Speaking for BEC vantage

Speaking for BEC vantagePart I InterviewQuestions in phase 1Good morning / afternoon / evening. I’m… and this is my colleague … S/he just going to listen to us.Could I have your mark-sheets, please?To A: What’s your name? Where are you from? Thank you.To B: And you? Thanks.Do you work or are you a student…, B?What about you, A?What do / did you like most about your studies / jobs, A? (Why?)What about you, B? (Why?)Topics in phase 2Starting a new job TeamworkLooking for a job working with other peopleJob interviews new technologyGoals and objectives Internet salesCareer and motivation working environmentsCareer goals Leisure and workBusiness news Work and holidaysTraveling abroad on business clothes for workTime management ConferencesManaging staff Selling productsTraining opportunities Customer service1.Part 1a.Part 1 phase1b.Practicec.Part 1 Phase II (examples)I: I’m going to ask you both same questions about office hours. How many hours do you study every day, X?C: About 10 hours.I: What about you, Miss X?C: Eight hours.I: Do you think working overtime is a good thing for a company, Miss X?C: No, I don’t think so.I: Why not?C: Working overtime will cause complains from employees and ruin theirhealth in the long run. If the workers form the habits of working overtime, their efficiency tends to be lower. And that means the company should pay more for them.I: What do you think of it, Mr. X?C: I don’t think working overtime a good thing. That makes the job very stressful and tiring. Of course, it’s understandable to work overtime occasionally when it’s really busy and necessary.I: Mr. X, do you think people in the future will work longer hours or shorter hours? Why?C: I think people will work shorter hours in the future. With the help of computers, work efficiency will be much higher than before. Within the short hours, they can do the same even more work than what they can do now.I: Do you think people will feel free to choose the work hours in the future, Miss X? Why?C: Yes, I guess so. Computers have made it possible for people to work at home. So they may choose to work in the part-time or full-time, work in the office or at home as they like.d.more examplesTopic 1 Working as part of a team1)Do you prefer working as a member of a team on your own? (Why? / Whynot?)--- I prefer working in a team because working in a team I won’t feel lonely.And what’s more, as the old saying goes, many heads are better than one.Working in a team, I will be stronger. When I am faced with problems, my team will give me their hands.--- Personally speaking, I prefer working on my own. It has something to do with my personality. I am kind of shy introverted. And I don’t like disturbed by others all the time.2)Which do you think are more effective, small teams or large teams? Why /Why not?--- In my opinion, small teams are better than larger teams because small teams are easily controlled. Make sure that everybody in the small team is charge of something. This way can keep the team more focused. Moreover, I think, most large teams may cause overstaffing.--- Just as the old saying goes, many hands make light work. I believe large teams are more effective than small teams. The more people, the more strength.3)Do you think it’s important for a team to have a leader? Why / Why not?Of course, teams need to have a leader. A leader is just a core. All staff will work around him or her. Without a leader, the company will be out of control.4)Do you think teams always need to have a regular meeting? Why / Why not?--- I don’t think it’s important to have a regular meeting. As far as I amconcerned, too many business meetings are ill-directed, digressive and draw out. So we should call a meeting only when it’s absolutely critical, and structure it firmly so that it achieves its purpose.--- Having regular meeting is a good idea. I’m afraid that most people don’t think so. But as far as I know, members in a team will know more about each other by meeting regularly.Topic 2 Customer service1) How to understand customer service?--- Simply speaking, good customer service is the bread and butter of business. So it’s very important. It’s involves not only good service but also good relationship with customers. You have to know well what they need and meet their needs. In a word, good customer service means satisfying their needs at all cost.--- Good customer service is a positive way of relating to people that lets them know you care about them. If you offer good service, each customer will leave with a smile on his face and feel satisfied and valued.2) What do you think companies can do to improve their customer service?--- In my opinion, there are a lot of secrets that help improve their customer service. Building business to customer loyalty is my Number One customer service secret, and is by far the most importantone. When you can show concern about what matters to yourcustomer, that’s Business to Customer Loyalty, and you bet on it,you’ve just acquired a customer for life.3) Should employees always be trained to deliver good customer service?Why / Why not?--- When it comes to whether training is necessary for delivering good customer service, I think, it depends.The most important thing is thatevery employee should realize customer service is every staff’sresponsibility. Undoubtedly with training, employee will deliver bettercustomer service.