If this were an in-person interview would you start taking notes without asking permission first?

@Yes. I've never heard of someone asking for permission to take notes.

@joeqwerty no, but having gone to the same school and interviewed with presumably a few of the same companies, I would have thought things like considering it rude to take notes to be one of the things we have in common.

The key difference with taking notes at an in-person interview would usually be that the interviewer can immediately see that the interviewee is taking notes. If the interviewer doesn't say anything, it can be interpreted as tacit agreement. That said, asking first (for virtual or in-person interviews) ensures clarity of expectations on both sides of the table.

Did he take notes during the interview? Or recorded the interview? Or made notes right after the interview? I bet he did at least one of those. Did he ask for your permission to do this?

@JoeStrazzere: I never asked if taking notes is okay, nor have I been asked. I don't see any problem with notes as long as it's not NDA-worthy-stuff. I am just bringing to paper what has passed through my brain already. Audio and video recording or photos is different from that - with that, you preemptively record things before it even entered your brain and you are saving things you could re-/misuse later (e.g. publishing a photograph on a dating website without consent). Related to that line of thought: In Germany, unconsented note taking about persons is not forbidden, but recording is.

Did the interviewer take no notes during the interview? That's weird, no?

@joeqwerty: I think OP wants to say that they have the same cultural background. Usually in a culture you are familiar with you have a pretty good idea about what’s considered right or wrong (or impolite). All the countless unspoken rules of society.

I wonder if his issue was with the fact that you were apparently switching your attention to another screen. That might give an offensive impression during a video call, where there are very few nonverbal clues except the other person's face. Maybe consider using a pen and notepad next time.

I think that this also depends on the area of jurisdiction? For example in Belgium, if I recall correctly, one can record a meeting if one participates in that meeting. Of course, that does not mean you can do whatever you want with the recording.

Do you wear glasses? Or was it dark in your room? I often see that other people are doing something else in a meeting by seeing the reflection in their glasses or from the glow of the screen if it's dark.

Anyone I interviewed who started taking notes would get a +1 just for that. It really surprises me how many new hires I have had to tell to take notes.

I don't see it mentioned in the answers so far, but taking notes is most definitely NOT the same as recording someone, and that's a point of law in most western countries.

I dunno. Is it recommended to ask for permission before remembering what happened during the interview? Or does your interviewer expect you to just have amnesy at the end and forget the possible job proposal he made to you? LOL I would take that as a big bright red flag.