BEC VANTAGE speaking part 2 - Đại Học Mở TPHCM

BEC – PART 2
TASK SHEET 1
Q1: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Reviewing the applicant’s CV (vai trò interviewer)
 Deciding whether he/she has enough qualifications required
(Education)
 Considering work experience for the appropriate position (Work
experience)

 Work experience
The first thing most people do when they look at a resume is look at a
candidate’s previous work experience.
A candidate’s work experience can be evaluated as an exact match to
the current position (e.g., previous retail experience for a retail associate
job) or a related match (e.g., previous experience in a customer-facing
role).

 Education
Many jobs don’t necessarily require a minimum level of education but as
college and university degrees become more and more common these
days, education has increased in importance as a qualification.
For candidates without a lot of previous experience, you may pay more
attention to their education.


 Skills, knowledge, and competencies. ...
 Personality and values.
 Characteristics

Q2: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Pricing a product

 Researching pricing strategies of rival companies (Know the
market)
 Estimating variable and fixed costs (Work out your costs)
Company should create an 'optimum price' factors in all your costs
and maximises your margins while remaining attractive to customers.
Here's how to set your prices
 Know the market.
You need to find out how much customers will pay, as well as how
much competitors charge. You can then decide whether to match
or beat them. Simply matching a price is dangerous, though - you
need to be sure all your costs - both direct and indirect - are covered.
 Work out your costs.
Include all direct costs, including money spent developing a product or
service. Then
+ calculate your variable costs (for supplies and materials,
packaging and so on) - the more you make or sell, the higher these will
be.


+ Work out what percentage of your fixed costs (overheads such as
rent, rates and wages) the product needs to cover.

Q3: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Writing a business email/ report
 Deciding who is supposed to read that email (your audience)
 Keeping it short and simple (Keep it concise)
Email is one of the most widely used forms of communication both in and
out of the workplace. Because of its speed and efficiency
 Identifying who the target audience
When you compose an email message, make sure your tone matches

your audience.
For example, if you’re emailing a business executive you’ve never met,
keep the email polished and free of any jokes or informalities. On
the other hand, if you’re emailing a colleague with whom you have a
good relationship, you might use a less formal, more friendly
approach.

 Keep it concise
Your audience might have little time to read through your email, so
make it as brief as possible without leaving out key information.
When editing your email, take out any information that’s irrelevant to the
topic you’re addressing. Use short, simple sentences by removing
filler words and extraneous information.


TASK SHEET 2
Q1: WHAT IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Selling products to customers
 Identifying customers’ needs
 Highlighting USPs

 Identifying customers’ needs
However good your product or service is, the simple truth is that no-one
will buy it if they don't want it or believe they don't need it. Knowing and
understanding customer needs is at the centre of every successful
business, whether it sells directly to individuals or other businesses.
- Highlighting USPs
Every business needs a reason for their customers to buy from them and
not their competitors. This is called a Unique Sales Proposition (USP). Your
USP can be identified by completing the phrase "Customers will buy from

me because my business is the only..."
For example:
+ Offer a free same-day delivery service
+ Offer fast delivery
+ Offer per cent discount
All of these USPs can be effective because they are driven by what the
customer looks for when making a buying decision.


Q2: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Organizing an event
 Determining who should attend the event (Who’s Coming?)
 Working with the staff (Coordination of Volunteers / Staff)
-

Who’s Coming?

Who do you want to go to your event? Is this a private event or are
family etc. invited too?
It’s important to market your event according to the right audience.
Posting flyers, mailing invitations, or posting events on social media may
be good for the public market. But if you’re going private, it’s best to go
through invitations privately on social media, or a personalized
invitation in the mail.
-

Coordination of Volunteers / Staff

These people are your most important asset. These are the people who
are at the event hours in advance to help set up and hours after to take

down everything. They are your crew of helpers.
Make sure that these people are given something to do at all ends of
time so that they can be productive in critical hours of your event
process.

Q3: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Adapting the company’s work policy
-

Consulting staff


-

Considering the pros and cons of such changes

TASK SHEET 3
Q1: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Trying to attract new staff
 Benefits
 Company reputation
-

Emphasize the benefits that your business offers.

+ Make your company more attractive to potential employees by
offering things such as competitive wages, flexible hours and work
at home options.
+ If you're going to attract high quality staff, your company needs to
offer high quality benefits - and that means offering employees at least

life, medical and dental coverage.
-

Company Reputation

A brand’s reputation is, in fact, one of the most important factors for job
seekers. People want to work for a company with good reputation. The
strongest job candidates are looking for more than just salary, benefits,


and whether your office provides catered lunches. They’re looking at
your brand’s reputation. Do people think highly of your brand? Is your
brand’s values and vision aligned with their own?