--- Training is necessary because if people aren’t trained on specifics (not just smile and use people’s names), they don’t know how to buildcustomer loyalty even when they want to.4) Do you think you would like to work in customer service? Why / Why not?Frankly speaking, I don’t think I will be the right person to work in customer service because it’s really a demanding for me. I’m impatient sometimes. But I do have the chance, I’ll have a try and I’ll try my best to doa good job because I do think good customer service is the bread and butter ofmy business.Topic 3 Business news1)What kind of business news is the most interesting for you? Why?--- Generally I’m interested in all kinds of business news. After all, a member in working in business should be very sensitive to all kinds of business news. Those business news related to the job I’m doing right now is the most interesting, I think.2)How important is it for people working in business to keep up-to-date withbusiness news? Why / Why not?--- It’s very important for people working in business to keep up-to-date with business news. Up-to-date business news will provide you the latest, real-time and accurate news. Neglecting this news, you will lag behind. 3)Do you think the internet is a good way to get business news? Why / Whynot?Of course, Internet, a global web of computer networks, has been a hothouse for business growth. Hundreds of companies are linking the internet each month in the brief that cyber space hold new customers, new profit and fundamentally new ways of doing business. Internet News provide real-time news updated throughout the business day, covering IT issues and Internet-related technologies for cooperate managers and high-tech professionals.4) Would you buy a business magazine regularly? Why / Why not?--- Yes, as a businessman I’ll buy business magazine regularly which offers plenty of business information and business opportunities as well.---Right now, I am a student, and I am short of money. So I couldn’t buy amagazine regularly. But I am interested in business and plan to be a businessman after graduation. So I have formed the habit of reading business magazines in the library. They are free of charge.Topic 4 what people wear for work?1)How do you normally dress for work / college?--- Normally I wear a sweater and jeans or slacks (宽松的裤子) foe college. I wear casually on campus.--- It depends on job’s location. At a cooperate office, I wear a conservative business suit. A pantsuit with a sweater or blouse (宽松的上衣) is appropriate for informal office.--- I generally wear a good-quality blouse or knit shirt. Sometimes I just weara casual blazer (运动上衣) or cardigan (开襟毛衣) if appropriate.--- I generally wear a collared shirt with an undershirt and wear khakis (卡其) slacks, Anyway I select clean, pressed and wrinkle-free clothes.2)Should companies have a dress code for their employees? Why / Why not?--- In my opinion, the requirement for a dress code will vary from job to job within a company. Companies with employees that are in contact with customers will generally set fourth standards of dress, hygiene and attitude. That is, if anyone in your organization deals with the public, you should have a dress code for all employees. A dress code is a simple document that tells people in various functions what is appropriate workclothing, and why.3)Is it necessary to be smartly dressed to gain promotion? Why / Why not?Yes, I do think so. Because to an employer, how you dress says a great deal about you. Dressing well indicates that you love life and you love your work as well. Of course, whether you get promotion or not depends more on your performance.4)Do you think business people will dress more formally or less formally in thefuture? Why / Why not?In my opinion, business people will dress less formally, which is also my wish. Anyway it must be the trend because with the help of high technology, work time will be more flexible and people will even work at home. Then why not dress in a comfortable way since nobody will know?Topic 5 Promoting products and service1)What kind of way do you think is the most effective in order to promoteproduct or service?There are a lot of ways we can employ to promote out product and service, including the print and graphic arts media. In my opinion, electronic media is the most effective because it allows customers from every corner of the word easy access to our business.2)How important is it to employ television to promote product or service?Why / Why not?It’s really important to turn to television because television captures more audience time than any other medium and it has the powerful advantage of visual impact. It’s generally believed that as much as 90 percent of a person’s total perception is the result of images convoyed to the brain in one way or another.3)Do you think TV commercial is a good way to promote product or service?Why / Why not?Yes, I do. TV commercial is targeted at home audience in a relaxed and suggestive atmosphere, by using shout, repetitive, and high impact message. TV remote has changed viewing habits so that commercial spots are now formatted in clusters of ten and fifteen second clips.4)Do you have any other suggestion as to promoting product or service?Yes, I do have one. There are an increasing number of online directories available with which we list our business. Not only are many of directories available at reasonable rates, but also they allow customers from all parts of the province, country and the world easy access to our business.More extending for topics above:Topic 4(1) I want to be a successful business in the future. I am a business major, and Iwan to apply what I learn in school in to the practical work.