In-person interactions allow you to give an excellent first impression through eye contact, posture, and body language. Much of that is lacking on video.
One of the challenges of Zoom conferences and interviews is that it’s often hard to look your best. Furthermore, video chats present other challenges. For example, a lack of proper lighting or bad camera quality can reflect poorly on you.
In this article today, I am going to discuss how you can address this problem. Here are 20 hacks to look good in Zoom meetings.
Hacks To Look Good On Zoom Meetings
1. Use a Clear Background
Photo by Mizuno K/Pexels
Your background matters a lot. Your back should be facing a clean environment with minimal distractions.
Try to find a blank wall in your house, ideally one with a neutral color like white.
You can have some things behind you, such as a few plants, a guitar, or certifications/awards hanging on your wall or displayed on a bookshelf.
The items that are appropriate to have in the background depend on what type of meeting it is. They can include books, artwork, and even workout equipment if the call is fitness-related.
However, there shouldn’t be too much going on in the background. You want the focus to be on you, not the things behind you.
Also Read: Best Browsers For Zoom Meetings
2. Use a Virtual Background
Photo by Anna Shvets/Pexels
If you can’t find a distraction-free background, consider using a virtual background instead. Zoom offers a wide range of virtual backgrounds that obscure your actual surroundings, showing only your face as an overlay.
Virtual backgrounds come in many styles, and you can even import your own custom background, which can help you stand out a bit and be unique.
When using a virtual background, the same advice as for physical backgrounds applies. Don’t use a background that is too distracting or has too many things going on.
A virtual office space background or a natural background with beautiful scenery can work well.
3. Face the Sunlight
Photo by MART PRODUCTION/Pexels
Getting your lighting on point is one of the most important things for ensuring you look good on a Zoom call. Bad lighting can make you look washed out and tired, and it can be challenging for the other participants to make out your facial expressions.
I recommend facing the sunlight. In other words, the window should be behind your laptop or webcam, not behind you.
That way, the sun can shine on you and light you up. If you have two windows on the same wall but on different sides of the room, consider situating your desk precisely between them.
If the sun is too bright, though, it can highlight your imperfections. So, if that makes you a little self-conscious, play around with the window shades to better control the sunlight’s intensity.
Another option is slightly tilting your desk, so the sun doesn’t shine directly on you. This might also be a good idea if the sun is shining in your eyes and distracting you, preventing you from being able to look at the screen.
Also Read: Best Free Zoom Alternatives
4. Use LED Lamps
Photo by cottonbro studio/Pexels
What if you don’t have any windows facing the sun? Perhaps you only get direct sunlight in the morning due to the direction the windows in your apartment face, and your interview is in the afternoon.
Or, the interview might occur at night, which is especially common during the winter, when the days are short and nightfall comes early.
Investing in some LED lights is worthwhile. Put them behind your computer or webcam to mimic sunlight and brighten your face.
You can also buy daylight bulbs, which mimic the sun’s natural rays and emit a light close to sunlight.
Most people have a lamp or two somewhere in the house. Both a desk lamp and a bedside lamp can work, but it’s best if you have two.
That way, you can place one at 10 o’clock and the other at 2 o’clock behind your laptop, imagining your computer as the 12 o’clock point of a clock. That will provide equal light to both sides of your face.
Experimenting with the lamps is critical, as the specifics will depend on your room size and the bulbs you have. Move the lamps a bit closer or further, and consider adding another light in the center to see what effect it has.
You can also raise the lamps by putting them on stacks of books. This is usually a good idea if your laptop is also on a pile of books.
Another idea is to experiment with taking the lampshades off the lamps. That will create a more substantial and direct light with bolder shadows.
Also, consider getting a ring light. Ring lights come in many sizes and, as the name suggests, these lights are ring-shaped. People often use them for video conferences and vlogging.
Ring lights can reduce harsh shadows and obscure wrinkles and lines, making your face appear smooth. You can use them with a laptop, webcam, or phone.
Try using a center ring light with two lamps on either side.
Many ring lights have stands for smartphones, making them a great option if you don’t have a laptop.
You don’t want to have a direct overhead ceiling light above you. That will create unflattering shadows.
5. Position the Camera at Eye Level
Photo by Diva Plavalaguna/Pexels
Not only is lighting important, but so is how you position your camera. Too many people arrange their cameras incorrectly.
If your camera is too low, the participant on the other end of the Zoom call will be looking up at you, seeing your unflattering double chin. Even worse, they might be staring up your nose, which can be pretty off-putting.
Therefore, you don’t want to be looking down into the camera. Instead, you want to look straight ahead or up, so position your camera at eye level or slightly higher.
If you are using your laptop’s built-in webcam, this can be hard to do. Tilting your screen away from you could cause the other participant to look up, which is what you don’t want.
