If someone offers to do something for you, how can you refuse? Just saying "No" is likely to offend the person making the offer. Here are some ways to politely refuse an offer.
A recent survey by U.S research company Vantage has found that what staff value most (even above a pay rise) is a "thank you" for a job well done. In my own experience, I have to say that managers seem to find it hard to say "thank you" or to show appreciation. Here are some expressions that you might hear if you're lucky enough to get thanks from your manager. I've also included some replies.
April 8th 2008 |
Speaking skills
Recruitment experts say that a job interview is
your chance to see if you want to work for a potential employer, as much as it's the employer's chance to see if you are a suitable person for the job.
March 28th 2008 |
Speaking skills
In the UK, this Friday ("Good Friday") is a public holiday. The following Monday ("Easter Monday") is also a public holiday, which gives workers four days off in a row. Unlike at Christmas, people tend not to send Easter cards (except perhaps to family members), and many people use the four-day break to go away somewhere on holiday.
Here are some common idioms that can be used to refer to negotiations:
March 4th 2008 |
Speaking skills
Imagine the situation: a customer asks you a difficult question. Perhaps he or she wants a special favour, but you don't know if you can grant it. What can you say to avoid "losing face" by refusing him or her? Here are some useful phrases to try in these difficult situations when you don't want to hesitate and sound unsure of yourself.
Are you snowed under at work? Too many projects, and too many deadlines? Sometimes work can be overwhelming, especially if your boss seems unaware of how busy you are. A recent
article stresses the importance in letting your boss know that you are overworked. Here are some useful phrases for asking for help in prioritising and resetting deadlines.
In some situations, you might want to avoid giving an answer to a question. For example, it is illegal in the UK to ask personal questions at job interviews. Companies can even be fined if they are caught asking questions about age, martial status or religious beliefs. So how can you respond if you are unhappy about giving an answer to a question.
February 1st 2008 |
Speaking skills
It's been one of those weeks where there just isn't the time to get everything done. No matter how hard I work, there's always something outstanding. This got me thinking about idioms we use to talk about heavy or light workloads.
January 18th 2008 |
Speaking skills
It looks like we're all in for a "bumpy ride" this year. Here are some common idioms for talking about expense and recession.
