Why What Is Companion Mode In Google Meet Might Be Your Secret To Better Virtual Interviews
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Virtual communication has become indispensable in the professional world, from initial job screens and panel interviews to crucial sales pitches and university admissions discussions. While video conferencing tools like Google Meet connect us across distances, technical hiccups and multitasking challenges can sometimes undermine your performance. This is where understanding what is companion mode in Google Meet becomes a powerful advantage, offering a way to enhance your virtual presence and manage interactions seamlessly without disrupting the core conversation.
What is Companion Mode in Google Meet and Why Should You Care for Interviews?
At its core, what is companion mode in Google Meet? It's a feature designed to allow users to join a Google Meet session from a second device, primarily to access interactive features without contributing audio or video. While originally conceived for hybrid meeting environments to give in-room participants easy access to chat and polls, its utility extends significantly to individual users navigating virtual professional scenarios like interviews or sales calls.
Think of it as bringing a dedicated assistant device into your meeting. On your primary device (like your main laptop or desktop), you maintain your video feed and primary audio. On the secondary device (another laptop, tablet, or even a smartphone), you join in Companion Mode, which automatically disables your microphone and camera on that device. This setup prevents disruptive audio feedback and echo, a common problem when multiple devices are too close [^1], while providing unfettered access to the meeting's interactive toolset.
For anyone facing a virtual interview, sales call, or important presentation, knowing what is companion mode in Google Meet and how to use it means gaining a strategic edge. It allows for smoother multitasking, better access to information, and more controlled engagement with the meeting's interactive elements.
How Does what is companion mode in google meet Actually Work During Professional Calls?
Understanding the mechanics of what is companion mode in Google Meet is key to leveraging its benefits. When you join a Google Meet session, you'll see an option like "Use Companion Mode" alongside the standard "Join now." Clicking this on your secondary device connects you to the meeting's data layer, not the audio/video feed from that device.
Here's what you can typically do on your secondary device when using what is companion mode in Google Meet:
Access Chat: Easily read and send messages without minimizing your main screen or interrupting verbally [^2].
Participate in Q&A: Ask or answer questions submitted through the Q&A feature.
Respond with Reactions: Use emojis to quickly acknowledge points or express sentiment non-verbally.
Engage with Polls: Vote in polls initiated by the host.
Share Your Screen: While less common for interviewees, the option is available to share specific content from the secondary device if needed.
See Participant List: View who else is in the meeting.
The crucial point is that all these actions are performed silently and without your camera being active on the secondary device, ensuring your main video feed and audio remain the sole focus of your presence in the virtual room [^3]. This dual-device approach is the essence of what is companion mode in Google Meet.
What Are the Key Benefits of Using what is companion mode in google meet for Job and College Interviews?
Leveraging what is companion mode in Google Meet offers tangible advantages when the stakes are high:
Seamless Interaction: It allows you to engage actively using chat, raise your hand, or respond to polls on a second device without pausing or disrupting your verbal flow on the main one. This is invaluable in group interviews or large virtual career fairs.
Avoid Technical Disruptions: By automatically muting audio and camera on the secondary device, Companion Mode eliminates the dreaded echo or feedback loop that can sabotage professionalism and distract everyone [^1].
Enhanced Multitasking: Need to glance at your prepared notes, resume, or a quick reminder? With what is companion mode in Google Meet, your secondary screen becomes your discreet teleprompter or reference guide, allowing you to maintain eye contact and focus on the main camera feed [^3].
Equal Participation: In complex setups like hybrid panels or virtual recruitment events, understanding what is companion mode in Google Meet helps level the playing field, ensuring you can interact with interactive features just as easily as someone perhaps in a physical room with dedicated screens.
These benefits combine to help you appear more polished, prepared, and technically savvy during crucial professional interactions.
What Practical Situations Call for Using what is companion mode in google meet in Professional Settings?
Knowing what is companion mode in Google Meet is one thing, but recognizing when to use it maximizes its impact. Here are practical scenarios where it shines:
Accessing Supplementary Materials: During a job interview, keep your resume, key talking points, or company research open on your Companion Mode device for quick, discreet reference.
Engaging in Group or Panel Interviews: Use the chat feature to clarify a question posed to the group or offer a quick agreement ("+1") without interrupting the current speaker, showing active listening and engagement [^2].
Asking Questions During Presentations or Info Sessions: In a college interview info session or a sales demo, use the Q&A or chat via Companion Mode to ask your questions without waiting for a verbal Q&A segment, ensuring you get your points addressed efficiently.
Managing Complex Setups: If you're joining a meeting that might involve screen sharing from others while you also need to reference documents, what is companion mode in Google Meet keeps your primary view clean while giving you a second screen for interaction or reference.
In any situation requiring both focused verbal communication and access to interactive tools or reference materials, what is companion mode in Google Meet provides a clean, professional solution.
How Does what is companion mode in google meet Help Solve Common Virtual Interview Problems?
Virtual interviews and professional calls come with their unique set of technical and logistical hurdles. Understanding what is companion mode in Google Meet directly addresses several frequent issues:
The Audio Echo Nightmare: Joining from two devices simultaneously without Companion Mode almost guarantees disruptive audio feedback. What is companion mode in Google Meet eliminates this by keeping the secondary device's audio and video off [^1].
Juggling Notes and Eye Contact: Trying to look at notes on the same screen you're using for video means looking away from the camera. With a Companion Mode device, you can position it strategically to glance at notes while keeping your primary device's camera feed centered for maintaining eye contact.