On the other hand, if you have a small laptop, the webcam might be well below eye level. A good solution is simply using a stack of books to raise the height of your computer.
You can do the same for an external webcam, or just get a webcam stand.
Explore: Best Lighting For Zoom Calls
6. Focus on Your Face
You want the focus to be on your face. Depending on how wide the camera’s angle is, you might have to position yourself a bit closer or further away from the camera.
You don’t want a close-up that shows only your face, but you also don’t want the interviewer to see your entire body. Your head and shoulders should be the part of your body showing.
Sitting an arm’s length away from the camera is a good rule of thumb.
Check Out: Best Chromebooks For Zoom Meetings
7. Maintain Proper Posture
Photo by Diva Plavalaguna/Pexels
Don’t crouch your back in an attempt to get closer to the camera or avoid an angle that is too low. Good posture will convey confidence; besides, it’s better for your back.
That’s why it’s crucial to have a good office chair. Having an office chair also shows you’re serious about your home workspace, which is vital if the job involves working from home.
Leaning back can, of course, cause the computer or webcam to be angled too low. Add a few books to the stack, or heighten your adjustable webcam/phone stand.
Explore: Best Zoom Backgrounds For Virtual Interview
8. Get a Higher-Quality Webcam
Photo by Matheus Bertelli/Pexels
If you have a cheap laptop, its built-in camera might not be that good. The video might be grainy, and that can reflect poorly on you.
It might be worth buying an external webcam with a better camera. Note that Zoom now only allows 720p video quality if you have a Pro account and don’t have more than two participants in the call.
1080p video quality is restricted to exceptional cases only. In other words, buying a very expensive webcam might not make sense if you can’t upgrade the video quality in the Zoom app.
However, people use the word “Zoom” as a catchphrase for all video conferencing apps, sort of how they use “Uber” as a catchphrase for all ridesharing apps. If you are reading this article to learn how to look good on video conferencing apps other than Zoom, a more expensive webcam might be worth it.
9. Try Out Zoom’s Beauty Filter
Okay, it’s not technically a beauty filter, at least the way most people are used to the phrase. However, Zoom does have a “Touch Up My Appearance” function that will help you look better on your Zoom calls.
This feature works for both men and women. It’s very subtle, so it’s not like you will notice dramatic changes.
However, it does help smooth out wrinkles and dark shadows and help you look better overall.
Many people find using the “Touch Up My Appearance” function useful when you have poor lighting or just had a bad day and don’t look your best.
It’s not the only function Zoom offers to help you look better on your calls. Another excellent one is the “Adjust for Low Light” function.
If your lighting is poor, you can use this feature to adjust the video quality to make the most out of your lighting and fix issues commonly found in low-light videos.
10. Dress Professionally
Photo by Anna Shvets/Pexels
Do you want to look good on your Zoom calls? Make sure to dress professionally.
As a general rule of thumb, dress as you would for an in-person conference, meeting, or interview of the same nature. For example, if you would typically dress in a suit and tie, do the same for your Zoom interview.
You have a bit more leniency when it comes to video meetings, as people understand that you are at home. While you can usually get away with dressing a bit more casually, it’s sometimes best to err on the side of caution and dress up rather than dress down.
At the very least, dress for business casual instead of just wearing a t-shirt. For example, you might wear a button-down shirt and a sweater on top, but never wear a t-shirt, tank top, or wife beater.
11. Opt for Solid Colors
Photo by Matilda Wormwood/Pexels
Avoid shirts with elaborate patterns, stripes, and designs. They can be very confusing and distracting, preventing the other participant from focusing on you and your words.
Instead, opt for solid-colored shirts, sweaters, blazers, and jackets.
12. Avoid Dark Colors
Photo by Edward Jenner/Pexels
Dark colors can make you look washed out. Even non-black colors, such as navy blue, often appear black on video calls.
Since you want to avoid patterns, as I mentioned above, it’s best to go for light, solid colors. That can include green, pink, red, and even yellow.
White is okay if you have a dark background, but otherwise, avoid wearing all white. Your white clothing will blend with the white background, and it will appear as if your head is floating in midair.
If you have a white background, a brighter color might be better, although a white shirt is okay if you are wearing a black suit or blazer on top of it.
The idea is that the bright colors (like yellow) contrast against your background, which is why they work best if you have a white wall behind you.
Explore: Thank You Email Examples After Zoom Interview
13. Use Makeup
Photo by cottonbro studio/Pexels
Don’t discount the value of makeup and its effect on your appearance. This primarily applies to women, of course, but even men can benefit from using it.
While you don’t want to overdo it with makeup, it can be a great way to hide shadows, wrinkles, and dark bags under your eyes. A tinted moisturizer can make your face look smoother and hide blemishes.
Both women and men can use concealer to hide those annoying pimples that pop up right before your scheduled Zoom meeting.
A few accessories, like a watch, earrings, or necklace, can help you look elegant. However, too much jewelry can be distracting.
