Hiring manager turn off camera on interview

[Anonymous]

I have a few zoom/team/google interview online, and I have come across 1-2 hiring manager turns off camera. I just looked at the black screen, and one told me that I could also turn off my camera. Well, I did not, but I perfomed badly because I felt more nervous and awkward not knowing where to look at. The job position I interview is remote working, but I thought isn't it both parties want to treat virtual interview as face to face. I got a negative first impression of the hiring manager, and I felt like wasting my time to dressup and wear makeup. Is that common for interviewer not turning on camera?

I put my camera on top of the middle of monitor, so I am centered. Where do you normally place the camera for interview?

[Anonymous]

I’m a hiring manager, and my colleagues and I (we do panel interviews) don’t turn on our cameras. Our company in general isn’t big on cameras so most people don’t turn them on for meetings at all. I personally hate being on camera and I’m completely fine doing an interview audio only (in fact, we used to just provide a conference phone line, but then my company got rid off them so we’re forced to use Teams because we no longer have phones at all).

[Anonymous]

They are probably in their pajamas or in their car.

[Anonymous]

You have to think about it from the hiring manager’s perspective. They are probably doing continuous interviews and there is something about Zoom/Teams that is just exhausting. I don’t see a problem with leaving the camera off and turning it into a phone call.

[Anonymous]

I don’t judge people by whether they use cameras or not. It is not more or less professional to use a camera. To say it is is unprofessional not to use a camera is your opinion or assessment but actually reveals very little about their professionalism.

If the interviewer wants a camera on, then do that. The interviewer chooses and the candidate has to go along with the social mores and culture of that company.

Turning your camera off—as you were invited to do—would have shown them that you could fit into the way they do things.

[Anonymous]

Every team/zoom meeting has an option to call in or turn on camera. I think interviewer has the option to do audio only, but interviewee has no option and need to turn on camera.

[Anonymous]

Our panel uses the camera. However, we indicate at the very start of the interview that use of camera by the interviewee is optional because it is optional for non-management at our organization. Just interviewed about 40 people and FWIW, not a single one opted to not use the camera. We use the camera on our end because we believe the interviewees are (or should be) interviewing us as much as we are interviewing them. We make it optional for them because it is optional once they onboard and because we want all interviewees to be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

You ever make a phone call? It's like that

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this is rude to me. If you (the hiring manager) don’t want to be on camera, schedule a phone interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, this is rude to me. If you (the hiring manager) don’t want to be on camera, schedule a phone interview.

Agree very rude. Schedule an interview over the phone.

[Anonymous]

I would love that. If they tell you that you can turn it off, do that & treat it just like a phone interview.
U less you really like the camera thing, then maybe that tells you that’s not the culture/norm for the company - so maybe not the right for for you. As someone who has a manager who expects cameras on all of the time, even for a last minute quick chat, I would love permission to turn off the camera.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP above who said an interview is a two-way street and IMO it's inconsiderate and immature for the hiring manager/committee not to turn on their camera(s). It speaks poorly of both the interviewer and their corporate culture as a whole. The only exception is if someone's having internet connectivity problems which you can't do anything about but otherwise, step it up and turn on your camera, people! I'm a shy introvert who hates using my camera too, but I get over it especially in an interview situation where the interviewee is meeting one or more people they almost certainly don't know at all and whether the interviewer will admit it or not there's a real power imbalance. Zoom's not as good as in person but it's still helpful to get some kind of visual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, this is rude to me. If you (the hiring manager) don’t want to be on camera, schedule a phone interview.

Agree very rude. Schedule an interview over the phone.

It's not rude, and the manager invited the applicant to turn off their camera. As others have noted, many companies have switched to video capable systems for all their telecoms.

[Anonymous]

I think you completely nullify any semblance of rudeness if you let the candidate know in advance it will be voice only. There are sometimes reasons to do it through some equipment other than phone, but if the candidate knows it will effectively be a phone call anyway, then there you have it.

[Anonymous]

It's polite for the organizer (for any meeting) to say what the camera norms are. If you know you will be off camera, tell invitees ahead of time that you'll be off camera and they can do the same. If you expect cameras on, tell them.

I prefer cameras off, but I hate putting on makeup and office clothes for something I thought would be video and its not.