Q2: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN…?
*Prepare to go on a business trip
 Informing colleagues and clients
 Delegating essential tasks


1. What is important when entertaining clients?
-

Appropriate venue for entertainment (Types of activities):
We need to decide on the most suitable venue for the event to take
place. We will probably find out in first contact with our clients if they
are more of art lovers of sports fan or gourmets, and then choose the
type of entertainments: whether it should be in the theatre or …

-

Clear objectives for the meeting:
have a clear plan in mind when we come to the meeting. Therefore
while making sure our clients enjoy themselves, we quietly and
smoothly direct the meeting step by step towards our goal.

-

Cost:

2. What is important when meeting foreign clients for the first
time?
-

Foreign language skills
Knowledge of cultural differences: There exist great cultural
differences between different countries. If you know little about the
cultural differences, you will be at a loss about how to treat foreign
clients appropriately. You may happen to talk about their taboo
subjects and offend them, then your business relationship will be
destroyed.

-

Hospitality

-

Foreigners’ hobbies

3. What is important when planning corporate hospitality?
-

Type of event : our first step is to think about what type of event
would be best for your invitees. There are plenty of options to
consider from black tie dinners, cocktail evenings, garden parties or
high-profile sporting events.

-

Guest list: When choosing who to invite to the event, you need to
consider what mix of people you want there and, more importantly,
what you are hoping to achieve. You may want to invite some of your
more outgoing employees or managers who can build a rapport with
your clients and prospective customers. You may also want to invite
some people from the media who may provide some publicity after
the event.

4. What is important when dealing with complaints from
clients?
-

Offering an apology (remaining calm): because customers must
be very upset when they are dissatisfied with the product or service.
At this time, employees should remain calm, listen to the clients and
apologize for the problem, then the customers may feel that they are
taken good care of.

-

Suggesting a solution to the problem: An apology is not enough,
employees should also try to deal with the existing problems, if they
suggest a solution to the problem, customers may not be so
dissatisfied, and they may not take their business elsewhere.


-

Do not make promises that they can’t keep: If employees
cannot keep promises, customers may get disappointed, then, they
may switch to other producers. Make compensation

5. What is important when selecting staff for promotion?
-

Attitude to work: The staff who hold a positive attitude toward work
should be promoted. If a person likes his job, he will devote his heart
and soul into the job and try every effort to accomplish the task.
Moreover, his hard-working might well influence the other staff and
set a good example for them. The company needs such kind of spirit.

-

Current performance (Quality of performance / work-related
qualities): You know, all staff are looking forward to promotion. The
one who gets the chance should be the best one among all staff.
Otherwise other staff won’t be convinced. Current performance can
just tell all staff what he or she has done and can also tell the staff
the reason for promotion. Then everybody will try his/her best to work

hand and make some achievements.

-

Personal qualities: Relevant personal qualities are important as
well, such as loyalty to the company, responsibility and so on, since
these qualities can establish credibility and integrity among
colleagues. The selecting staff should be as a contributor to the
company and as a person of high personal standing with a capacity
for leadership.

-

Communication skills，Cooperation skills

6. What is important when aiming for promotion?
-

Company loyalty


-

Quality of performance (Current performance / work-related
qualities): The qualities include qualifications, training, skills and
abilities. Qualifications and training prepare us the necessary
knowledge and theory for any job. Professional skills and abilities
guarantee excellent work performance.

-

Personal qualities: Relevant personal qualities are important as
well, such as loyalty to the company, responsibility and so on, since
these qualities can establish credibility and integrity among
colleagues. The selecting staff should be as a contributor to the
company and as a person of high personal standing with a capacity
for leadership. - -

-

Know and accept your strengths and weaknesses: promote
your strengths and make up for the weaknesses.

7. What is important when aiming to reduce staff turnover (keep
good staff)?
*Retain good staff
*Motivating staff
* Staff productivity
-

Financial benefits: Staff want some sort of recognition for the job
that they do. Correct financial benefits plan will arouse their
enthusiasm. Otherwise, they would feel being ignored.

-

Career Opportunities: Employees will remain with their current
employer if career opportunities are presented. Career plans for those
who want to move upward in the company undoubtedly improve
morale and boost engagement.

-

Pleasing work environment: A pleasing workplace includes
everything from having the right tools available to provide basic
comfort, such as proper lighting and noise control, etc.

