Are you working from home during this pandemic? Here are easy ways to look professional during video conferencing while at home.
Video conference tips
If you’re used to working a 9-5 job in an office, you may have been forced to adjust to working from home since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some estimates have nearly two-thirds of the American workforce working from home, many of them for the first time.
While you can transfer your usual professional wardrobe to an online work environment, there are a few points worth mentioning before you go on your first call. Make sure to check out our collection of shapewear bras and bralettes if you’re interested in expanding your collection during the coronavirus outbreak.
Don’t Underestimate Lighting
What you wear makes a big difference, but the lighting in your workspace can be just as important. Good lighting makes you look more natural on a webcam. On the other hand, rooms with low light levels or fluorescent lights often have the opposite impact.
The easiest way to balance the light environment in your home office is to utilize natural light. If that isn’t an option, lamps and overhead lights can provide the same effect. Make sure to prevent any lights from shining directly into the webcam and washing out the picture.
Stick with Your Normal Outfits
Every organization has its own policies, but you can almost always wear your in-person clothes for video conferences and other digital events. Of course, tops are much more relevant than bottoms given that pants and skirts won’t be visible on a webcam.
That said, it’s also a good idea to wear medium hues that won’t be washed out or too dark to see on Zoom. You can always wear the outfit in front of your webcam before work to how it will look during meetings.
Double-check Your Background
Freelancers and other telecommuters may have had home offices before the pandemic, but those who are working from home for the first time may need help setting up a workspace. You don’t necessarily need much space—the important thing is that the area is quiet and distraction-free for important meetings.
With that in mind, you should let everyone you live with know when you’ll be in a meeting. Make sure the background doesn’t have clutter or anything else that could become a distraction. Again, it’s critical to take some time before the meeting to confirm that the space is suitable for work.
Most of us will hopefully be back to work in the near future, but the reality is that COVID-19 is leading millions of people to work at home for the first time. These tips will help you adjust to your new environment and stay involved at work without missing a beat.