Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to students and older job seekers about how to make the best first impression at an interview. Lots of questions have ensued, but one of the key areas of concern was how to make sure you come across as professional and engaging during a Zoom or Teams meeting. To be fair this isn’t a concern just for job seekers, all of us in the world of work have regular virtual meetings; whether for team check-ins, client presentations, or networking.
You still need to consider all the aspects you would for a face-to-face meeting but here are my key tips that are specific to an online meeting:
1. Get your setup right – Good lighting and sound are essential. Natural light works best, but if that’s not available, position a lamp in front of you to avoid shadows. An external microphone or headset can dramatically improve sound quality, ensuring that your audience hears you clearly.
2. Choose your background wisely – A cluttered or distracting background can undermine your credibility, so check what’s behind you. A tidy, neutral space works best or you can blur your background using the feature in Zoom or Teams. If you use a virtual background, make sure it looks natural and doesn’t distract from your message (or make you look as though your head is floating.)
3. Maintain Eye Contact – Unlike in a face-to-face meeting, when you look at your audience, although you can see their eyes you aren’t maintaining eye contact. Instead of looking at them (or yourself) all the time, focus on the camera lens too. This creates the impression of direct eye contact. Imagine you’re talking to a colleague or friend sitting just behind the lens—it’ll make your delivery feel more natural and engaging.
4. Enhance Your Presence – Virtual meetings can flatten energy levels, so compensate by using a slightly higher energy than usual. Speak with enthusiasm, smile naturally, and use hand gestures within the camera frame to make your message more dynamic.
The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Remember to do a quick check before an important call to make sure you look and sound right. Mastering your online presence takes practice, but if you work with just these 4 tips you’ll present with confidence and credibility in any virtual meeting.
If you’re worried about the impression you make on or off line, then book a 45-minute coaching session with me here for just £99 (including VAT).
And if you’re look for a job, I highly recommend you get in touch with Career Springboard for help with all the other aspects of job hunting. https://careersspringboard.org.uk/; https://www.csjc.org.uk/ and https://www.careerswestberks.org.uk/about-us
