Is it unprofessional to use a zoom background?

Since the world took to virtual life since the start of the first lockdown, you might still be trying to figure out the best etiquette for virtual meetings. There’s a whole new set of rules that have come into play with virtual jobs in the UK, which means you need to adapt. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place!

Let’s take a look at the best practices for virtual meetings.

Should you use a virtual background for zoom meetings?

Virtual backgrounds on zoom can be a really handy tool for your remote meetings. If your house is a little cluttered, busy and untidy, a virtual background is a quick and easy way to hide the mess. Just remember you’re still at a work meeting, so make sure you choose a professional zoom background and one that’s not too distracting.

Virtual meeting etiquette

Turn on your video

Although you have the option to turn off your video in virtual meetings, it doesn’t mean you should take it. After all, would you hide your face during a face-to-face meeting? Keep your video turned on and follow the lead of the person leading the call. If they don’t turn their video on, it’s safe to assume you don’t have to either.

Limit the use of chat boxes

Employees tend to think chat boxes are private, sending messages to each other throughout meetings. But this isn’t entirely true. If a Zoom meeting is recorded, messages from the chat boxes will be sent to the meeting organiser at the end, even if you sent it privately! So only use the chat boxes if necessary, and only write things you’re happy for others to view.

Tune in promptly

In real life, you generally tend to show up to meetings 5 minutes early. Showing up late is definitely frowned upon… and virtual meetings should be no different! Always log into the call a few minutes before it’s due to start to make sure you don’t keep your managers waiting.

Overzooming

We know Zoom is great, but make sure you’re not overdoing it. It’s not necessary to Zoom call everyone any time you need to ask them something. This can be really disruptive to other team members and plus, nobody likes having to look ‘Zoom ready’ all the time.

Outfit prep

We know it can be tempting to keep your pyjama bottoms on during the workday. After all, nobody can see your lower half, right? But what happens when you have to stand up because you spilled your cup of tea? Or when you need to take the dog out of the room? We’re not saying you should be wearing tailored trousers when working from home, but at least get out of the pyjama stage!

Mute the mic

It’s okay to say hello when you log into a call, but be sure to switch off your mic once you’ve greeted the team. If you don’t, your camera will take centre-stage every time you make a tiny noise. In person, we know conversations tend to be back and forth, but you should bite your tongue during virtual meetings (unless you have something meaningful to say) to stop any disruptions to the technology. 

Want to work remotely?

Fancy landing yourself a virtual job? We have over .5million vacancies across the UK on our app, so we’re sure you’ll find something to suit you! If you’re not sure whether remote working is for you, check out our blog post on the pros and cons of remote working.