- •1)The definition and purposes of business letters
- •2) Strategies used in business correspondence
- •3) Why is it important to analyze the audience you are writing to?
- •4) The main types of business letters and their description.
- •5) Business letter components and their characteristics
- •6) What are the formats of business letters? What are the differences between them?
- •7) What are the main rules for successful business letter writing? Characterize each of them.
- •8) What are seven c’s that you should follow?
- •9) What is memo? What differs a memo from a business letter?
- •10) The format guidelines for memos and the types of memos?
- •11) The sales letter and its job?
- •16) The resume and two basic resume designs
- •17) The sections of a resume and their characteristics
- •18) Why do we need letters of recommendation?
- •19) What’s the role of a cover letter? What are the principles for writing a successful Cover letter?
- •20) What are the sections in a successful cover letter?
- •21) What shouldn’t you say explaining why you left the left the previous positions? How to explain why you are applying for the position?
- •22) Letters of inquiry and their types
- •24) Replies to inquiry and their contents
- •25) What should be mentioned in quotations?
- •26) Types of discounts
- •27) Main incoterms describe them
- •28) Offers, their types and parts
- •29) Counter-proposals. What terms might you not agree to?
- •30) Orders and their types and contents
- •31) What is an order usually accompanied by?
- •32) The reason for refusing an order
- •33) What is a complaint, its objective and scope?
- •34) The rules for writing complaints
- •35) What may complaints arise from?
- •36) What are the parts of complaints? Characterize them.
- •37) Adjustment letters and the rules for writing adjustments
- •38) The parts of adjustment
- •39) Reasons for rejecting complaints
21) What shouldn’t you say explaining why you left the left the previous positions? How to explain why you are applying for the position?
If you have had more than one job, you could explain why you left each position. But you should never use explanations such as leaving for more money, better fringe benefits, advantages besides salary, e.g. better pension, health scheme, social facilities, car, or conditions. You should also not state you were bored with the work you were doing, after all, you accepted the job; and never criticize the firm you worked for, the products or services they offered, or staff you worked with.
All companies will want to know why you applying for a particular position. This not only means explaining why you want the job but why you think your particular skills and experience would be valuable to the firm. You should say:
I’m interested in the position you offer as I know my previous experience and academic background would be valuable in this area.
I’m sure I would be successful in this position as I have now gained the experience and skills
22) Letters of inquiry and their types
A letter of inquiry is a letter of request. An inquiry is sent when a person wants advice, names, directions or some information, especially about:
the supply of goods
catalogues or samples
a quotation or prices
terms and discounts
availability of goods
delivery times and deadlines
a method of transport
insurance
An inquiry letter should be addressed to a specific person whenever possible. The objective in an inquiry letter is communicated by one or more questions to which the writer desires a response. The scope of an inquiry letter is contained in the information you provide for the specific purpose of helping the reader grasp your objective.
There are two types of inquiry letters: solicited and unsolicited.
solicited letter of inquiry when a business or agency advertises its products or services.
unsolicited if the recipient has done nothing to prompt your inquiry.
23) What are the parts of inquiry letter?
Opening lines
If a prospective customer addresses a supplier for the first time, it is useful to tell something about his / her own business, the kind of goods he / she needs and for what purpose they are required. A first inquiry sent to a supplier normally includes the following:
Indicating the state of the market
In this part of an inquiry you should indicate the demand in your area for the goods which the supplier produces. You may use the following formulas:
Asking for information
Asking for catalogues, price-lists, prospectuses
Asking for details
Asking for samples, patterns, demonstrations
Suggesting terms, methods of payment, discounts
Asking for goods on approval or on sale or return
Closing sentences
Usually a simple 'thank you' is sufficient to close an enquiry. However, you could mention that a prompt reply would be appreciated, or as the examples show, that certain terms or guarantees would be necessary.
You can also express a hope for the further successful cooperation, other lines you would be interested in if you think they could be supplied. If a supplier thinks that you may become a regular customer, rather than someone who has placed the odd order, he would be more inclined to quote competitive terms and offer concessions.