how to doing the business??

<b> Forum for those teaching business English </b>

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cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

how to doing the business??

Post by cutecat0101 » Thu Apr 15, 2004 7:02 am

hehe,,this is the new cutecat, I am a fresh business personal, response for contacting with the client in America and Europe;through e mail and telephone..my problem is I am major in Administration Management..and never doing such work..the worst thing is i am not skill in business english ,,so how do I start my work,,how do I communicate with the client?? anyone can Offer some commercial habits of America and Europe &#65311;/much thanks.... :)

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serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:50 pm

Hello Cutecat!

Let me get this straight: You work for a Chinese company with clients in Europe and America, and you're responsible for talking to them over the phone and per e-mail?

What exactly does your work entail? Selling things? Arranging visits? Finding out what it is that your client needs? After-sales work?

You say that your skills in "business-English" leave room for improvement, but I would say that what effective communicating takes, first of all, is reasonable proficiency in normal, run-of-the-mill conversational English - everything else can be ironed out later.

I don't know if you're familiar with set-phrases used on the phone, things such as taking a message, asking somebody to hold on as you're checking things, spelling things, checking the spelling, putting him/her through to another person, taking notes.

Maybe you could practise phone conversations in English with friends of yours - it's very confidence-inspiring to have succeeded at it, and it is largely a matter of mustering up the guts to say something in English in the first place, when the phone rings.

European and American clients of yours will be *really happy* to encounter someone who speaks English when they call China, and believe me, it will be easier than it looks right now, once you get the hang of it.

Good Luck!

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:51 pm

Hello Cutecat!

Let me get this straight: You work for a Chinese company with clients in Europe and America, and you're responsible for talking to them over the phone and per e-mail?

What exactly does your work entail? Selling things? Arranging visits? Finding out what it is that your client needs? After-sales work?

You say that your skills in "business-English" leave room for improvement, but I would say that what effective communicating takes, first of all, is reasonable proficiency in normal, run-of-the-mill conversational English - everything else can be ironed out later.

I don't know if you're familiar with set-phrases used on the phone, things such as taking a message, asking somebody to hold on as you're checking things, spelling things, checking the spelling, putting him/her through to another person, taking notes.

Maybe you could practise phone conversations in English with friends of yours - it's very confidence-inspiring to have succeeded at it, and it is largely a matter of mustering up the guts to say something in English in the first place, when the phone rings.

European and American clients of yours will be *really happy* to encounter someone who speaks English when they call China, and believe me, it will be easier than it looks right now, once you get the hang of it.

Good Luck!

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Thanks

Post by cutecat0101 » Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:13 am

dear serendipity,
hehe,,thanks for your kind . these day i am take part in the International Gift Fare in shenzhen, sorry didn't reply in time, and nice to see your messages.
hehe, my work is to conmunicate with the client, learn what they need and reply their questons, such as the information of the production and price list ,also after-sales work..
hehe,,yes, as you had said,i believe that the fluent speaking in english and writing and the skill in comunication is basis but very important when you doing business with the foreigner. now my problem is I can't express freely, and do not familiar with the english for international business comunication, so many things need to practice and care about.but practice makes perfect!!!
hehe,,still, how to negotiate with the client, and let them easy to agree with me?if the client ask so many questions about the production and price , and some kind of them wouldn't date the order you expect,, so should I reply all their questions??or just tell the mainly?/any good sugesstion?
hehe,, very glad to make friends with you.
best wishes for you!

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Mon Apr 26, 2004 1:58 pm

Thanks Cutecat,

sorry I double-posted.

You say that your problem is that you can't express yourself freely, but that's absolutely not the impression that I'm getting from reading your messages here. It sounds as if you're saying what you intended to say, without any major hiccups.

When a client fires questions at you like a machine-gun gone on a rampage, get him/her to slow down - one after the other. "Excuse me, I didn't quite get your question, do you think you could run it by me again?" with a sweet, innocent smile and a look of authenticity about you, that should do the trick. he or she would have to *think* about what's important, and prioritize his/her list.

If you don't know an answer, then "I'm afraid I'm not quite sure about that. Would you mind me getting back to that later?" is a good reply. If you're lucky, he (or she)'ll go "No, don't bother, it's not all that important anyway."