8. What is important when considering a career change?
-

Further study or training:

-

Opportunities for future promotion: Promotion normally provides
an increase in pay and status and brings you a sense of career
achievement.

-

Salary: Money is not the most important thing in the world. I do think
so. But without money, we’ll be in difficulties. When we can’t support
our families, we will naturally consider career change.

-

Location: especially for one who is married and has children. If the
new job means relocation, moving to a strange city, it can be a great
threat to one’s family life, and various problems will arise, such as

children’s education, etc. Besides, people have to consider whether
the climate, food and the culture there fit them or not.

-

Flexible benefits
Company reputation

9. What is important when writing a newspaper advertisement
for a job vacancy?
-

Description of the work: Basic information as time, place and
contact address, the description of applicants’ qualification and the
specifications of the opening should be included, because it can cut


down the number of applicants, attract the desirable ones and thus
reduce staff turnover.
-

Experience needed by applicants

-

Information of company

-

Opportunities for future promotion

-

Flexible benefits
Company reputation

10. What is important when choosing transport for business
trip?
- Convenience: Convenience transport can help to make your trip easy,
efficient and free from fatigue.
- Cost-effectiveness: It is advisable not to choose a transport whose
cost is beyond your budget, since expensive transport can even stop
you from meeting your targets. You should never allow this kind of cost
to ruin your whole business.
- Comfort: Comfort means being physically relaxed and contented, free
from worries and unhappiness. With comfortable transport, you can
arrive well rested and ready for your work. This is vital for the success
of your business.
- Time

11. What is important when preparing to go away on a business
trip?


-

Informing colleagues and clients
Delegating essential tasks
Arrange your time
Prepare essentials

12. What is important when organizing a conference/ Seminar?
-

Conference speakers: are a very important factor to consider. If
they are well-known people knowing a lot about a particular field, or
come from big multinationals, the conference will be likely to be
informative and you may a lot from it.

-

Agenda: Creating an agenda can help participants know what they
should be talking about and keeps the conversation focused. All items
to be discussed at the meeting should be listed on the agenda and
the purpose of each item should be clearly indicted.

-

Location: A suitable venue is also important. It should be a place
convenient to all participants so that everyone can arrive on time.

13. What is important when planning an advertising campaign?
-

Market research: It enables you to know what is popular in the
market and what prices customers can accept. All the above are very
crucial for you to decide when, where and whom you can give your
advertisement.

-

Selecting appropriate media: For example, if your new product
aims to reach young people, it is a wise choice to put an


advertisement on either TV or Internet, for the young are used to
getting news there. Or it will be a waste of money.
Pricing: After carrying out market research, we can know what the

-

most rational price of a new product is.

14.

What is important when producing a marketing plan?
Identifying target customers: You have to be clear whom your

-

new product is directed at. For example, if your new product aims to
reach young people, it is a wise choice to put an advertisement on
either TV or Internet, for the young are used to getting news there.
-

Setting a budget

-

Market research: It enables you to know what is popular in the

market, what is in great demand and what prices customers can
accept. All the above are very crucial for you to decide when, where
and whom you can open up a new market.
Pricing: After carrying out market research, we can know what the

-

most rational price of a new product is.
15.

What is important when exporting goods or services for the

first time?
-

Seeking expert advice: It is essential to partner with experts in this
field if your company has no previous experience with regard to
exporting goods or services. Use of a third party export consultancy
or export agent would be highly recommended.

-

Correct documentation: It is crucial to ensure that the necessary
documentation for exportation and importation is managed in an


organized manner. This might include, for example, bills of lading,
freight insurance, certificates of origin, customs declarations,
irrevocable letter of credit, and pro forma invoices.

16. What is important when managing a project?
-

Encouraging teamwork: Teamwork reflects the combined
experiences, knowledge, intelligence and views a group of people, so
it will definitely improve the quality and efficiency of the work.

-

Keeping to schedule: Time is always of essence for a project. You
should ensure that you would be running before the schedule rather
than after it. Otherwise it lead to late completion.

-

Selection of the team members: should be also taken into
consideration. People with a wide range of experiences can enhance
the change of the successfully sorting out problems.

17.

What is important when choosing people to work in

teams?
-

Variety of experience: because you never know what kind of
problems might suddenly come up to you. Experiences in different
fields will enhance the change of successfully sorting out problems
with your knowledge which is based on your past experience.

-

Personal qualities: The basis of the team work is mutual trust and
friendly atmosphere which requires team members to be patient,
modest and to have good interpersonal skills.