The same goes for extravagant accessories, such as long earrings that dangle down and clang.
Explore: Zoom Call Etiquettes For Students
14. Look Into the Camera
While capturing the same personal connection possible with in-person meetings when on a video chat is hard, you should still aim to replicate it as much as possible. Much of human communication is nonverbal, and while video chat doesn’t allow you to give a firm, confident handshake, it does allow you to make eye contact.
You can’t make eye contact by looking at the screen. Instead, you need to look into the camera.
However, you don’t want to stare into the camera the entire time, as that can make you look a bit like a psycho. Instead, avert your gaze from time to time, looking at the screen or even glancing into the distance behind the camera as you speak or listen.
Explore: Creative Zoom Backgrounds
15. Speak Clearly
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
Having an assertive, loud, clear voice on a video call can sometimes be hard. The last thing you want is to mumble or have a low voice that makes it hard for others to hear you, as that will make you sound less confident.
Consider getting an external microphone if your computer’s built-in microphone isn’t that good. You can position an external microphone closer to you or clip it to your shirt so that your voice becomes clearer.
Your environment does affect the way your voice sounds. If you are in a big, empty room, it could create echoes, especially if there is a high ceiling. The longer the distance the sound waves travel, the more likely there will be an echo, which can distort the sound quality.
Therefore, a smaller room is better.
The materials the walls, floor, and ceiling are made of also matter. Glass, metal, concrete, rock, brick, and marble are smooth, allowing the sound to bounce off and create an echo.
Wooden floors are less likely to produce an echo, but a carpeted floor is even better, as it will absorb the sound waves so they don’t bounce back.
A good tip is to speak from your stomach. Of course, you’re not actually speaking from your stomach, but visualizing it can help you obtain a deeper, more assertive voice.
Breathe in deep and low, and use that breath to speak.
You also want to minimize distracting noise as much as possible. Closing the windows might make sense if there is construction going on outside, but if not, it can increase the echo.
If you have kids at home, schedule the meeting when they are in school. Even if you tell them to be quiet, you never know if a fight will break out.
Also Read: Zoom vs Google Meet
16. Preview Yourself
It’s always a good idea to preview how you look before you go live. You might see yourself in a small window during the video chat, but the other participant may have you on full screen, and that can make certain shadows and other features more prominent.
Therefore, preview yourself and see how you look. Change your clothes, fix the lighting, and adjust your posture and the webcam position accordingly.
17. Ask Someone for Their Opinion
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
It doesn’t hurt to ask a family member or friend for their opinion. If you have a partner or spouse, ask them as well.
They may suggest you use a different outfit or give you tips that can help you look better. You might even go on a Zoom call with them, so they can see how you look from the other person’s perspective.
18. Choose the Right Time of Day
Scheduling your Zoom call so you look your best is critical. While this may not always be possible, it often is, even if the possibility never crossed your mind.
You don’t have to tell the other participant why you want the meeting to occur at a particular time. Just tell them the time when you are available.
For example, if your apartment only gets direct sunshine in the late afternoon, try to schedule the meeting for then, so you can situate yourself facing the window.
Some people look their best in the morning. After a long day of working at home, they may feel and look washed out and tired.
Others look better at night. Night owls might be grumpy in the morning and find it hard to keep a polite face.
Everyone is different. Figure out which part of the day you look your best on video and schedule your Zoom call for that time.
Explore: Jitsi vs Zoom
19. Go Outside
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
If you can’t get any natural light in your apartment, and you don’t have time to buy bulbs or a ring light before your meeting, go outside!
Perhaps you have a balcony or terrace. It’s best to sit under an awning to avoid direct sunlight while still keeping it bright, but play around with different angles and spots.
You can also go to a coffee shop. A nearby café might offer fast WiFi, good lighting, and an excellent background.
Just make sure not to go to a loud and noisy coffee shop, or go at a time when there aren’t many people. Coffee shops marketed to people who work online tend to be quieter.
There may also be coworking spots near you that are quiet and offer good internet. However, you may not be allowed to hold a meeting in a public workspace.
Many coworking offices offer the ability to rent a private room for a few hours or a day at reasonable rates for people who need to hold virtual or in-person meetings.
20. Groom Beforehand
Photo by MĂdia/Pexels
Fix your hair and ensure you look neat before going on camera. If you have long hair, use gel or a ponytail to get flyaway hairs in place.
As a man, shave your stubble and get a haircut. Go to the barber or do it yourself if you’re good at it.
If you have a beard, trim it and use beard balm to shape it.
Also Read: Adobe Connect vs Zoom
Wrapping It Up
Above all, be confident. Confidence affects the way people evaluate you and creates an excellent first impression.
People will respect you and look at you positively if you have confidence. For example, they will be less likely to notice small grooming or fashion mess-ups.
