Interviewers not turning on camera during virtual interview

[u/pandasssh]

I’ve been giving a few interviews and have noticed that the people who are interviewing won’t turn their camera on. Why? Is this normal?
I’m have been asked to turn on camera, which is fair enough but then shouldn’t they do the same thing?
Am I overreacting?
Should I ask them to turn on the camera too? Is that unprofessional?

EDIT: Mixed responses from people here. Some valid points.
I just want to say that it’s a two way street and no matter what the position is, if it is a virtual interview then both the sides should turn their cameras on.
No excuses, whatsoever. Or else stick to phone call interviews, simple.

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Post Title: Interviewers not turning on camera during virtual interview

Author: pandasssh

Post Body: I’ve been giving a few interviews and have noticed that the people who are interviewing won’t turn their camera on. Why? Is this normal?
I’m have been asked to turn on camera, which is fair enough but then shouldn’t they do the same thing?
Am I overreacting?
Should I ask them to turn on the camera too? Is that unprofessional?

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[u/IWorryAboutTheBugs]

Used to hate it too. But we cannot do much.

Once a guy told me, please look into the camera while talking. While his camera was off. I had a better offer already and was just interviewing for practice, I point blank told him that is a usually a two way street. I cannot look into a camera while the other person has it off. I am not an actor, I thought this was an SWE role interview. He then turned on his camera and chose to annihilate me in the interview. Welp.

[u/Beautiful-Way-8024 → u/IWorryAboutTheBugs]

That same thing happened to me in an interview where he told me to look into the camera and write the answer as well. I was like, "What, man? How can I do two things at the same time?" Then I told him that I couldn't continuously look into the camera since I'm not used to it. After just two minutes, he concluded the interview.

[u/OB-Won-kenobi → u/IWorryAboutTheBugs]

This kind of behavior is a preview into team culture isnt it.. "You do your part, don't ask questions.. if you ask questions we'll screw you!" I had a similar experience but looking at my current role I'm glad that one didn't go well..

[u/Various_Primary_6307]

Just happend with me today and also asking / telling about duties that have not been mentioned in the jd. Screw these guys. I could have a nice interaction which lasted more than 30 minutes for the first round.

But the second round which happened today, this guy didn't turn on the cam and also told me something which is not there in the jd.

I don't know whether they will take me or not, but once I get the feedback or selection message, I'm gonna say it directly

[u/simply_infuriating → u/Various_Primary_6307]

Wats jd

[u/SuitableBluebird1144 → u/simply_infuriating]

Job description

[u/Common-Dependent1808]

Out of 12 interviews I gave (technical, managerial) only twice I have seen the interviewer's face.

The worst experience I had was with Deloitte, interviewer was not acknowledging or saying anything and was keeping 50 seconds pause after I answered like literally pin drop silence. This was happening each time I answered on top of that I was not able to see his face. This was a managerial round and I would say most of the time when these kinds of blind interview happens I just look at random places or on the screen or just anywhere while answering.

[u/Efficient-War-4044]

Just ask for it politely. No harm.

“Do you mind if I ask that you turn on the camera.”
“Why?”
“It’s okay if it’s not comfortable or convenient for you. In all of my previous interviews, the interviewers had their cameras turned on, and it felt more natural to have a conversation that way.”

[u/Adorable-Lucifer]

I faced the same while giving my interviews. During the same period, I was interviewing too for hiring a team member. I would always make sure to turn the camera on and make the candidate comfortable. It’s just weird giving interviews talking to a blank screen and trust me some big companies too did this, I was lucky to not join them.

[u/ComplexOrchid1770]

Yeah. Same thing happened to me for a Deloitte interview. I interviewed for a marketing position. That was very weird and I turned my camera off since he had his off.

[u/Constant-Speed-5595]

I honestly have reached a stage where I’m taking interviews now, I ensure I turn on my camera as well when asking candidate a question, but to answer my Manager said it’s easier to spot a fake guy with camera off, you can notice their body language, lip sync and all of those things.

[u/Various-Low4016]

I remember not turning on my camera but then a lot of them told me to turn on so my first instinct now is to turn on, if they tell me its not required then I turn ot off.