-

Attitude: should be also taken into account. As the old saying goes
“Attitude is everything”. It has a direct impact on the success or
failure of the teamwork.


18.

What is important when aiming to improve career

prospects?
-

Reading business articles: This is a good way to keep up with the
latest development in related field which may give you a clue of what
to do next.

-

Learning a foreign language: For instance, if you are good at
speaking English that would add weight to the improvement of career
prospects since the globalization economy and the wide-spread

international corporation all needs the bridge of a common language,
and English is one of the most widely used languages.

19.
-

What is important when Delegating work to others?

Provide clear instructions: A good delegator provides essential
information with detailed and precise instructions. Your goal must be
to convey the results you are seeking but not to delegate the
methods.

-

Choose right person for the task: The first rule in effective
delegation is to find someone who possesses all the prerequisites.
These include strong collaboration, authority and reliability. As a great
leader, you should have an understanding of the weaknesses,
strengths and interests of your employees.

20.

What is important when designing a company website

Company website fully reflects a company, a prominent corporate
image and product image, the design needs a strong visual sense,
with map can be very good to tell the true information.

-

Types of information to include，
 Company Profile: mission, vision, core value, achievements,…
 Product catalog
 News and media coverage
 Product price list
 Order Online
 Contact Information

-

Different language versions: In an increasingly connected world,
multi-language websites are becoming more common. You can add
different languages to your company website and then you have to
think about using culturally appropriate colors, images, and icons
related to each language. It could be Vietnamese, English, Japanese,
Chinese,...

21.

What is important when Selecting applicants for a job/

Recruiting new staff?
-

Working experience: Applicants ho have already had the work
experience in the relevant fields will lean the new job easier and
quicker. And it will also save the company a lot of training fees if the
applicant has related experience.

-

Personal Qualities: such as personality and health. Companies tend
to employ people whose character fits a special job. For example,
consulting company tends to employ applicant who is analytical and
knowledge, but advertising agents like their employees to be
energetic and creative.


22.

What is important when preparing for a job interview?

Before you go for an interview, you must make preparations so as to
face the interviewer with more confidence. They include…
-

Studying the job advertisement: carefully so that you can match
your knowledge, skills and abilities with the specifications required for
the post. You must assure the interviewer that you have all the
qualifications required, so you are the right sort of person they are
looking for.

-

Finding out about the company: you should know more about the
company, such as its profile, structure, existing problems,
requirements, campaigns and future plans. “Know the opponent and
know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat”

23. What is important when holding a training session for staff?
-

Analyzing staff’s needs: Analyzing staff's needs by performing a
needs test will help guide how you structure your training course.
Establishing the needs of your company from those that
experience it in the day-to-day will enable you to design a training
session that will up-skill your team, and ultimately help you to
achieve your business goals.

-

Training materials: are essential in running the perfect training
session. Training materials will guide the session, making different
parts of the training session digestible. Providing training materials
for the attendees also allows them to revisit the information on
their own time.

24. What is important when DOING MARKET RESEARCH?


There are so many crucial factors to consider if you want to do
market research for the company.
-

Knowing the target market: First you must understand the target
market and identify who they are. Gather statistical information
regarding your target market’s demographics, market segment,
needs and buying decisions. Use your research to clarify which media

will best promote your product, whether print, online or broadcast.

-

Establishing the method of design: Every research process
centers on a method of design. Such as Data collection methods
typically include interviews, surveys, focus groups or questionnaires.
You will need to develop a data collection execution plan by
pinpointing whether the sample population will engage in your
research collection by phone, email, internet surveys or in-person
focus groups.

25.

What is important when Expanding a business

overseas?
To help you in your initial planning stages, here are some things to
evaluate when deciding on what country to move into.
-

Do foreign market research: Every country has its own unique
laws, tax requirements and financial systems. Some countries
are incredibly favourable to international business, offering tax
incentives, start-up support and even government funding. So,
consider whether time, cost and difficulty of doing business are
worth the potential payoff you expect the new market will bring.


-

Available Labour: Before you set your business on an expansion
plan and specific country, you need to know if there will be
someone to help you execute it. Difficulty finding local employee
doesn’t always have to foil your plans either. Many companies
choose to send current employees internationally on assignment.
However, these situations are usually dependent on the willingness
of the employee as well as attractive compensation packages.

26. What is important when Headhunting someone for the
managerial position?
-

Work experience: might be one of the most important
considerations you have for particular jobs at your facility. Experience
in particular areas such as answering busy telephone lines or
handling accounts, for example, can be essential for specific staff
roles. For other positions, work experience might not be absolutely
necessary, but a strong work background is always a good thing as it
exemplifies a good work ethic.

