"Helping you gain
.control of your career"

In this issue we show you how to minute meetings with confidence; how to create a good first impression and highlight the downside of communication by email.

• Editor's Desk
• Bite 1
• Bite 2
• Bite 3
• Working Web
• Last Word

Hello!

At the moment we’re basking in spring sunshine and for the first time this year the weather seems to be warming up. But the doom and gloom isn’t all over yet. We’re being bombarded with election propaganda and I suspect that no matter which party (or parties) gets in, all that they will offer are more austerity measures, higher taxation and a rise in the cost of living!

Despite the recession being officially over, it’s going to be a hard few years for businesses and individuals alike before the UK, and many other countries around the world, are back on their feet.

That’s why it’s so important to keep polishing your skills if you want to remain competitive in the job market. So, this month we’ve some tips from our Business English Diploma course on writing up the minutes of meetings. As staff cut-backs bite it’s becoming more common for members of a meeting or committee to take turns in preparing the minutes – rather than having a secretary to do it. Many people dread this task but we’re going to show you how easy it can be.

Next, first impressions are important in business and it can take as little as three seconds to evaluate someone when you first meet them; so we suggest ways you can make that vital first impression a good one.

And finally, what do your emails say about how well you communicate? It might be easier to dash off an email than sit down and dictate a letter. But does this lead to carelessness? You always need to think whether what you’ve said will be clear to the reader – and even whether the email is necessary – before clicking ‘send’

Diana Nadin
Editor