business communication upper intermediate u2w09 john silberstein johnsilb@aol.com

Business Communication Upper Intermediate

U2W09

John Silbersteinjohnsilb@aol.com

Agenda

•What are we doing this term?•CV’s•Interview skills•Accounting Statements: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, etc.•Business Ethics•Negotiations: Features and Benefits, Offer and Acceptance, etc.•Presentations

Presentation

Presentations will be different this trimester. This exercise will consist of three parts.

You will find a news article written in English about a specific topic.

You will present the article in class.

You will research the topic and present an opinion on that topic followed by a class

discussion.

PresentationThe Article

You will find a news article written in English about a specific topic.

The topic of the article should be:

A business related topic or an important and controversial topic.

Something that you are interested in and passionate about or related to what you are

studying.

PresentationYou will present the article in class.

You will summarize the article and talk about the importance.

Talk about questions first

PresentationResearch and Opinion

Because this is a topic that you should either be interested in or that you should know something

about, you will research it further and speak to the class about how you feel on the issue.

Why is the topic important to you?

Why do you feel the way you do about the topic?

You will then lead the class in a discussion of the topic. How does the rest of the class feel?

Talk about questions first

PresentationSchedule

Articles submission: Feb 10th.

Presentation: Feb. 24th and March 3rd.

Talk about questions first

Résumé/CVWhat is the importance of a CV?

Resumes tell the employer about your experiences, skills and work history.

Use your resume to highlight items that indicate you are a good worker, are qualified for the position and bring

desirable skills to the job.

Résumé/CVHow does an employer use your CV?

Your CV represents you.

Screen applicants and determine whom to interview. 

Develop interview questions.

Judge an applicant's communication skills.

Remind them of a candidate's qualifications when hiring decisions are made.

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Personal InformationObjectiveEducation

Work ExperienceAwards and Honors

SkillsActivities

References

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Limit your resume to one or two pages.

Do not include birth date, health status or social security number.

Limit the use of personal pronouns such as "I”.

Begin sentences with action verbs.

Be honest but avoid writing anything negative in your resume.

Make your resume error free. Have someone proof read it.

Use a simple, easy to read font style, 10-14 point.

Use high quality paper.

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Personal Information

NameCurrent and Permanent address (may be omitted from a resume posted on

the web)Telephone number 

E-mail address

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Objective

In one short sentence summarize your goal for your job search.

The goal statement should be related to the specific position for which you are applying. It is also effective to

highlight your skills in the goal statement.

Examples:Seeking a position as a social worker providing service

to the aged. Seeking a position that utilizes my skills in counseling,

research, and proposal writing.

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Education

School name, City and State,

Date of graduation,Course Highlights (courses directly related to the job or your career field and special

abilities)Certificates

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Work Experience

Summer jobs, Internships, Volunteer work (Include position title,

company/organization, city/state, dates and a brief list of the job duties)

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Awards and Honors

Academic, musical, athletic and or other recognition. (Include name of the

award/honor, who awarded it, and when it was awarded.)

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Skills

Soft skills: (being responsible, loyal, hardworking, energetic, outgoing.)

Hard skills: (research and writing, Microsoft word 98, Microsoft Publisher

2000, Public speaking.)

Résumé/CVKey Elements

Activities

Include your role in the position, the organization and dates.

Example:Captain, Shorewood High School,

Volley Ball Team, 1999 2001

Résumé/CVKey Elements

References

 (3-5 people)

Teacher/Professor

Work supervisor (current or past)

Character reference (Pastor, Headmaster, youth group leader or someone who knows you well)

Include the name, relationship to you, organization, contact phone numbers.

Résumé/CVHomework

Prepare your CV.

Due: Feb 17th

Job InterviewsInterview Tips

1. Plan Ahead: Research the company and if possible, the position. Plan to discuss how your previous positions

have prepared you for the position you are discussing.

2. Prepare questions. The are some questions you should always be

prepared to ask and some which may be more specific to the situation.

Job InterviewsInterview Tips

3. Be positive. Avoid saying anything negative about former colleagues or

employers.

