One Man`s Meet is Another Man`s Poison

There are many different sorts of business meeting, and how the participants behave varies from country to country. In France meetings are generally used for briefing and co-ordination rather than discussing alternatives and making decisions. They follow a detailed agenda, and comments are well thought out rather than spontaneous. The same is true at formal meetings in Germany, where you should be well prepared if you wish to express an opinion. In the UK, on the other hand, participants often arrive at meetings unprepared, and papers distributed beforehand will not be read. This does not prevent anyone from expressing an opinion or putting forward a proposal, though. Everyone is expected to contribute their views.

Meetings in Italy seem to be the most informal in Europe. They don`t usually follow an agenda and people often come and go as they please. In fact, sometimes Italian meetings are more like a social gathering, used to reinforce a sense of togetherness.

It`s very different in Spain, where meetings do little to create a team spirit. The Spanish prefer to be independent and make decisions on their own. Meetings are often a waste of time because it is impossible to get everyone to agree.

Unit 3 Changing jobs.

Most companies recruit new staff by advertising in the press. Pages with job advertisements are usually headed “appointments”. They contain descriptions or specifications of the sort of people the advertiser is looking for. Experience (degrees, diplomas, certificates) are obviously important, but experience may count for much more. The aim is to attract a small number of well-qualified applicants, so that it is fairly easy to make a shortlist of the people you actually want to interview. If the advertisement is not specific enough, hundreds of people will send in their applications; but if it demands too much, they may be discouraged from allying at all.

Luis Antonio de Oliveira works for a research institute in Rio de Janeiro. The institute organizes drug trials for pharmaceutical companies. The trials are to test drugs for safety before they come on the market. Luis sees this advertisement in the newspaper.

1. Read the advertisement and answer the questions as quickly as possible.

MARKETING MANAGER (SOUTH AMERICA) for a Leading International Pharmaceutical Company Salary: $80-95,000 + car+ full medical insurance Are you hard-working, ambitious, and dynamic? Do you enjoy challenge? We are looking for a qualified doctor with sales and marketing experience to be responsible for the promotion of our range of antibiotics in South America. The position is based ib Sao Paolo (Brazil). Languages: Portuguese, English, and Spanish Experience: At least three years in medicine + five years in the industry Apply to: Ms Joy Gilbert Personal Department AVRC P.O. Box 2435 London W1AA 6WW

a) What is the job?

b) What is the salary?

c) Where is the job?

d) What is the name of the company?

e) What kind of company is it?

f) What qualities is the company looking for?

2. What other information do you think Luis needs before he decides whether to apply for a job? With a partner, make a list.