陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作。他在餐廳里找到美國同Amy 。

(Office ambience)

A:Hello Chen Hao. How are you?

C:還行。不過,我有點事想征求一下你的意見。

A:What is it?

C:你認識我們辦公室的Sue嗎?

A:I've worked on a couple of projects with her. Why?

C:我告訴你,你可得保密,Sue正在找工作。

A:Why is that a problem?

C:她讓我做她的推薦人。

A:That bothers you?

C:Sue工作不是很靠譜,推薦她,那不等于說瞎話嘛!

A:What did you say when she came to you?

C:我沒直接回答她。我說那份新工作聽上去是個不錯的機會,然后就假稱要開會,逃掉了。

A:I have a couple of suggestions for you.

C:太好了,你快告訴我。我今天一天都躲躲藏藏的,生怕遇到Sue。

A:Let's sit down over there.

******

兩人坐下,邊吃邊聊。

C:Amy,你快說說,我該怎么辦。

A:Sue must have some positive traits or she wouldn't be working here.

C:優(yōu)點肯定是有,不過我得仔細想想。

A:I suggest that you make a list of her strengths.

C:可她的缺點要比優(yōu)點多得多。

A:Try not to focus on her shortcomings, but list them out, too. You can call them areas where she needs to grow.

C:需要改進的地方?那人家給我打電話,了解Sue的情況,我該怎么說呢?

A:You begin by saying that she is a good team player, but could benefit from the opportunity to work independently and grow professionally. That makes you honest.

C:有道理,我就說她很容易相處,但是如果有一個獨立工作,需要精湛技能的機會,將對她有幫助??墒茿my,我怎么才能不去提她的缺點呢?

A:Let the interviewer know that you have worked with Sue on a limited basis so you can only speak about your experience on the team.

C:就說,跟Sue共事機會不多,有些情況沒有發(fā)言權。Amy, 我有個更簡單的辦法,要不我這段時間干脆不接電話了,留言也不回。

A:That's cowardly. Besides it will reflect poorly on you.

C:要這么說,不回電子郵件也行不通了。

A:You have another choice. You can tell Sue that you aren't comfortable in giving references to her because you are afraid of saying the wrong thing.

C:這樣好。我就說自己英語不好,搞不好詞不達意,再說錯了話。

A:It is difficult when a colleague who is not a good worker asks you for a reference.

C:你能在重復一遍,我都有哪些選擇嗎?

A:If you agree to be a reference, rehearse what you plan to say. Don't allow yourself to be drawn into areas where you are not comfortable.