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LogoutDo i need to have a professional background in an online interview?
It can be anything which is not very distracting for the interviewer (just wall or curtain will work )
one suggestion - refrain from having books in the backgrounds if you dont know what is there in those books!
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Agreed with @geetanjali-prasad. The background isn’t going to add any points to your interview scores, but can be a problem for you if the recruiter gets more “content” to use against you in the interview!
However, if used smartly, the background can also be a portrayal of your personality and a potential talking point to break the ice with the interviewer.
For instance, if you are a football fan, a prominent poster of Messi in the BG can be a great ice breaker, especially if the interviewer is also into football (and hopefully not a CR7 fan 
)!
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I feel working extra hard for professional background is not necessary. However, it should not be messy and cluttered. Overall, the interview surrounding should be clean, and well lit.
You shouldn’t really be stressed out about the background in an interview. With interviewers also working from home these days, interviewer would not really be bothered about what’s in the background.
Having said that, do remember,
- To pick up a well lit place so that interviewer can see you clearly
- To avoid places where there is disturbance in the background. It will be distracting for you as well as interviewer
- You may use the images or objects in the background to drive conversations in your favour
The setting you choose for your online video interview should be professional and uncluttered. What you display in the background could take away from what you’re saying—and that’s where the real focus should be. Anything you add to, or take away from, your video background should support your interview answers and overall candidacy. And keep in mind that what’s appropriate for more traditional career fields is different than what’s appropriate for more casual or creative fields, so use your best judgment based on your knowledge of the profession. Here are what some common scenes in your home office may convey to a hiring manager.
Showcasing your home library behind you may send the message that you’re well-read and intellectual, but a busy bookcase or shelf could keep the interviewer focused on trying to read your book titles instead of on what you’re saying. Not to mention, a penchant for literature that your potential employer doesn’t agree with—whatever it may be—could affect the hiring decision.
likewise you can choose from different backgrounds according to the interview…
hope this helps!!
The interviewer wants to know how much serious and committed you are for you’re the job or seat in the college. During online interviews, it is suggested to follow some conventions to look professional for the task. Having a decent haircut or combing or tying your hair, wearing light colored formal wear are some of those.
Similarly, professionalism is something that should reflect from the choice of your background too. While it is suggested to sit in well-lit room, with no such information about the background, it is suggested to keep the background as distraction free for you and the interviewer as possible. You can keep the background of your room as it is, by removing any distracting thing from the viewing area, or by applying a virtual background, that is plain and simple and just enough to do the job. Avoid keeping backgrounds that become a point of conversation between you and the interviewer , as it may become a point against you or you may seem non serious about the process.
So idea is to not have a professional background, but to have a distraction free one that keeps the subject of the interview focused and doesn’t draw unnecessary attention.
The noisy background can distract the panelist, better to have plain/simple background so the focus is on YOU during the interview.