Actually, there's a good deal more.

It's fun talking to you - I don't know *that* many cute cats from Shenzhen! :D

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Post by cutecat0101 » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:59 am

Dear serendipity,

hehe,,thanks fou your information, i thik you are experienced and skill in business..because you reply make me think so..

the business says easy,,but done difficult...because the human is so complex..and so much different between the country,culture and economy,,even more,,the thoughs of human is change for ever.....
so can you give me some information about these????

hehe,,sorry,forget to introduce mtself,,i am a cute cat from shenzhen,,a girl gratuated from university not long before,,and come to a company for a business saler,and my work u know. i am a samrt,confident, Optimistic, hospitable, with individual character .i have rich interest. so how about you??u are free to reply.

since i am new,i need to comunicate with people, who can give me some suggestion....that's why i come here,,a cutecat.....

happy day!!!

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Wed Apr 28, 2004 6:14 am

Dear Cute Cat,

I'm not *quite* as experienced in business as you might think I am, I've worked in the marketing/international sales department of a local compressor manufacturing plant before I took up teaching at a local vocational college, and I'm trying to pass on skills to students wishing to pursue a career in engineering.

There are probably many things about how business is run in China that we Westerners are completely unaware of, and I would love to hear more about these things.

As for me, I'm 41, female, single, no kids. I have a long-term partner, and we share an interest in ambulance-work, kayaking, skiing, climbing and all sorts of outdoorsy activities. I live in Austria, on the Eastern edge of the Alps, fairly close to the Hungarian border.

I'm an avid reader, and in general I prefer non-fiction to fiction, my apartment is brimfull with books, but as the people around me don't share my tastes or don't read in English, I don't know really who to pass books on to - it would be a shame to throw them away.

Well, it's a good thing that you're around here, Cute Cat.I'm looking forward to your reply. It's early in the morning now, my classes are about to start, and I'm having a leisurely coffee after a busy night on the ambulance. Wednesday mornings are a bit strenuous because Tuesday night is ambulance night, and we don't always get to go to sleep. It's worth it, though, because I end up facing the students with memories of life and death on my mind, and with the knowledge that I did something to make the world a better place while they were sleeping.

I don't know, if you'll understand that. I'm an idealist at heart, you see.

All the best, Eva

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Hello

Post by cutecat0101 » Thu Apr 29, 2004 5:29 am

Dear Eva,

I am glad to get your reply! That give me more strengh to face the work.any way,,you are experienced than me, whether the life or work,you can be my teacher..I forget to tell i am 25 years old,,single,,depart with my first boyfriend,but i still like him,because i always remind the sweet days,though everything is change.i think the first love never be forget....now i have other lover,,but i don't love them..i have no feeling of love with them,just feel safe and comfortable,,maybe that is the life..not the love..right??..i really don't know what is the love???!!!!just a feeling???and can't stay long in life??!!!confuse!!!!
that's ok..i think there's long way for me to search the answer!!!

hehe,,the work is chanllege,,everyday the boss tell me deal with matter quickly,or doing like this,,not like that..somewhat boring and angry.i know seldom about the business, now i meet the big problem is the professional word of business,,the exact word of the contract, but the boss tell me to deal with all the problem myself though i am new here just for less three weeks.i come here without any training.even the information about the company itself..i think i need to learn more or i can't solve the problem in time.pressure for this cute cat..but interestig...i will face and conquer...

hehe,,,i think you have happy and meaning life, still,have meaningful work.you live even for the whole people..you are a great woman.so that's the meaning of life why we live...to happy other people and help them...is my great luck to meet you...

hehe,,,this is at noon, i have a rest and reply to you.maybe you still on working at night,,,but just have a coffee. i like tea more,maybe one day you can travel to China..i will invite you for tea.

best regards,

yours,
cute cat

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:33 am

Well, you'll never know, Cute Cat, I *might* take you up on this offer.

