Popular courses:
Popular courses:
It’s tough to land a job at the moment. Large parts of the world are slowly edging their way of out of a crippling recession. Many people are graduating from university, only to face a period of unemployment. Let’s assume though that you are one of the lucky ones: your resume was tight, focused and impressive, you nailed the job interview, and you were hired. The struggle doesn’t end here however: it’s vital to make a good first impression on your first day at your new job. The early days are when your boss and co-workers form the most lasting opinions of you – what sort of person you are, and whether they can rely on you. Read on for tips on how to get it right, impress your colleagues and supervisors, and start on the best possible footing.
It seems like a simple principle: don’t spend more than you earn. However, many individuals, companies, and even governments routinely ignore this basic financial rule. The end result is debt, which if allowed to grow too large, can cause enormous problems in the future. One of the best ways to avoid the slippery slope of debt is to create, and stick to, a personal budget.
‘One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.’ Evelyn Waugh, novelist and journalist. In the 19th century in the UK, people, especially in polite society, were often quite reluctant to talk about the human body. It was considered highly embarrassing, for women in particular, to tell the (male) doctor what was wrong with them. Over time, anything below the waist became referred to as the ‘leg’ and in some cases, women who were experiencing complications with their pregnancy could only tell the doctor that they had ‘stomach pain’. As you can imagine, the doctor could give the correct diagnosis with such vague descriptions. Thankfully, attitudes have changed nowadays but this anecdote goes to show that words matter. Or more specifically, the right words matter!
Despite the heavy traffic, high levels of pollution, and rampant corruption, Jakarta is a popular destination for English language teachers. Why? One reason is probably the warm, friendly locals who have a genuine curiosity about foreigners. Expatriates working in Jakarta generally get a lot of attention, mostly involving basic questions: “Where are you from?” or “What do you think of Indonesia?”
It is no surprise to many that English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. When people know more than one language, chances are one of those languages is English. English is more or less the international language of business, and it is a very useful one for people who want to advance in both business or academic fields, and in most any professional manner. It is beneficial to know English for almost every field of work, and some employers even pay for their staff to take English lessons or include it in their job benefits and perks.
Consider this scenario. A HR manager or recruitment agent, tired from a long week at work, sits in a small office with a broken air-conditioning unit. The manager is trying to fill a vacant position in her company. On the desk is a tall pile of resumes. The manager would like nothing more than to finish work and relax for the weekend but she must prepare a shortlist of suitable candidates before she can leave. She turns her attention to the stack. Most of the resumes represent people with similar qualifications and experience. How will she make her decision? Which resumes will stand out from the crowd?
A job interview can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience for anyone. However, spare a thought for Guy Goma. In 2006, Goma went to the BBC Television Centre in West London to interview for a position as a computer technician. After waiting in the reception area, Goma was approached by an employee who asked for ‘Guy Kewney’ and mentioned the word ‘interview’. Mr Goma is originally from the Republic of Congo and is a native French speaker. He heard his first name so stood up and followed the member of staff to the television studio of BBC News 24, where he was put into make-up, wired with a microphone and put in front of the cameras. Goma was perturbed by this unusual job interview but was determined to do his best. However, when the cameras started rolling and he was introduced by BBC reporter Karen Bowerman as computer expert Guy Kewney, he realized something had gone horribly wrong. The real Guy Kewney was waiting in reception, preparing for a live interview on a recent court ruling regarding Apple Computers and the Beatles’ Apple record label. Not wanting to cause a disturbance on live television, Guy Goma did his best to answer the interviewer’s questions. The incident can be viewed on YouTube and despite the look of panic on his face at the beginning demonstrates his coolness under pressure which should have placed him in good stead in the eyes of a potential employer. Unfortunately, however, after his appearance on BBC News, Goma attended his real job interview and was not offered the position.
Consider the famous phrase. ‘It’s not what you know but who you know.’ This idea is considered by many to be the secret to finding and securing a great job and building a successful career. The concept of using our business and social networks to advance our lives and careers is age-old but is increasingly relevant today as the business environment is increasingly dominated by information technology which offers new networking tools.
London City Institute is a premier English language training provider in Jakarta specialiing in business English, London City Institute offers in-company custom made courses to suit your company's individual needs.
"After trying several language institutions to improve my English, I was very surprised at the speed my English progressed with London City Institute. I think the thing that helped me most was looking forward to my next lesson. London City Institute gave me the motivation to learn that other institutes could not provide."
Haryo Fazui
"I really enjoyed my business course with London City Institute, all the staff were very professional and the teachers were excellent. I have already recommended London City Institute to my friends and cannot speak highly enough of the service and quality of the institute."
Yossie Lebang
"My course at London City Institute really gave me a new understanding of how grammar is used in real world situations. I have learned grammar from many other language institutes, but I never really understood how to relate it to my work, which is the reason I'm learning English. With London City Institute we had lots of practice and now I'm confident using English with my international clients. Thanks London City Institute!"
Budi Kadarusman
Communicate with confidence Qualified, certified, attentive local and native teachers
Cutting edge and innovative learning materials
Continuous feedback on individual's progress
English speaking environment
Flexible schedules
Enjoyable classes
Online forum to promote autonomous learning