Course Catalog / BMU 010 / Lesson 4 of 5
BMU 010
Lesson 4: Video calls without stress
Quick review
1. What three things go in a strong subject line?
See the answer
What is attached, what it is for, and your name.
2. What is Gmail's attachment limit?
See the answer
25 MB.
Why this matters
Job interviews, doctor visits, and school meetings often happen on video now. Most video calls use the same few buttons.
In this lesson you will join a call with a link or a code, use mute and camera, and leave the call.
Start with what you already do
You already make phone calls. A video call is a phone call with a picture.
Common belief: I need special skills to use video calls.
What is actually true: You need three buttons: mute, camera, and leave. Zoom and Google Meet both show them at the bottom of the screen.
In this lesson you will
- Join a video call with a link or a code
- Use mute and camera
- Leave the call
Key words
- meeting link
- A web address that opens the call when you tap it.
- meeting code
- A short code or ID you type in to join a call.
- mute
- Turns off your microphone so others cannot hear you.
Join the call
| App | How to join |
|---|---|
| Google Meet | Tap the link in your email or calendar. Or open Meet and type the code in Enter a code or link. |
| Zoom | Tap the link. Or open the Zoom app, tap Join, and type the Meeting ID and passcode if asked. |
Try to join 5 minutes early so you have time to fix sound or camera problems.
The three buttons
| Button | What it looks like | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mute | Microphone picture | Tap to turn your sound off or on. |
| Camera | Camera picture. Zoom calls it Stop Video. | Tap to turn your picture off or on. |
| Leave | Red phone, or the word Leave or End | Tap to leave the call. |
On a phone, tap the screen if you do not see the buttons.
Before the call
- Charge your phone or plug it in.
- Find a quiet spot with light in front of you.
- Prop the phone up so your hands are free.
- Mute when you are not talking.
Text version of this figure
Video call steps. Join, use the buttons, leave.
- Step 1, Join early: Tap the link or type the code.
- Step 2, Check sound and camera: Unmute to talk, mute to listen.
- Step 3, Talk: Light in front, phone propped up.
- Leave: Tap the red phone, Leave, or End.
Source: Google Meet Help; Zoom Support (Oct 29, 2026).
Worked example: Mei's interview
- Mei gets an email with a Zoom link for a job interview at 10 a.m.
- At 9:50 she charges her phone and props it on a stack of books by a window.
- She taps the link and the Zoom app opens.
- She unmutes to say hello, and mutes when the other person talks for a while.
- At the end she says thank you and taps Leave.
Mei is a made up example.
Worked example 2: Sam joins with a code
Sam's text says: Join Google Meet, code abc mnop xyz. He has no link. He opens the Meet app, taps Join with a code, and types it. The others cannot hear him. He sees the microphone has a line through it, so he is muted. He taps it. Now they hear him.
His face looks dark because a window is behind him. He turns his chair so the light is in front of him. At the end he taps the red phone button to leave.
Sam is a made up example.
Practice: Fix the call
Each made up problem has one fix. Name it.
- People say they cannot hear you.
- You are on a phone and you do not see any buttons.
- Your face is dark on the screen.
- You have a Zoom Meeting ID but no link.
Check your practice: feedback
- Check Mute. A microphone with a line means you are muted. Tap it.
- Tap the screen. The buttons show up again.
- Put the light in front of you, not behind you.
- Open the Zoom app, tap Join, and type the ID and passcode.
Common mistakes
- Joining right at the start time. Join 5 minutes early.
- Talking while muted. Check the microphone button before you talk.
- Light behind you. Face a window or lamp.
Try it: Practice a video call
Pick your scenario:
- I will use Zoom
- I will use Google Meet
- I am not sure which app
- Ask a friend or family member to send you a Meet or Zoom link.
- Join 5 minutes early.
- Turn mute on and off.
- Turn the camera off and on.
- Leave the call.
Do it by: this week
Reflect
Which call coming up would go better with practice?
Check your understanding
1. Your dog is barking during a call. Which button helps?
- Mute
- Stop video
- Share screen
See the answer and feedback
A is correct. Yes. Mute turns off your sound.
B: Stop video turns off your camera, not your sound. Use Mute. Review The three buttons.
C: That shows your screen. Review The three buttons.
2. You have a Zoom Meeting ID but no link. What do you do?
- Call the company
- Open Zoom, tap Join, type the ID
- Wait for a link
See the answer and feedback
B is correct. Yes. The ID works without a link.
A: You can join yourself. Review Join the call.
C: You do not need a link. Review Join the call.
3. When should you join a call for a job interview?
- When the interviewer texts you to join
- Right on time
- 5 minutes early
See the answer and feedback
C is correct. Yes. That gives time to fix problems.
A: Do not wait to be told. Join about 5 minutes early to test your sound. Review Join the call.
B: Early is safer. Review Join the call.
Takeaway: video calls
- Join 5 minutes early
- Mute, camera, and leave do most of the work
- Light in front of you
- No link? Use the code or Meeting ID
Recap
- Join with a link or a code.
- Mute, camera, and leave are the main buttons.
- Join 5 minutes early.
- Face the light and prop up the phone.
You now have: practice joining a call and using mute, camera, and leave.
Next up
Next you will learn to search smart and finish your capstone. Go to Lesson 5: Search smart and your capstone.
Sources
- Google Meet Help: Start or join a video meeting (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- Google Workspace Learning Center: Tips to manage your audio and video (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- Zoom Support: Joining a Zoom meeting (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- Zoom Support: Participant controls in a meeting (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
