A simple, neutral background is usually safer than a distracting virtual background for a consulting interview.

Video backgrounds can distort hair or hands and may look odd when lighting is poor. The practical goal is a clear professional conversation, not a studio-quality setup.

A tidy wall or bookshelf with good front lighting often works better than an artificial office scene. If you need privacy, use a subtle blur or neutral virtual image after testing it.

Run a camera and audio test on the same platform you will use for the interview. Choose the least distracting option and keep your face clearly visible.

Blur kept eating the edge of my glasses in Zoom. Not the look I was going for lol.

Plain wall, decent lighting. That's my whole setup.