What technical preparation is crucial in a virtual panel interview setting to avoid breaking momentum?

Closing all unnecessary applications.

In a virtual panel interview, technical readiness must be meticulously prepared because remote settings amplify minor glitches, which can severely impact momentum when multiple interviewers are watching. While testing the camera angle and microphone quality is vital, one often overlooked but critical step is closing all non-essential applications running in the background. An unexpected notification sound or a momentary lag caused by a busy processor or bandwidth contention can distract not just the speaker, but multiple interviewers simultaneously, disrupting the flow and perception of control.