See there is a student of mine who's about to graduate, and he's very interested in Chinese culture since he spent a year as an exchange student in Hongkong. In fact, he's so interested that he's planning on going back to mainland China and to teach English at a school there instead of doing his military service at home. He even got the Ministery of Defense's approval for his plan, because after all, teaching a common language amounts to working for peace in a way, and should be regarded as an equivalent to fighting for one's country.

Anyway, he's got to come up with the finances for his endeavour, and work in a factory for a couple of months, but then he'll be up and away. he invited me to visit him when he's there, and the thought of travelling East on the Trans-Siberian railway has always appealed to me.

It'll be another year, though.

I'm sorry to hear that your boss is putting so much pressure on you, and makes you feel bad about not meeting the standards. It's *their* job to provide guidance and training, and when things are rough, don't letthem grind you down! You sound determined enough to turn it into a success, and that's the right attitude. Many other young people just give up....

I think you're right when you say that people don't forget their first love - however, memories fade, and you might find yourself happy to have parted from a person who wasn't meant for you. My first love, he phones me now and then, inquiring how I'm doing and all, and I'm surprised about how little I feel about him now. Over the years, he's turned into a stranger, and Andreas, my love, well, he's turned into a companion, a complement of me.

Well, it's early in the morning, my classes are waiting. We'll be listening to a recording of two steel-erectors discussing stanchions which have been installed the wrong way round, and later in the afternoon, when I'll see the same class again, we'll be talking about presentations.

It's lovely to find your postings here, Cute Cat. A real pleasure to interact with you!

Lots of appreciative greetings, Eva

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Post by cutecat0101 » Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:27 pm

Dear Eva,

Tank you for you quick reply,that i just come back from company,,and just have my supper..is so tires,,it cost four hours for me to take bus everyday....so everyday when i come back...i feel very tired and sleepy.here in china is evening...

hehe..yes,,agree with you,,everyone must shoose his future,,and decide how to spend his life..and each choose must pay for pain...i think your student has a best choose for his life,,he can find the meaning of the life,,and do it..thanks for telling me about it..it mean something to me..

hehe,,as to the love,,west and east has defferent view...west point to the present and enjoy it..but east would like to stay the love long for all life...me??i think i prefer to feeling it than own it all life..

hehe,,is late ,,and i have to bath,,and then go to sleep..for tomorrow i need to wake up earlier for work..


chat next time...

best regards,

yous

cutecat

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:01 pm

Four hours on the bus! That's quite a journey!

Do you at least get to read or to listen to music while you're travelling? I am lucky in this respect, I live within walking distance from my school.

About that student of mine, I enjoy our classes together, and he tells me quite a lot about China. The mayor of my town used to live in China, too, and there are a bunch of exchange students from China having dinner in the cafeteria next door. It has become a small world allright.

When I was involved with my ex-boyfriend I would have wanted the relationship to be forever, but it was not meant to be. He was Scottish, you see, and his outlook on life was different from mine. And the two of us, we were young. Maybe people from the East are less demanding, and more willing to compromise when it comes to love.

Well, have a good night's sleep. I have classes until 10 p.m, and then classes again tomorrow morning, but during the day I should get a couple of hours off.

See you then!

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Post by cutecat0101 » Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:39 am

dear eva,

quite happy to get your reply..I just finish my lunch and relax.

hehe,,yes,,is a short travel,,i can read,,or sleep..but not comfortable,,the bus is not steady and so noisy...but i used to it...

from tomorrow i will be free of five days for the "&#20116;&#19968;&#8221;days.so can do something i like..such as play games,doing sports, swimming,,travelling,,..happy outdoor activity...also i need to read some information about the business to strenghten myself...still on net at home..

hehe,,I am proud of you and your student..live for all the people..so if your student come to china,,I can give some information for him if he need.I think all the people is the same at the nature,need love and friendship,and career,sucess...but the different custom..that can be learnedand changed.

hehe,,the love is so tired..love means devote all yourself.but most people pay more attention for what he can get back.so the love become selfish..as for me,I think you love someone, is make him happy,,to help him with enthusiam,also,,you feel happy when stay with him,and he will do good to you...the love is mutually...but now i enjoy the free and comfortable with man.

hehe,,,though there are few student from all over the world come our university for exchange,,i have seldom change to comunicate with them,,