(2) Of course they should take professional advice. Doing this will save themmany troubles, and also save them much time in consideration.(3) It depends. One’s ultimate purpose may always stay stable, but the periodicalplan should be modified according to different situation.(4) A long-term goal is necessary. For a long-term goal will provide us withpowerful and sustainable motivation.Topic 5(1) I am a student now. I usually wear casual clothes to class, for example, sportswear, T-shirt, jeans and so on.(2) I think a company may a dress code. It’s a very important part of company’sculture and image.(3) One should know that different kinds of dress suit different situation, so onecan dress smartly. But the promotion comes with one’s ability, not dress. (4) In my opinion, businessmen may dress less formally in the future, becausepeople pay much more attention to personality and comfort, which means less rigid regulation.Topic 6(1) If I were to decide what is the most effective way to promote product orservice, I would say that advertisement is my No.1 choice.(2) Television is the most direct and vivid way to make your promote and serviceknown to your customer. So, every enterprise, including all the companies and factories, regards TV as their first choice.(3) TV commercial is definitely a good way to promote product and service.Because TV is now the most popular way of entertainment, and has the greatest number of audience, thus has the greatest influence among the people.(4) As far as I am concerned, I think to successfully promote product and service,one should but fully aware of the distinguished feature, then give prominence to it, and finally try to make it known and remembered by everyone who ever see the ad.Topic 7(1) Web site can provide me with the latest information, and also can express myinformation to the most people.(2) Normally, I’d like to visit the websites which can provide the latest andcomplete professional information.(3) Most important elements of successful website for marketing are thefollowing: latest information, popularity, classification of possible viewer and so on.(4) I think internet advertising is very promising in the future. with thedeveloping of internet, and more and more people becoming net users, internet advertising will be more effective in the near future.Topic 8 selling products(1) What is most important to customers about a product? Why?I think quality of a product is most important to customers. The qualitywill affect the public image of the company. The high quality will help company to earn more customers.(2) Are you good at selling products?At present I am not good. But I am sure I will be good at selling products after some time. For one thing, I have great interest. For another, I will pursue further study, receive training and practice more.(3) Is training essential for a sales job?Yes, I think so. A sales job involves a range of skills, some of which are difficult to grasp. Salespeople should be equipped with such knowledge to facilitate their work.(4) Do you think employers should pay more money to sales staff who aresuccessful?Yes. Employers should pay more money if sales staff sell more products.This kind of way can be incentives to motivate salespeople to do better.Topic 9 Starting a new job(1) What kind of information about a company do you want to get before startingwork here?There is much to know about a company if planning to work there. But two things stand out for me: the first and most important is to find out how is its business. Is it doing well? Does it make big money? The second point is about the location, because I would prefer to work near my living place. (2) How can you get the information?Since it’s an information age, it is not difficult to get some information, for there are many channels. I think I will go to the internet and google the company first so that I can get access to many different links; I will also contract people who recommend me that company.(3) If you are an old employee, what will you do to welcome the new ones?I will be very friendly and nice to them, ready to offer help at any time. Iwill also give them some helpful tips for working in the company.(4) What should you do to create a good impression at the start of a new job?It is very important to leave a good first impression at the start of a new job. I will dress properly, speakly politely, take my job seriously, and get along well with my colleagues.Topic 10 Leisure & Work(1) Do you think companies should provide leisure facilities for their staff?Absolutely, Leisure facilities should be provided for the relief of staff’s pressures from the daily work. They can relax themselves and job involvement may also be encouraged at the same time.(2) In your opinion, which matters more to business people, money or free time?Both are important. It’s no denying that money is not everything. But without money they can do nothing. Free time is also indispensible. Are the saying goes: Rest is sauce to labor, people need relax and recharge themselves.(3) If you are required to work overtime, what’s your first response?My first response is to say: no. I need take rest. However, when something is special or the company must finish the task ahead of time, I will work overtime.