Hesitation to Use Interactive Features: Some candidates might feel awkward pulling up chat or Q&A on their main screen, fearing it looks unprofessional or distracted. Using what is companion mode in Google Meet makes accessing these features seamless and unobtrusive on a separate screen.
Feeling Disconnected in Hybrid Meetings: If some interviewers are in a physical room and others are remote, interactive features might be their primary way of engaging remote participants. Companion Mode ensures you can easily access these features regardless of where others are located.
Essentially, what is companion mode in Google Meet acts as a technical buffer, smoothing out interactions and allowing you to focus on the substance of your communication rather than wrestling with the interface.
How Can You Start Using what is companion mode in google meet for Your Next Important Meeting?
Putting what is companion mode in Google Meet into practice is straightforward. Here’s a simple guide:
Prepare Your Devices: Ensure you have two devices capable of running Google Meet (laptops are ideal for the secondary device for full feature access, but tablets/phones work with some limitations). Make sure both are charged and connected to stable internet [^4].
Join on Your Primary Device: Join the Google Meet call as you normally would on your main computer or device, ensuring your audio and video are working correctly here.
Join on Your Secondary Device: Open the Google Meet link on your second device. Before clicking "Join now," look for the option that says "Use Companion Mode" or "Join in Companion Mode." Select this option [^2].
Position Your Devices: Set up your primary device for the best camera angle and lighting. Position your Companion Mode device nearby, ideally slightly off-camera but within easy view for you to reference notes or access meeting tools.
Verify Companion Mode Status: Once joined on the second device, you should see a simplified interface focused on meeting activities like chat, Q&A, and polls. Your camera and microphone icons should be off and potentially greyed out or indicated as disabled because you are in Companion Mode.
Practicing this setup once before a critical meeting will ensure you feel comfortable using what is companion mode in Google Meet when it counts.
What Are the Best Tips for Leveraging what is companion mode in google meet in Interviews and Sales Calls?
Mastering what is companion mode in Google Meet goes beyond just knowing how to join. Here are actionable tips for maximum impact:
Test Beforehand: Always do a quick test call with a friend or colleague using Companion Mode to ensure your setup works and you're comfortable switching attention between screens [^4].
Dedicate the Second Device: Ideally, use a separate laptop or large tablet for Companion Mode to get the best view of chat, Q&A, or your notes. Avoid using your main phone if it's prone to notifications or calls.
Use Notes Strategically: Have key data points, questions for the interviewer, or specific examples organized on your Companion Mode screen. Practice glancing at them naturally without it looking like you're reading a script.
Engage Thoughtfully via Chat: Use the chat function accessed via Companion Mode to share a link if requested, correct a minor detail without interrupting, or offer a brief, relevant comment if appropriate for the meeting culture. Don't overdo it.
Be Mindful of What You Display: If you plan to screen share from your Companion Mode device (less common for interviewees but possible), ensure you only share the specific window or tab you intend to.
Coordinate if Necessary: For very formal or unusual setups, a brief mention to the host beforehand ("I'll be joining on a second device in Companion Mode to manage chat and notes smoothly") can preempt any confusion, though it's often unnecessary as it's designed to be non-disruptive.
By implementing these tips, understanding what is companion mode in Google Meet transforms from a simple feature into a strategic tool for enhancing your performance in any virtual professional interaction.
How Can Verve AI Copilot Help You With what is companion mode in google meet
Preparing for important virtual interactions like job interviews or sales calls involves numerous steps, from researching the company to practicing your responses and ensuring your technical setup is flawless. While understanding what is companion mode in Google Meet is a technical advantage, mastering your communication content is equally vital. Verve AI Interview Copilot is designed specifically to help you refine your verbal delivery and content, making it a powerful complement to your Companion Mode setup. Verve AI Interview Copilot offers tailored coaching and practice sessions, allowing you to rehearse answering tough questions confidently. By using Verve AI Interview Copilot to hone your message on your primary device and Companion Mode on your secondary device to manage notes and interaction tools, you create a comprehensive strategy for virtual success. Visit https://vervecopilot.com to see how Verve AI Interview Copilot can elevate your preparation.
What Are the Most Common Questions About what is companion mode in google meet?
Q: Do I need two Google accounts to use Companion Mode?
A: No, you use the same account; you just join the same meeting link on a second device via the Companion Mode option.
Q: Can I use my phone as the Companion Mode device?
A: Yes, smartphones and tablets can be used, though the interface and available features might be slightly different compared to a laptop or desktop.
Q: Does Companion Mode stop audio echo automatically?
A: Yes, when you join using the "Use Companion Mode" option, the audio and camera from that device are automatically disabled to prevent echo and feedback [^1].
Q: Can I see participants and chat while using Companion Mode?
A: Yes, the primary purpose of what is companion mode in Google Meet is to provide easy access to features like chat, Q&A, polls, and the participant list [^2].
Q: Can I record the meeting from my Companion Mode device?
A: No, recording controls are typically not available when joining in Companion Mode. Recording must be initiated from a standard join or by the host [^4].
Q: Is Companion Mode available in all Google Meet versions?
A: Companion Mode is available in most Google Workspace editions, though availability can sometimes vary by specific plan. It's widely accessible for standard business and education accounts.
[^\1]: https://krisp.ai/blog/google-meet-companion-mode/
[^\2]: https://minuteslink.com/blog/what-is-companion-mode-in-google-meet-and-how-to-use-it
[^\3]: https://tldv.io/blog/what-is-companion-mode-in-google-meet/
[^\4]: https://meetecho.app/blog/google-meet-companion-mode