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Post by cutecat0101 » Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:56 am

dear eva,

quite happy to get your reply..I just finish my lunch and relax.

hehe,,yes,,is a short travel,,i can read,,or sleep..but not comfortable,,the bus is not steady and so noisy...but i used to it...

from tomorrow i will be free of five days for the "&#20116;&#19968;&#8221;days.so can do something i like..such as play games,doing sports, swimming,,travelling,,..happy outdoor activity...also i need to read some information about the business to strenghten myself...still on net at home..

hehe,,I am proud of you and your student..live for all the people..so if your student come to china,,I can give some information for him if he need.I think all the people is the same at the nature,need love and friendship,and career,sucess...but the different custom..that can be learnedand changed.

hehe,,the love is so tired..love means devote all yourself.but most people pay more attention for what he can get back.so the love become selfish..as for me,I think you love someone, is make him happy,,to help him with enthusiam,also,,you feel happy when stay with him,and he will do good to you...the love is mutually...but now i enjoy the free and comfortable with man.

hehe,,,though there are few student from all over the world come our university for exchange,,I have seldom chance to comunicate with them,,I know them little..

hehe,,here in Shenzhen,summer is coming,the weather is hot and wet,,in fact the weather in Shenzhen doesn't change much,,always worm and wet...you can't feel the most cold which is the real winter in north china.but just the worm...I like Shenzhen,,though I looking forward the north china with snow,,i never see the snow fallin floor with my eye..is a shame...but one day I will meet them in north city...

hehe...I need to work now..chat in latter..

best withes for you!

yours,

cute cat

serendipity
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Post by serendipity » Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:06 am

Really?

You have never seen snow fall? Never done any wintersports? You'll have to come visit me in winter some day, I have friends who live up in the mountains and run a skiing hut, and I help them out when things are busy. If you click http://www.unterberg-schutzhaus.at/ you'll see what it looks like....

Five days off, that's quite a bit. For us, May first is a holiday, and this year it will be a special holidays since 4 of our neighboring countries (Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) join the European Union. The borders will virtually disappear tomorrow, and that's an amazing thing to witness. It's like being right there when history is being made, history in the good sense.

I'll be meeting Martin - that's that student of mine I was talking about -next Wednesday, and I'll tell him about you. You'll like him - he is a great guy.

I agree with you when you say that deep down, people are essentially the same. Differences are but skin-deep, and when you manage to reach out to them, you'll find that they're not all that different.

It's warm here, too. Tomorrow there's a public run in my village, where the runners cross all the bridges, and Andreas, my love, he's going to take part. Tonight, all runners and their families are invited to a communal pancake-dinner, so we'll go there. If you click

http://brueckenlauf.leobersdorf.at/

you'll see some pictures.

Well, there are two written exams today, so I've got to get my stuff together. Talk to you after you come back from your holiday - I'm looking forward to hearing what you've been up to!

All the best, Eva

cutecat0101
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:11 am
Location: shenzhen china

Post by cutecat0101 » Fri Apr 30, 2004 1:29 pm

Dear Eva,

glad to get your quick reply.I just come back from company and finish my supper..it is a quite tired and busy day..but most pleasure,,tomorrow is holiday,is free to anything..I like to be free.

hehe,,the picture is beautiful,,like the fairy tale I have seen. I can imagine the true scene is beautiful more than the picture..even I can imagine how happy to play in such moutain..is ok,,someday I will visit you and the moutain...

hehe,,I am cosmopolitism, I really hope there's no border among the country, there's no evil,no war,,only peace and love..people live happy with each other.and one day ,only earth,,no country,.but that's a far dream...so we need to do something for the good future..

hehe..how about the great guy???smart??or interesting??mayber we can become good friend help each other...

hehe,,I am a sporter too,,take my best regards to your lover..good luck for him!!!I think you lover is strong and health man.because sport can strengthen the body also your spirit..

hehe,,by the way,will you marry one day??!!!!I think you are happy with your lover..

hehe,time go fast since the life is short,,so everyday is value...tomorrow is a new day...is a good enjoy can chat with you everyday...

good luck!!

sincerely,
cute cat

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