(4) Do you like business trips? Why (not)?Yes, I do. Business trips give me an opportunity to visit other places and people, made new friends and expand my career. In addition, if I have free time, I may go sightseeing.Topic 11 Career Choice(1) What kind of job would you prefer to take? Why?I am interested in business management, so I’d like to follow themanagement career path. When I gain enough experience in management, I will start my own business.(2) What kind of profession will be most popular in twenty years’ time?To be honest, it’s difficult to predict things far into the future. But maybe farming will be popular in twenty years’time. As we know, less and lesspeople are engaged in farming and we can’t live on without eating. We must rely on farm products. So I think to develop farming will be a tendency. (3) Do you prefer to work in a team or alone? Why?As far as I’m concerned, I prefer to work in a team. To work with team also can save the time and make more money for companies. Two heads are always better than one’s. Team members may share ideas and information. In addition, it helps to improve communication skills and team-cooperated abilities.(4) What will you do if the profession you are engaged in is not what you want?In my opinion, I’d like to go job-hunting and find a new job. Although I’m a loyal employee, I believe that whether a company is right for me is crucial. If I show no interest in the present job, I will not fulfill the task very well.Topic 12 Corporate Hospitality(1) Do you think it is important to entertain your business partners and clients?Of course, it is important to entertain our business partners and clients.It can enable us to build a good business relationship and to enhance mutual understanding. If you fulfill their expectation, your efforts will put a lot of weight on your credibility.(2) What will you do to entertain your clients?It depends. Because different clients have different tastes, interest andhobbies, I will entertain them in different ways, such as a round of golf, a sightseeing tour of the city, a visit to a sports event and a shopping trip.Therefore, I will make a wise decision according to different clients.(3) How can hosts and clients build a good business relationship?In my opinion, to be sincere, honest and hospitality is the key to build a good business relationship. Besides, host may mix business with pleasure effectively, for example, doing business with their clients in the restaurant.(4) Do you think it is a good idea to send clients to corporate events?I don’t think so. Generally speaking, staff members prefer to standaround chatting rather than talking to clients. They see corporate events as an opportunity to make friends and communicate with each other. If you send clients to corporate events, they will feel ill at ease.Topic 13 supply and price(1) What is supply?Quantity of a product offered on the market at a specified price is called supply. The supply of a product only includes the amount which is for sale ata certain time.(2) Do you think the price of the product will influence the supply?Yes, definitely. An increase in price will usually cause the supply of a product to grow up. When price is lower, supply usually goes down.(3) How does supply influence price?The change in supply influences the price in a similar way, if the supply of a product rises.(4) How does the rule of supply influence the market?The rule of supply indicates that a marketer is willing to supply more of a product if the price is higher and reluctant to sell the product when the price is lower.Topic 14 Profession(1) Can you predict the best-paid work in the future?As far as I am concerned, the best-paid work in the future would be doctors/lawyers.(2) Why do you say so?I have two points to support my opinion. First, with the development of human society, people pay more attention to their health. Even they have no disease, people are willing to pay for a body examination each year. When they get ill, they spend more. Second, doctors are demanding jobs involve professional knowledge and skills. Only those hand-working people can become qualified doctors, and they deserve big pay.(2) Would people mind if the doctors charge too much for the treatment?That depends. If the treatment can save your life, people will never care about the high cost. If the treatment is simple and it’s only for a common cold, people will get annoyed if the doctors charge too much, because it’s notworthwhile.(4) What kind of profession will become less important? Why?In my opinion, drivers will become less and less important. Because private cars are becoming more popular and more people are able to drive for themselves. And the trend is still going on.Topic 15 Computers in our life(1) Do you think computers are becoming more and more important in business?Yes, I think computers are becoming more and more popular in business life. Using computers can help raise working efficiency and relieve people from heavy workload.(2) When do people usually use computer?People use computers to surf the net, obtain information, write messages, fill out forms, give and receive orders of goods, sign contracts, communicate with friends and so on.(3) How do you predict in business life?Computers have become very indispensable in business due to its convenience and high efficiency. It’s a great change to our traditional way of thinking and doing things. I predict the influence of computers in business life will deeper and deeper in the near future.