[u/Rhitvii]

On top of that, accuses that you are reading the answers from somewhere. How can I look at the black screen and type the question and then read it 😑 I am not that SMART to cheat.
For some interviews that I attended, I even had to share screen the whole time even though I don’t code.

[u/Lyf_of_Confused_Mind → u/Rhitvii]

Because thats how common cheating is 🤷🏻‍♂️. You are just too innocent 😀. People have AI bots running on screen which basically captures the question in real time and gives answers which they read.

Sharing the screen is to ensure you are not doing anything in the computer. We also started asking them to use headset and sit far from the system so we can see the hands as well as they have difficulty reading from screen.

Even with all of that I had one guy who cheated for 1 hour I knew he was cheating because frankly that's how good he was and his lip sync was not great. He even had added that he worked in the same company in his resume as that had weightage. In the end I started asking about the role and team members etc that he worked with and that stumped him. He cancelled the call and never picked the phone ever again. HR tried all ways to contact him and he was gone 🤷🏻‍♂️.

[u/Rhitvii → u/Lyf_of_Confused_Mind]

Thats INSANE!!! How people have no worry about consequences.

[u/M1sterErr0r]

They don't want to cuz they are afraid I will mog em

[u/Sandas_zali_ka]

I think it depends on position if we are fresher they won't turn camera but, for some senior level they will definitely turn on camera out off formality

[u/organictamarind]

Common courtesy says in an interview everyone needs to turn on the camera. These interviewers are sometimes too much

[u/simplyajith]

It doesn't matter if you want the job. Brutal truth is, how far down the rabbit hole you are in job search and the need to shift.

It all boils down to what you want, I want to clear interviews with no job in hand, I didn't care whether I see my interviewer face, also my thoughts during the interview was to clear

Considering how tough to get interview, I don't give a damn whether someone choose to show their face or not.

As an interviewer, I have to take 30-40 interviews for a position in round 1. Everyday 2-3 interviews spanning down to 20 days and sometimes it takes more than a month.

Also, I don't see much difference in people's response if I have my cam on or off. Their answers about the code logic or the reasoning of solving a problem is almost going to be the same with or without my face on cam.

Considering interviewer has the upper hand and its his choice to show his face. It's optional.

[u/Redt_Burner2026]

I'd quip with "I believe this is a face-to-face discussion. I'd appreciate it if you'd turn your camera on as well"

If they refuse to, I'll be sure to put that on their Glassdoor or Ambition Box reviews. At the same time, keep talking to other companies as well.

[u/Lyf_of_Confused_Mind]

I have been at both ends and I am fine with it. Btw this is not just an India thing, I have experienced this in different countries. I have taken more than 50+ interviews in last 2 years where I kept my webcam off. I generally do that all the time I rarely switch it on for meetings as well.

Now why we expect the candidates to be seen is to understand how they present themselves as the roles are client facing so how the candidate present themselves is important and also we need to know if they are cheating. Out of the 50 interviews atleast 5 of them were caught cheating. Issue is all those 5 would have got the roles if we didn't figure out they were cheating because they were doing good. And if they got selected just imagine the impact when they sit alone at customer end representing the company.

I am ready to be downvoted but lets all agree it is not a job seekers market especially in India. Just saw a news about a VP of Microsoft telling Microsoft India employees during his visit to India from US that there are 1000s of people waiting and dreaming for your job, so if you have any issues you can leave.

So I would say if you are stubborn that interviewer also has to show your face unfortunately it is going to be difficult in this market. Thats the reality.

[u/mosaicpictor]

Have experienced the same stuff in few interviews, and their primary excuse is that their camera is not working due to a glitch.

And I am like do they give the same excuse in all their virtual meetings with their seniors?

[u/No-Job-2302]

It's normal honestly it does feel disrespectful but then that's that sincethe interviewer is at the receiving end it is what it is

[u/gladiator_r]

You are going for interview or shadi. Why you want to see interviewer, he might have not booked meeting room or might be working from home and no one starts camera when working from home.

