Microsoft Teams interview tips: setup, lobby etiquette and screen-share pitfalls

Set up Teams correctly before the day

Download the Teams desktop app rather than using the browser version. The browser version limits background blur, can drop audio when you switch tabs, and does not support all meeting features the interviewer may use. The desktop app is free and takes under five minutes to install.

Sign in with a personal Microsoft account if you do not have a work or school account. You can join most external meetings as a guest, but having an account means you skip the guest name prompt and look more prepared. Use your full legal name as it appears on your resume.

• Update Teams to the latest version the night before; updates can force a restart at the worst moment
• Set your display name to First Last, not a nickname or old work alias
• In Settings > Devices, select your headset or external microphone explicitly; Teams sometimes defaults to the laptop mic after an update
• Test your camera in Settings > Devices > Make a test call and check the preview for framing and lighting
• On Windows, check that Teams has microphone permission in Privacy & Security settings; on macOS, check System Settings > Privacy > Microphone

How the Teams lobby works and what to do there

When you join a Teams meeting as an external guest, you land in the lobby. You cannot see or hear the meeting until the organiser admits you. This is normal and expected, but it creates a specific etiquette challenge.

Join two to three minutes early, not ten. If you join too early and the interviewer is finishing another call, they may feel pressured to admit you before they are ready. Two to three minutes is enough to confirm your audio and video are working without being intrusive.

Once you are in the lobby, you will see a screen that says 'Someone in the meeting should let you in soon.' Do not repeatedly click Join or refresh the page. Refreshing puts you back in the queue and can make it look like you dropped. Wait calmly for up to five minutes before sending a brief message to your recruiter contact.

• Have the recruiter's email or phone number open in another window before you join
• If you are not admitted after five minutes, send: 'Hi [Name], I am in the Teams lobby for our [time] interview. Please let me know if there is a different link.'
• Do not call the interviewer's direct line unless you have been told that is appropriate

Audio and video settings that matter in Teams

Teams applies noise suppression by default. This is usually helpful, but it can cut out your voice if you speak quietly or pause mid-sentence. Go to Settings > Devices > Noise suppression and set it to Auto rather than High if you are in a quiet room.

Background blur and custom backgrounds are available on the desktop app. Blur is the safer choice for interviews because a custom background can pixelate around your head and look unprofessional on a slow connection. Use blur if your background is cluttered, or tidy the background and use none at all.

Turn off incoming video if your internet connection is unstable. You can do this mid-call without the interviewer knowing. Your own video stays on; you simply stop receiving theirs, which reduces bandwidth and keeps your audio stable.

• Mute notifications system-wide before the call, not just in Teams; Outlook and Slack pop-ups appear over the Teams window
• Close browser tabs that auto-play video or audio
• Plug into ethernet if possible; Wi-Fi drops are the most common cause of frozen video in Teams calls
• On a Mac, disable True Tone and Night Shift before the call so your face colour looks consistent on camera

Screen-share pitfalls and how to avoid them

Interviewers sometimes ask you to share your screen to walk through a portfolio, a code sample or a presentation. Teams gives you three share options: your entire desktop, a specific window, or a PowerPoint file uploaded directly to Teams. Choose a specific window whenever possible.

Sharing your entire desktop exposes your taskbar, open applications and any notifications that appear during the call. A message from a friend or a job-search notification appearing on screen is embarrassing and distracting. Share only the window you need.

Before the call, open every file or browser tab you might need to share and arrange them. Searching for a file while the interviewer watches wastes time and signals poor preparation. On Windows, use a second virtual desktop for interview materials so your personal desktop stays hidden.

• In Teams, click Share > Window and select the specific app, not Desktop
• Hide your browser bookmarks bar before sharing a browser window; job boards and personal sites are visible
• If you share a PowerPoint, use Teams' built-in PowerPoint Live feature; it lets the interviewer scroll independently and looks more polished than a screen share
• Stop sharing immediately after you finish; leaving a share running while you talk is distracting

What to do if Teams fails mid-interview

Technical failures happen even with good preparation. Having a plan removes the panic and shows the interviewer you handle problems calmly.

If your audio drops, type in the Teams chat immediately: 'My audio has dropped. I am rejoining now.' Leave and rejoin the meeting. You will go through the lobby again, so the interviewer needs to re-admit you. This usually takes under 60 seconds.

If Teams crashes entirely, call or text the recruiter using the contact details you prepared before the call. Most interviewers will switch to a phone call or a new link without penalising you. What matters is that you communicate quickly and stay composed.

1. Type in chat to explain the issue before you drop
2. Leave and rejoin the meeting link
3. If rejoining fails, contact the recruiter by phone or email within two minutes
4. Apologise briefly once, then move on; do not dwell on the technical issue for the rest of the interview

Handling live interview questions with confidence

Setup and etiquette get you into the room. Answering well is what gets you the offer. If you find yourself blanking on questions under pressure, Break-In Bad's interview assistant listens to the interviewer's questions through your device and shows suggested answers only you can see, even when you are sharing your screen. It works inside a Teams call without appearing in your shared window, so the interviewer sees only you and whatever you have chosen to share.