Photos: 16 of the most appropriate virtual backgrounds for job interviews and onboarding

Modern open area

New year, new job? Here are 16 appropriate virtual backgrounds to use for job interviews or onboarding. Here’s what a couple experts we spoke to said:

“While Zoom backgrounds can be a fun way to express your creativity and personality, a neutral background is actually best, since part of the reason we get Zoom fatigue is because our eyes have to take in so much detail, said Kristen Hayward, head of people at Superhuman. 

“Using a virtual background is a surefire way to make the right first impression,” said Tim Sanders, vice president of customer insights at Upwork. Select “backgrounds that replicate an office environment. Simple backgrounds, like those that have a single texture or color scheme, will help you stand out, and a color that contrasts with your skin tone so you don’t fade into the background.” Sanders added, “topical [backgrounds] are a good way to show your personality. Avoid selecting busy backgrounds; it could be distracting.” Don’t use “a background with the prospective employer’s brand on it or futuristic, dystopian backgrounds that might produce negative or stressful emotions”

To download any of these images, see TechRepublic’s article The best virtual backgrounds to use on Zoom for your next business meeting.

SEE: Zoom 101: A guidebook for beginners and business pros (TechRepublic Premium)