Do you use Zoom for work meetings?
Nearly 13 million people a month are using Zoom, especially since COVID19 has restricted face-to-face meetings, and forced so many people to work from home.
This web-based video-conferencing tool has seen a surge in use during 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
The chances are you’ll have seen it, and probably been on a few meetings.
But are you getting the best from Zoom? Are you coming across in the professional way that you want to be seen?
We share a few top tips to up your game on Zoom:
- Mute your microphone!
If you take away nothing else from this article, remember this: Mute your microphone!!
There’s nothing more unprofessional (or distracting) than the sound of the washing machine / baby crying / radio playing / kids arguing / insert your own unprofessional background sound here!
Mute your microphone, and only unmute when you need to speak.
To make sure this always happens, go into settings, select “Audio”, and then check “Mute my microphone when joining a meeting”. - Setup your camera to be at eye level.
This avoids the double-chin angle, and gives you a personable, approachable look. You may need to rig up a makeshift stand for your computer or device.
While you’re doing this, have a quick look at yourself on the video – do you need to give your hair a comb, or take it down if it’s tied back? - Face a window or light source.
If you have your window or light source behind you, you can end up looking like a witness-protection-silhouette! Facing the window or light source throws light onto your face, and enables the other attendees at the meeting to feel that they are actually speaking with a real person! - Know your Zoom shortcut keys:
Alt+A mute/unmute audio
Alt+V start/stop video
Alt+F1 switch to active speaker view in video meeting
Alt+I open invite window
F6 navigate through Zoom pop up windows
Click here for a full list
Happy Zoom ing!