-

Negotiating the pay and fringe benefits with him/her:
Successfully negotiating salary with top creative candidates takes
preparation, tact and follow-through. Good salary can help keep
discussions in finding a good and talented manager.

27. What is important when improving a product?
-

Collecting useful data from customers: By talking to your
customers, you can gather valuable feedback, ask potential leads
for feature requests, and understand their demands better. A


support team can be the one who does that and reports all the data
to a product manager. The latter processes it and as a result, you can
develop a complete product improvement plan.
-

Planning: Since product development can quickly become
complicated, it’s important to take the time to plan before you begin
to build your prototype. When you eventually approach
manufacturers or start looking for materials, the best place to begin
planning is with a hand-drawn sketch of what your product will look
like.

28. What is important when Managing staff?
-

Delegate jobs to the right people: Part of why it is vital that you
establish a relationship with your team and get to know them
individually is so you can assess what their strengths are. People
perform better and are more engaged in roles where they feel
they are employing their best skills, so delegating proper functions
that suit each will have a significant impact on the productivity
of the team.

-

Build positive working relationships: It’s important to get to
know members of your team individually, not only on a professional
level but on a more personal level too. When you put the effort in to
get to know a bit more about how your colleagues are doing and what
they are interested in, it will build a much better rapport among the
team.


29. What is important when increasing sales volumes?
-

Motivate sales reps:
Depending on your organisation’s salary structure, giving financial
incentives to sales reps can inspire them to move more product. If
updating your salary structure isn’t an option at the moment, you can
consider other ways to boost sales rep morale.

-

Training sales staff:
Know the necessary qualities and differentiators of your product.
When you’re looking to increase sales volume, you’re inevitably
looking to move more units of your product to be sold. To do this, you
need to have a rock-solid understanding of the product’s key
features and distinguishing properties.

30. What is important when Attending an interview?
-

Dress appropriately
Plan out an outfit that fits the culture of the company you are
applying for. If the company does not have a dress code, it’s a good
idea to wear business casual.
Leave your shorts and tank top at home, and put on a shirt and a pair
of long pants. It’s always better to be overdressed than under. Try on
your outfit before the interview to make sure that it fits and looks
smart.

-

Arrive on time


Don’t ever arrive at a job interview late! It’s best to arrive 15 minutes
before the scheduled time in case you have to fill in some paperwork.
If you are not familiar with the area in which the company is located,
do a test run a week or two before to make sure that you won’t get
lost. If you are driving, make a note on where you can park your car.

31. What is important when Planning market research?
Nowadays the planning market research helps the company survive
and develop in the competitive economy. when planning market
research, we should consider three factors as follows:
-

types of questions

-

types of people

-

types of products
Firstly, types of questions is important. Because we need to arrange

the questionaires carefully before surveying the market. Types of
questions is the pilot that we want to find and require people to answer
our wanted thing. In my opinion types of questions may be in relation to
products, marketing tendency, customer’s taste or something like that.
Secondly, types of people is important too. Because people who are
interested in that field are more effective than those of who not interested
in. Besides people are also active and dynamic suitable for the market
research.
Thirdly, types of products play an important role in research market.
Because our products must be stranger than the others do and our
products must be special in order to attract customer’s attention. When
we research the market we want to receive the response from the
customer so that we can predict the prosperous situation in the future or


we must adjust the product so that our product can meet the requirement
from the market.
32. What is important when Predicting profits?
Past Economic Performance

-

+ The historical business data across all levels and sectors of the

organization matters. Data of this nature is used to show what happened
to the business under different conditions in the past. It can be used to
determine the way your business will perform if some of the events
happen again within the year. The company can use the data to adapt its
operations and ride the economic wave. This, in turn, may help create a
more positive forecast.
Market trends:

-

Forecasting helps position businesses to become active instead of
reactive. If there is a trend that is predicted to take over the market, or
data is showing changes in consumer behaviour it is important to readjust
to the market overall and optimize resources to stand out from the
competition.
33.

What is important when Mentoring someone in your

organization?
-

Recognize Their Strengths and Weaknesses

As a mentor, it is your job to help your mentees reach their full
potential and minimize weaknesses. To accomplish this, it is best that
you help them understand and build upon their strengths. Mentor should
pay attention to what people do outside of work to see what their
talents are. As you get to know your employees, pay attention to what
they do for fun to see how this aligns with their roles in the workplace.

-

Understand Mentee's Career Goal