Fee Training Week Workbook SPEAK FRAMEWORK ProsperoUs English | English Communication | October 2023 ProsperoUs English – English Communication Vocabulary Day 1 Session Term Synonym Meaning Job Description Job Specification (Job Spec), Terms of Reference (TOR), Job Profile A document describing responsibilities and requirements for the job. Example Business Analyst London - Reed.co.uk C-suit Executive–level managers e.g. CEO, COO, CFO Stakeholders Influential individuals in the company. Managers and executives who have an impact on the company’s decisions somehow. Seamless operations Things run smoothly Things work/operate smoothly. Hone skills Develop skills Master skills improve skills to a high level. Leveraging my skills Take advantage of your skills to bring results. To use something (skills) to the greatest advantage. Proficiency or being proficient in something Excel in something You are proficient at something when you master that skill or task to a high level. Fast-paced environment Fast-moving, busy working environment A very dynamic and busy workplace Let’s get the ball rolling. Let’s begin, Let’s kick it off. To start something like a project or a meeting discrepancies Inconsistency, disparity Information is not consistent with another piece of information PAGE 1 ProsperoUs English – English Communication List of skills Organisational Skills You manage your time and tasks effectively. Ability to work under pressure You can work in stressful situations and on short deadlines. Effective communicator! You can communicate messages in a way that is well-understood. and structured. Attention to detail You can pick up on small details. Proactive You take action without being asked to do so. In other words, you take initiative. Problem-solving skills You have a logical approach to problems and come up with practical solutions. PAGE 2 ProsperoUs English – English Communication Clear speech (Structure, strategy, stress, pronunciation) It’s not ‘what’ you say, it’s HOW you say it! Concise (less is more, keep it simple) Communication Relevant Information (meets needs of the audience) Use of Voice (tone, intonation, stress) PAGE 3 ProsperoUs English – English Communication “Tell me about yourself” Question at the Interview PREPARE/RESEARCH Study job specification/job description. What does this particular job involve? What skills are needed? Are there any specific technical requirements? Highlight with a pen all the skills and requirements you identified. On your CV, highlight your strengths, skills and technical abilities that match the job requirements and the company values. Pick two or three skills, and for each skill, list examples of tasks or your achievements that show these skills off. Don’t just say, “I am ambitious” or “I have good attention to detail” without giving examples. (number one communication mistake) For example, “I have good attention to detail, which I developed in my current role where I am required to analyse data. I often spot discrepancies and act upon it” Think of achievements or projects you completed that relate to the job you are applying for. Explain your current situation and why you seek a new opportunity. How will this role and company help you achieve your future goals? TIP 1. Always tailor your answer to the role and (Job Spec) the company (company values). TIP 2. Be brief but informative, and keep your answer work-related. TIP 3. Is there a requirement for leadership skills? Talk about your experiences of leading (no matter how small!), how it went, and what you learned. You can still show your leadership skills even if you don’t manage people directly. For example, maybe you work with a junior member of a team, and you helped in their professional development. Were they relying on you at all? PAGE 4 ProsperoUs English – English Communication How to answer the “Tell us about you” question at the interview – EXAMPLES. This question can also be worded in other ways, such as: “Take us through your CV”. Beginner Level example answer. I currently work at [Company’s name] as a [job title]. The reason I applied for this job is I saw [enter what interested you the most] in the job description, and I strongly believe I would be able to help [specify what you will be able to help with] and [example 2]. One of my key accomplishments in my current role was helping my employer with [specify the task/project], and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here. Completed example for Data Analyst job. I currently work at Chubb as a Data Analyst. The reason I applied for this job is I saw that you needed someone to streamline your data collection processes. I strongly believe I would be able to help you review where your current processes fall short and implement more robust systems. One of my key accomplishments in my current role was helping my employer with a company-wide data project where I managed to automate how we collect the Data from our Third Parties. I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here. PAGE 5 ProsperoUs English – English Communication Here is another more advanced example where you back up what you say with examples. This is a very powerful way of showing off your experience in a structured way. I am Monika, and I have six years of experience working as an executive assistant in Financial Services, providing comprehensive support to highlevel executives (C-suit executives). In my last role, I developed strong organisational skills that helped ensure seamless operations and effective communication across the company. During my six years, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to handle tasks under pressure and on short deadlines as I worked in a fast-paced environment. For example, in one of my roles, I stepped in to support my team with a project on a short deadline, ensuring all administrative tasks and planning were done precisely and in a timely manner. I proved I thrive in a dynamic environment and, despite pressure, can deliver the task to the highest quality. In the future, I would like to develop my skills further, and this job opening seems like an excellent opportunity to utilise what I already know and develop my skills on a bigger international scale. PAGE 6 ProsperoUs English – English Communication Present, Past and Future (PPF) Strategy. [Present] "I currently work in [Your Current Role] at [Your Current Company], where I have honed my communication and organisational skills. I support [describe your current responsibilities, e.g., executives, teams, or projects], which has allowed me to develop attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving skills. I have also extensively used Microsoft Office tools to streamline processes and improve efficiency." [Past] "Prior to my current position, I worked at [Previous Company] as a [Your Previous Role], where I gained valuable experience in [mention relevant tasks or responsibilities that demonstrate your skills]. This experience taught me the importance of precision, adaptability, and the ability to handle highstress situations, which I believe are essential qualities for an executive assistant in the financial services industry." [Future] "Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to the role of an executive assistant. I plan to continue enhancing my communication and organisational skills to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. I am committed to proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and leveraging my strong Microsoft Office skills to contribute to the efficiency and success of the team I'll be supporting." This example combines your present skills and experience with past achievements and future goals, aligning them with the specific requirements of the executive assistant job in financial services. It provides a well-rounded answer that showcases your suitability for the position. Remember to customise it further with specific examples from your career during the interview. PAGE 7 ProsperoUs English – English Communication Challenge 1. 1. Find a job opening online in your profession/industry. You can utilise the below link for jobs in English. Jobs and Recruitment on reed.co.uk, the UK's #1 job site 2. Highlight the skills required for the job on the Job Specification. 3. Review your CV and highlight which jobs, tasks, and projects you can use as examples of the required skills. 4. Use one of the templates to create your answer to the question. 5. Post it in our Facebook Group. PAGE 8