(4) How important is computer in your work and study?It’s essential to my life. I’m used to doing things on a computer. It reallysaves me s lot of time and energy. I can’t image how hard life will be without mu computer.Part II Mini-presentationTopics in part IISelecting a retail sales assistantAttending a business conferenceChoosing a sports team to sponsorEncouraging new ideas in a companyPreparing a room for a meetingMaking a corporate videoAiming to become a managerWorking as a teamChoosing office premises to rentRenting office equipmentSelecting a business school to attendChoosing an employment agency to recruit staffConsidering setting up a stuff canteenSelecting a conference centreWorking from homeRetailing luxury goodsDealing with late paymentsImproving a company websiteDesigning a sales brochureChoosing a hotel for a company visitor Managing changeHaving a professional image at work Evaluating computers’ productsContacting clients by telephonePlanning working hours for staffWorking with a new bossOrdering office suppliesOrganizing a program for visitors to a company Selecting a sales a agent abroadSelecting appropriate wage levels Negotiating a contract with a customer Planning a distribution networkAiming a reduce administration costs Planning to sub-contract workDeciding on a pricing strategyControlling stock levelsTopic 1In most cases, we have to work in teams in order to finish a task, especially a tough task. Then，choosing people to work in teams. As far as I’m concerned, since we have to spend some time working together and finishing a tough task together, I’m willing to work with those people who can help me when I’m faced with difficulties. That is to say, I choose to work with one who has his own specialty. It goes without doubt that personal qualities also should be taken into consideration. When considering personal qualities, I prefer to work with people who are warm-hearted, easy-going, optimistic, energetic and conscientious to work in teams. Of course, if he or she has a sense of humor, that will be better. After all, working with a humorous person is really a pleasant thing,Topic 2Undoubtedly, starting a new job is really an existing moment, and you wantto adjust yourself to the new environment as soon as possible. Then as far as I’m concerned, help from the existing staff will be very useful and necessary. You know, existing staff must be quite familiar with the company since they have worked there for a period of time. They can not only tell you something about company procedures, but also tell you how to use company equipment when you start a new job. With their help you will get to know the company and your colleagues gradually and don’t feel nervous any more as a newcomer. In a word, I think having help from existing staff is quite important when you starting a new job.Topic 3When it comes to selecting staff for making trips abroad, different people have difference choices. Some people will say the position of staff members is the most important thing to consider. In my opinion, previous experiences of working in other countries are more important than the position of staff members in a company. For one thing, the staffs who have worked abroad must have got a good command of foreign language. And as we all know, foreign language skills are essential for trips abroad. For another, if the staff have worked in othercountries, they come up with more valuable suggestions to the company by contrasting after marketing trips abroad. In conclusion, I think experiences of working in other countries are more important.Topic 4What is important when promoting staff members?(提升员工时什么是重要的)Attitude toward work;Achievement;CreativityWhen talking about what is important when promoting staff members, different people may have different opinions. Some say that attitude toward work is very important; others may say achievement is important. But in my opinion, creativity is the most important. Nowadays, the destine of a company lines more in the creativity than other aspects. As we all know, ―created in China‖ is a more advanced stage than ―Made in China‖. It is also true to any company. A worker who only has a good attitude is no more than a good worker, but one who can give the new idea or create the model is undoubtedly the one that the company can’t do without. So, I regard creation as the key to promotion.Topic 5When making a business trip, we should take into consideration the purposeof the trip. Because after the purpose is set, can we arrange other items. After the company decides the purpose, executives can figure out the details, such as how many people should be set out, who should be chosen to do the trip, what is company’s strategy, how long should they stay there , and so on. That is to say, the travel arrangement and cost both could determined after company decides the purpose of that trip.Topic 6The essential of selling a new product is quality. Generally speaking, advertising and price both play important roles in the making of buying decision. But the most decisive factor is quality. Consumers are very practical in the buying process: a very beautiful and well-produced advertisement may persuade people to try a certain kind of the new choice in the supermarket, or cheap price may attract buyers for one time, when they get to know the poor quality of the new thing, they will soon desert it and perhaps never touch it again. So, if the company wants to establish the brand loyalty in consumers lifelong, quality should be put in the first place at all the time.Topic 7Business partner is more than someone you doing business with, he is part of your company’s image, and he is also a very important factor which can play in your success. Everyone knows that in doing business, credit is the decisive。