4. Adapt. Go with the flow. If the interviewer is very formal, then you should be formal. If the Interview is less formal, be less formal, but more

formal than the interviewer.

Job InterviewsQuestions you may be asked

Tell me about yourself?

Why should we hire you?

What can you do for us that someone else can not?

What are you looking for in a new job?

How does this position fit into your overall career plan?

How would your colleagues describe you?

How would your boss describe you?

How would you describe yourself?

Describe a situation where you faced a difficult challenge and succeeded? What enabled you to succeed?

Describe a situation where you faced a difficult challenge and failed? Why did you fail?

Job InterviewsQuestions

How would you describe you current manager?

Where do you want to be in your career in 5 years?

What is your biggest strength?

What is your biggest weakness?

Why do you want to leave your current/last job?

Job InterviewsQuestions you should ask

Why do you want to ask questions?

Why is this position open?

How long have you been with the company?

What was your first position with the company?

What are the advancement opportunities associated with this position?

What are the most important elements of the product mix?

What significant changes to the product mix does the company foresee?

What kind of employee evaluation program does this company use?

Job InterviewsRole Play

Scenario 1:

Entry Level Accountant: Degree in accounting, knowledge of MS Office.

Responsibilities:

- General and cost accounting- Journal entries

- Account analysis- Fixed asset reporting

- Product costing- Standard rate development- Financial analysis/reporting

Interviewer: Director of Accounting Services

Job InterviewsRole Play

Scenario 2:

About the Job: As Big Business Solutions Inc. continues to expand its telecommunications division and its fiber optic sales staff, new management positions will be created.

Graduates with a B.S. in Business Management or Marketing Individuals from service industries (food service or hospitality) looking for career growthIndividuals with a sports or military backgroundIndividuals looking for performance based growth instead of seniority

Our Management Trainees Must:

Learn and understand the basics of our business from the entry levelBe able to meet or exceed our entry level sales requirements Complete interviewing and talent assessment trainingComplete coaching and employee motivation trainingComplete operational management training and gain an understanding or business finances

Interviewer: Human Resources Recruiter

Job InterviewsRole Play

Scenario 3:

ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS - Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Advertising

QUALIFICATIONS:

Outstanding communication skills both verbal & writtenAble to prioritize and work independentlyAble to work effectively in a team environmentDetail-oriented and the ability to follow up on tasksWork effectively under pressure and maintain a positive attitudeCapable of multi-tasking, prioritizing, and managing time efficiently

Requirements:

Entry level or experienced, Great people skills, Positive attitude, Strong work ethic, Confidence,

Professionalism, Ability to step outside your comfort zone, Start Immediately

Interviewer: Outside Recruiting Consultant

Job InterviewsRole Play

Scenario 4:

Human Resources Trainee

This is a position that exists to support the search efforts of our recruiting staff and help to populate our database with quality sales candidates across the country.  Some of the major duties include: 1) searching Internet job boards on behalf of our clients; 2) processing the candidates who respond to Internet ads by electronically downloading their information to our database;  3) updating candidate records;  4) conducting telephone interviews of candidates to gather information for our recruiting staff;  5) managing e-mail project campaigns; 6) posting of recruitment ads on the Internet job boards; 7) making presentations of job opportunities to candidates;  9) properly coding the candidate's files so that they are made available for recruiter searches.

Interviewer: Human Resources Director

Job InterviewsRole Play

Scenario 5:

Company Description:The Siemens Industry Sector is the leading global supplier of production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. 

Job Description:Siemens Industry Inc has an exciting opportunity for a Procurement Specialist to join our team in Worcester, MA. The position requires a dedicated, self-starting, motivated, and enthusiastic individual. The individual will support Buyers and interface with suppliers and internal customers

All qualified candidates MUST have the following:2. 1 year experience with an ERP/MRP. 4. Strong skills in MSWord and Excel. 3. Ability to issue requisitions, create requests for quote and purchase orders, expedite suppliers, and provide the department with flexible support5. A strong work ethic and excellent writing and verbal communication skills. 6. Responsive, aggressive and a quick learner and have the ability to handle multiple assignments with minimum supervision. 

Interviewer: Sr. Buyer