. For makeup, I'm assuming my usual max, which most people consider minimal: under eye coverup, navy eyeliner, lippie, maybe a little bronzer.

What to wear: sounds like not #1, which is an interesting knit.

Background noise: are occasional motor vehicles enough to warrant muting? I'd hate to come in late because I'm fumbling with controls.

Etiquette will be interesting: F2F, Germans greet eachother in a way that seems formal, but when I did some audio group calls earlier this year, they didn't, seemed to find it cute that I did. Smalltalk also isn't their thing, so using it for other purposes, like stalling for time, doesn't work well.

What to have on hand during the call: when nursing, I learned to have a glass of water, kleenex, and light throw within arm's reach. What else do people like to have available during a call?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

A plain background is preferable to a messy desk, so you're fine. I would try to find something to wear in a flattering color though, to offset the starkness. Definitely go for makeup on the heavier side of your normal, as the screen tends to wash you out. Open up the Microsoft meeting and play with lighting. Try putting the lamp right behind the computer and see how that looks. Make sure your laptop is stable if you will need to look anything up.
My cat likes to join in on virtual meetings, so I try to make sure she's settled in nearby before I start, or she will jump in my lap, and there will be fluffy cat tail waving about in frame. (not sure if you have pets)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Chewy!!

No pets, and I've told my son he will need to leave the house

I have the link for the meeting already--can I open it up now, or would that spoil it for the meeting? I'd really rather not be dealing with this kind of thing in the last few minutes before going "live". It's MS Teams.

I'm leaning towards 4, even though I don't usually wear much brown, or maybe wearing it over 1 or a plain blue tank. Idk why I'm so fixated on this, when you guys are clearly telling me there are other things to think of.

kkards

Veteran

Welcome to the wonderful, weird, world of video calls. Yes, they are called calls for a reason, even though they have visuals, because of their nature, it’s mostly a listening exercise, and even with people you know well, reading the room and trying to get visual cues can very difficult. Also be careful about over talking someone else.
That being said, yes, wearing shorts would be 100% ok, and actually would IMO so that you understand the nature of these times…but that’s just my weird take. That being said, i would not wear sleeveless if its a meeting with people you do not regularly interact with, as it feels really causal to me.
Good luck and remember these words that 15 months in still come up in every meeting “your on mute”….

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

FI- you can use the link now (Teams is what we use at work). It will give you a preview where you can play with your settings and set up before you actually enter the room. It won't mess anything up, even if you tried to go into the room. It would probably give you a message at that point that the meeting had not yet been started. The preview will still be available, though.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Some good advice here already. Given the tiny rooms in HK, I know a fair few folk that drape a fabric over their background to conceal any busyness. This works so long as you test beforehand what it looks like (you should be able to enter your call link beforehand without issue, just to set up etc, so using a blurred background in tandem with a draped fabric could work well too). I'd recommend testing it at a similar time of the day as your intended call though, to gauge lighting etc.

I think sleeveless tops are OK if the straps are wide (as yours are), but sometimes people can look naked if they're wearing a tank top & have their hair down (to cover the straps). If you're worried you'd usually wear a jacket in such a situation though, then I'd probably wear a sleeved top instead for the first meeting & then change it up later - the other 'third piece' or completer people tend to wear on my Zoom calls is either a statement necklace/ earrings or a shawl (as you mentioned). But you know I err on the side of caution about these things anyway, so take my words with a pinch of salt - although my boss once wore shorts in a Zoom meeting & forgot he had them on, so we all got much more of an eyeful than intended when he raised his leg from the couch lol!

As for propping up the laptop, I use one of those flexible stands to find the right angle (so I can still reach the keyboard). But you could also attach an external keyboard if you want to be able to type easily whilst your laptop is out of reach. I do this plus I have my laptop hooked up to an external monitor for ease.

