Why technical setup genuinely affects how you come across
Poor lighting, unstable internet, or bad audio quality can distract from even a strong interview performance, and repeated technical interruptions can subtly signal disorganisation to an interviewer, even when the issues are entirely outside your control. Getting the basics right removes a whole category of avoidable risk before the interview has even started.
Camera and lighting
Position your camera at eye level rather than looking down at you from above or up from below, since this affects how naturally you appear to make eye contact with the interviewer. Place your main light source in front of you, facing your face, rather than behind you, which creates a silhouette effect; a window facing you or a simple desk lamp both work well.
Audio and internet
Use headphones or a dedicated microphone rather than relying on a laptop's built-in microphone and speakers where possible, since this reduces echo and background noise pickup significantly. Test your internet connection in advance, and if possible use a wired connection or sit close to your router, since a stable connection matters more than camera resolution for how professional the call actually feels.
Pre-interview checklist
Test your full setup (camera, microphone, lighting, and internet) at least the day before, not minutes before the interview, so you have time to fix any issues discovered. Close unnecessary applications and browser tabs that could cause notifications or slow your system down, and have a backup plan (such as a phone hotspot) ready in case your primary internet connection fails.