Don’t zoom from your bedroom without putting up a background pic

[Anonymous]

PP here. I should also add that the absolute worst thing for Zoom calls is people who have poor-quality mics. I always made sure that I had a good sound setup after my first week or so of working at home. I splurged on an EV RE20 microphone, a DBX 286s preamp, and a USB audio interface. I don't have a great voice, but that setup makes me sound like a radio announcer. I wouldn't expect most people to go to that extreme, but I do think that full-time work-at-home people need something better than a $25 gaming headset mic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a very small house, only place to do it.

I have a tiny apartment and still know how to blur the background so a small house is no excuse.

[Anonymous]

Curious since I’m trying to go back to work after taking a few years out of the workforce. If I am taking a meeting (not an interview) from my bedroom and my bed is behind me but is beautifully made and has nice art above it, is that still considered unprofessional? I love my bedspread/coverings and sometimes it makes me feel happy/confident to see it (I know this is bizarre) but I also recognize I have no concept of what is appropriate via zoom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious since I’m trying to go back to work after taking a few years out of the workforce. If I am taking a meeting (not an interview) from my bedroom and my bed is behind me but is beautifully made and has nice art above it, is that still considered unprofessional? I love my bedspread/coverings and sometimes it makes me feel happy/confident to see it (I know this is bizarre) but I also recognize I have no concept of what is appropriate via zoom.

I use a fake background, but I don't think there is a problem with a nicely made bed. My office is actually also our spare bedroom (DH also works from home and is in corproate sales so he gets the real office), and it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve watched hundreds of recorded job interviews since the pandemic started and we just stopped doing in person. Anyway, when you watch someone answer questions for 20 minutes, you really notice everything in the background. I tried to not let that influence my decisions but it really did my colleagues so just know people judge you on your surroundings. But I have to say I got sick of looking at their stuff and their decor and after a while you start analyzing the artwork or their interiors and what it shows about them. I think the best interviews were when people stood up with a white wall or blurred wall behind them. It’s a whole new skill set to learn and people make mistakes. Not only with messy rooms but also bad lighting, and speaking in a monotone. People who looked into the camera like they were actually speaking to someone were far and few but they were the people we hired.

For interviews, I use a ring light and a white wall.

[Anonymous]

Bed is too personal. Even a nicely made one. People should care about the image they are projecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious since I’m trying to go back to work after taking a few years out of the workforce. If I am taking a meeting (not an interview) from my bedroom and my bed is behind me but is beautifully made and has nice art above it, is that still considered unprofessional? I love my bedspread/coverings and sometimes it makes me feel happy/confident to see it (I know this is bizarre) but I also recognize I have no concept of what is appropriate via zoom.

It’s distracting made or not made. I do not want to see it and spend the meeting guessing if you are in a guest room or your bedroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bed is too personal. Even a nicely made one. People should care about the image they are projecting.

Agree, no one has said the bed is a positive only a negative or neutral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I should also add that the absolute worst thing for Zoom calls is people who have poor-quality mics. I always made sure that I had a good sound setup after my first week or so of working at home. I splurged on an EV RE20 microphone, a DBX 286s preamp, and a USB audio interface. I don't have a great voice, but that setup makes me sound like a radio announcer. I wouldn't expect most people to go to that extreme, but I do think that full-time work-at-home people need something better than a $25 gaming headset mic.

That's a new one for me. We all use whatever mic is embedded in the laptop work provides us and it sounds fine. I definitely would not shell out my own money for this. I'm on Zoom 2-3 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bed is too personal. Even a nicely made one. People should care about the image they are projecting.

Agree, no one has said the bed is a positive only a negative or neutral.

This. It can only work against you. I would not judge someone who is otherwise a great employee for sitting in front of their made bed (I'm more annoyed by the people with the messy closets in the background - just close the damn closet door!). However, if you are at all concerned about making a good impression, it's not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The wall behind where I sit to Zoom is a carefully curated bookshelf with a few decorative items. Like I am on MSNBC or somthing.

You're showing your privilege. I lived in the world's smallest 1 bedroom in NYC with my husband in 2020. I worked from our bed for a year based on outlet placement.

And this is why there is the option to change your background.

And I did. But don't act like everyone can just carefully curate a bookshelf.

Meh. I don't live in the world's smallest 1 bedroom, but I do live in a pretty small 2 bedroom with my husband. I still have a Zoom Corner of my living room where there are artful pictures on the wall behind me. I usualy just blur or put up a background for normal meetings, but I need to sometimes do TV interviews from home so I was able to find an appropriate space to do it. You don't need room for a bookshelf. You just need a wall. Even in a small space, you can make do with what you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The wall behind where I sit to Zoom is a carefully curated bookshelf with a few decorative items. Like I am on MSNBC or somthing.

You're showing your privilege. I lived in the world's smallest 1 bedroom in NYC with my husband in 2020. I worked from our bed for a year based on outlet placement.

And this is why there is the option to change your background.

And I did. But don't act like everyone can just carefully curate a bookshelf.

Where would they put the bookshelf?

get a small one that hangs on the wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The wall behind where I sit to Zoom is a carefully curated bookshelf with a few decorative items. Like I am on MSNBC or somthing.

You're showing your privilege. I lived in the world's smallest 1 bedroom in NYC with my husband in 2020. I worked from our bed for a year based on outlet placement.

+1