Re: wearing glasses on a Zoom call, whether or not you get glare will depend on where your natural light/ lamplight hits the screen. This lady has some great tutorials explaining the concept & what to do about it:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yuX4U3gQYyM

Whew that was a lot lol, sorry! But it does get easier the more you do it - think I might even miss Zoom teaching when we go back to F2F next term

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Kkards, not to pick hairs, but do you mean no sleeveless at all, so none of the tops I showed, or there just has to be some sleeve/shoulder coverage, so 2&4 are ok, but not the others,

Chewy, playing with the setup is on the schedule for tomorrow.

Zaoebi, I appreciate the benefits of all your online teaching. No extra keyboard here, but I’ve just remembered the iPad. It’ll have to do for looking things up during the call.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Is this a meeting or an interview? I feel like that might change the advice on what to wear. I'd tend to err on the professional side if it's a job interview.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenn, it is indeed a job interview, in tech.

Sal

Veteran

For an interview I like 4 or 5 here. And I think you can experiment with the set up first in Teams to check the light and angles.

Good luck!

Anonymous

Not much zoom advice bc it refused to let me use it when signing up, but good luck w/the interview!

kkards

Veteran

FI, sorry I mean no sleeveless at all. Imo it’s just too casual. Short sleeve is good.
Good luck.

Joy

Veteran

I agree with Synne. Angle is everything. Wear pants that you would not mind someone seeing you in. I like to wear more makeup than usual…eye makeup including silver metallic liner that will make eyes sparkle, bright lipstick, even a bit of blush.
Be sure you are muted most of the time. The slightest movement or sound will draw attention to you. Know how to mute and unmute. Do not have anyone else or pets in the room. One woman’s cats keep walking behind her to a liter box, Another has a husband that keeps coming in behind her. I have also seen cats or small dogs climb up on the person Zooming.
Earrings and jewelry really show up as does hair style. I like to wear something with a collar or else a scarf. Any rules for having a photo taken pertain here.
Sit up straight. No lounging or recliners. Every type of device can be a little different. Know what you are doing, what various icons mean, how to enter and exit a meeting. How to see the group and have your photo show up. Do not eat or drink anything while on the screen. Good luck.

madeline

Veteran

Lots of great suggestions from the other Fabbers.
I agree that sleeveless is not the best option but #5 looks the most professional. Maybe a light cardigan over one of the sleeveless tops?
Definitely would wear pants not shorts.
You never know if you’ll need to move and pants will keep you appropriately covered.
Last on outfits solids rather than patterns. Less distracting.
I have been doing a bunch of Zoom calls over the past year and have a desk lamp positioned behind my laptop. This lighting worked the best for me with the overhead lights off.
Good luck on the interview!

rachylou

Veteran

I like 4… altho you seem to be squinting a little, like the light is very bright.

I’m rather jaded these days… seated-distance is fine to me. Just make sure you’re in control of your tech. I swear my old boss lost a job because he couldn’t use his iPhone. And I’ve totally scuttled a consultant (who charged A LOT) for not having control of his tech.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

And something to think about: just as my mom taught me when she was the costumer for local theater: clothing worn on stage or on screen shows every wrinkle. She spent many hours ironing costumes after curtain call every night.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

For the lighting, you want light dispersed evenly across your face instead of causing deep shadows. A ring light is ideal but, if you don't have one, what I do is point my lamp towards the wall behind my laptop lol. Since it's a light colour, the light is then reflected back into my face without it being too harsh.

Extra iPad works well, especially as a backup for Zoom calls - I usually enter a call twice during an interview (on my main account with my laptop & on another account on the iPad, but with the audio disconnected) just in case something happens to one or the other. It has actually happened to me before where the laptop webcam freezed up, in which case I muted that & hopped onto the iPad to continue seamlessly. Just make sure you have the iPad propped up somewhere too, so it doesn't look like you're looking down at your phone.

Re: muting/ unmuting yourself - the keyboard shortcut for this is Alt + A on Windows, which can save you time. Here's a list of other shortcuts for other OS platforms too:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-.....d-for-zoom

Lastly, I'm inclined to agree with kkards re: sleeveless for interviews. I know tech interviews tend to be more casual, but even my cargo-shorts-loving husband will don a collared shirt for an interview (sometimes a polo shirt, but still.. I have to meet him halfway, lol. So I bought him 'stealth' cargo pants, where the leg pocket opens with a discreet zipper instead of a flap top closure lol)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thank you all again!

