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Hi All, I have 3.5 yrs of experience in Product Management and I'm interviewing at JP Morgan chase for Senior Product Manager role and Product Manager role, for Seattle Location. What kind of salary range should I give for each role when the recruiter pops up this question? JPMorgan Chase
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The only immediate solution I can think of is to back yourself up against a wall so that's all they see.
That’s what I do. Also ensures that no one can walk up behind me as well.
I would use the blur background easier than setting up a screen and comes across very professional and subtle.
Why does your manager want you to do that? That’s a weird ask.
Agree
That sounds extremely odd to me. Your privacy matters and the screen backgrounds are designed for purpose.
I'd ask colleagues and HR. Your privacy matters, as do your boundaries.
Agree
You can try blurring your background instead of a virtual one if your app allows.
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Thanks all - I'm gonna go with the pop-up screen idea. Yeah he's really particular and kind of eccentric all-around to be honest. It is possible I was making choices that were too "loud".
can also ask for company-wide/marketing approved virtual backgrounds. seen many places use those especially when doing externally facing meetings
Yes Uber had these, otherwise just blurring might be fine.
If you're using Zoom, there is a Blur function that will hide your room and not be "disruptive" or whatnot.
My company literally have teams of interns making new virtual backgrounds for every occasion or big meeting. I get 2 emails of new wallpapers every week along with the hashtags they want us to use on social media (LinkedIn).
I’d say no to letting them see your room. I personally use the bridge of the Starship Enterprise as my virtual background for meetings where everyone is chill.
I can see why he would want you to do that. It's a bit weird having the tropics in your background while you're talking to the VP of your client's company. I think getting a backdrop is the easiest solution. Maybe your company will reimburse you?
Totally disagree. If an individual is distracted by such a thing, they have bigger issues and need to adjust their focus and mindset. Agree that using a professional setting is just common sense.
Yeah, I agree that you might have chosen options that could have been distracting for other attendees (I've seen people use some crazy ones, especially videos). Marketing at our company has made some very professional ones that many use if they aren't comfortable showing their home. I like the screen idea as well.
There are screens you can buy. I don't mean the green screens, but some fabric ones.
One of my direct reports uses tapestries that he buys on Amazon for $10-12, and they look fantastic.
Big fan of that
Try a virtual background of their office. If they claim the background is unprofessional, that's on them.
Report them to HR for being creepy and prying into your personal life if they fail to acquiesce.
So if you use Zoom often and deal with multiple people that have virtual backgrounds, you sometimes notice issues with flickering or along the edges of the person in the video, or even sometimes getting partially "eaten" by their background. I find this more likely to happen with with people that cannot sit still in front of their camera. Some easily-distracted viewers might have issues with that.
If I had someone what was really being a hard ass about it, I would just hang up a sheet behind me. You can get twin-sized sheets in a variety of patterns to use for this. I recommend a Star Wars one. :)
The people that don't even move a muscle on zoom scare me the most. And some of us have ADA conditions that make that movement worse, so that just can suck for everyone without complaint, I guess?
The worst I see is when you have complex backgrounds. I have a piece of furniture zoom thinks is people and shows if I'm not in front of it, for example. Over the head headphones also are a problem; zoomers apparently didn't bother training the algorithm on people wearing cans in a call. I get a gap of real space between me and the band all the time.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01FZ5CE4O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_V0J7F3K74FGYHFMJYN3P?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
That’s a strange ask. What is their problem with a virtual background
Turn your desk around! Well it might ruin the ‘feng shui’ of your room I personally value my privacy. It might not be the most elegant, but the flat wall protects your privacy. 
I position a folding room divider behind me. I bought it for maybe $100 online. Mine is made of wood, but they come in all kinds of textures, they can be moved around easily, stored later, etc.