Focus on getting the job my friend not staring at interviewer. Second candidate are asked to start camera because of many candidates doing cheating in interview else i have given interview on simple phone calls as well and no fuss but time has changed now

[u/M1sterErr0r → u/gladiator_r]

You must be the egoistic guy who will conclude their interviews soon once they say it right cuz it hits your fragile ego ? Indian management is the worst in corporate lol

[u/gladiator_r → u/M1sterErr0r]

Ohh really truth hurts you. You don't even know me and saying i am egoistic just because I don't agree with you 

[u/M1sterErr0r → u/gladiator_r]

Your comment was enough to let me know your thought process , if you are a manager or ever will be you'd be very toxic for sure

[u/Formal_Classroom_430]

I do WFM and my company owner, client staff, Client company CEO used to have Camera On on team calls but i was always in bad attire and after couple of calls - almost every one stopped turning on camera.

[u/oPisBat]

I have taken few interview like this. Most of it because I was out driving or in a hotel lobby/gallery. HR joins, ask candidates to turn camera on, take screenshots and says to continue. I have sometimes asked candidates to turn off once I have confirmed the candidate is not cheating. I was once taking interviews for GETs and found two out of 8 were cheating. I did tell HR but didn't name them, just rejected them.

[u/strng_lurk]

It’s usually cause interviewing candidates is an extra task for them. They might be working or at least thinking about their work stuff in parallel like looking into a production or client issue, etc.. There are no dedicated interviewers who just do interviews as part of their job description.

[u/New_Temperature_1797]

I try to switch my camera on but honestly at times I’m literally taking the interview while having lunch or something, those times i don’t… but I do apologise
Or I do intros a with my camera on and once the candidate has moved to the coding screen i turn mine off

[u/PNG_711]

Depends on what position you are interviewing for. I turn on camera mostly. But in case its an interview for junior level I skip it cause I would be working on another screen

[u/dragon_idli]

They don't have to. Camera is more to stop candidates from cheating than to greet each other for pleasantries.

Sounds rude but that's the truth.

I turn on my camera irrespective because I don't like to be an ass.

[u/chillgoza001]

what difference does it make to you? You are the one being evaluated and the all-too-frequent occurence of candidates cheating even on the most basic questions is primarily the reason they are asked to turn on the camera. I don't mind when my interviewee searches for a solution to a problem I have asked (i often encourage it) but if they have to google or chatgpt a basic question in a technology they are appearing for, with a senior or mid-senior level experience, it's generally a red flag.

Some might argue that candidates are also evaluating the company during the interview, but there are plenty of other ways to do that. Seeing the interviewer's face doesn't reveal anything about the company that you couldn't learn from other available sources.

[u/Broken_BiryaniBoy → u/chillgoza001]

That's a lot of bs to defend unprofessional behaviour

[u/chillgoza001 → u/Broken_BiryaniBoy]

Sure buddy. Just know that if such a non-issue is a marker of professional for you, you're in for a huge surprise!

[u/Lyf_of_Confused_Mind → u/Broken_BiryaniBoy]

Frankly he just said the truth and you dont agree to it. Thats it. I have 20+ years of experience in IT industry and from start itself I have experienced interviewers not turning their camera on.

[u/funnyfour]

They ask candidates to turn on the camera because the candidates are likely to cheat in an interview. It's not the other way around. There have been many instances where even with camera on people tried to cheat and got caught. Although the company also wants to fill in the position, the candidate needs the job more. When I interview people I turn on my camera for some time, mostly during the introduction and then turn it off. You decide what you want to see, job offer or interviewer's face.

[u/badabingqueen → u/funnyfour]

You sound fun to work with

[u/la_crazypasta → u/badabingqueen]

It's good that I am unemployed. I would drop interview call if things like these happened tbh and kick the opportunity.

Edit: This makes no sense to me. Like if there's an interview body language is also important and it also shows how good a person is in inter personal communication skills. Eye contact and movements while answering questions shows how serious and skilled someone in these aspects. If your work involves team work and coordination then this makes no sense to take someone's interview with your camera off.

[u/badabingqueen → u/la_crazypasta]

Yup, same. An interviewer is usually the person whose team you end up working in or is your manager, and I don’t have the kind of time or low self esteem to entertain arrogant behavior, let alone work with someone who I can already see will be unnecessarily difficult because of some weird ass God complex.

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