On wearing sleeves: the heat wave finally seems to have ended here—predicted highs are in the 70s. I will try on my light blue Lands End LS button-front and post a photo later (it’s 6 am now). I think it will come down to that one or #4. They both have collars, (as do #2 & #5.) I will try to respond to individual comments then too. I’m going to sleep more first, am only awake now because it’s been full-on daylight for over an hour. Happy Solstice!

Minaminu

Veteran

The light in the pictures 4 and 5 is fine, I'd also recommend to avoid sleeveless tops (deep V neckline as well).

You can do a zoom test with a friend, it's free for the first 40 minutes. I did a few tests with mr Minu as I wanted to check the light but also the sound. If you live in a noisy environment (ie neighbour with newborn baby! ) then it may be best to use some headphones.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Attached are screenshots of my best setup for tomorrow. We all know I will lean forward and back, so I took pix doing just that. My son has been tasked with clearing his things off the windowsill, we will shove the bed out of frame, and I'll turn the handles on the windows to all face the same way.

I think I'm going to go with this shirt, with the blue & white pinstriped G-Star jeans (the ones that people here always call "white"). I highly doubt they'll be seen on screen, especially not below the knees, and if they are, they go with the shirt reasonably well. I’m thinking sleeves rolled up.

Hair will be up/back, probably in a braid. I'll add under-eye concealer. Any make-up tips to get rid of the bags under my eyes?

Please suggest any possible improvements you see!

Thanks Minaminu--I probably should've put "zoom" in quotes in the title to make it clearer that the call isn't actually on that software package.

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Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

The setup looks good! You could angle the camera slightly away from the door if you're worried about the windowsill, but if that's the bed on the other side then I'd say it's fine as is. As a 'dark circles' sufferer for life, I have no tips for eyebags unfortunately. The shirt is the same colour as the one I bought for my husband's interview & he got the job, so consider that a good omen lol?

My bad on the Zoom specific keyboard shortcuts earlier - seems Microsoft has added them for Teams too now
https://support.microsoft.com/.....mk_calling Good luck!

Synne

Veteran

Harsh light from one side will only accentuate any under-eye bags, it's like reverses make-up. It creates even more shadows and creeks and nooks. Could you twist your set-up 90 degrees, so you face the light?

lyn67

Veteran

I like outfit and hair in nr 4 (from initial series) the best for a tech interview- and loved all the good points you got in the comments for a video-call!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Synne, you’re good at this! The light is aimed at the ceiling so I thought I could get away with it, but you are tight, it’s off to the side.

Madeline, so you just have the one light source then? I was again that could create more shadows.

Lyn67, yep, the advice here has been super-helpful!

Zaoebi, a good omen for sure! Sweet of you to send those links.

Cjh, shirt is now hanging up, as per your mother’s implicit instruction.

Rachylou, fumbling with tech would give exactly the wrong impression!

VintageDawn

Good luck today! You've gotten a lot of great advice. Is there enough light in the room to turn off the overhead light? I find I like how I look the least with my overhead light on and as much as possible try to keep it off and use the natural light/other lights in the room.

couple other tips: when you're speaking to someone look right into the camera, hopefully yours has a little light on it. It feels super weird to not look at people but it's the best thing to do to mimic eye contact and it'll make you look like a pro.

A body language expert we've been watching on youtube suggests putting a big post-it with a smiley face next to or right behind your camera so that you see it everytime you look at the camera. It's a clever trick, it gives you someone to talk to and for me, just makes me smile.

If you are worried about background noise or unmuting/muting yourself repeatedly you can always wear headphones, then it's generally ok to not mute yourself in a small mtg like this

For an interview I love the idea of joining one 2 devices as a backup. Just make sure you are totally muted on the 2nd device or you'll create a feedback loop when you speak.

You're going to do great!

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