ESL Podcast 856 - Training Salespeople
consultant - a person who is hired to complete a specific project or provide a specific service for a defined period of time
The company hired a consultant to determine which types of computers and printers to buy.
sales - the process and technique used in encouraging customers to buy the goods and services a company is selling
People who work in sales need to have great communications skills.
training - a formal effort to improve participants' skills, knowledge, or abilities in a specific area
Our employer pays for a lot of computer training for employees.
complaint - a statement that something did not meet one's expectations or standards; a statement that something was not as good as it should have been
If the unfair treatment doesn't stop soon, Jessie is going to file a complaint with the human resources department.
customer satisfaction - a measure of how pleased or displeased customers are with their experience interacting with a company and its products and services
Please fill out the enclosed customer satisfaction survey about your experience buying a camera in our store.
to retain - to keep someone or something, not letting him/her/it leave or get away
It's more cost-effective to focus on retaining current employees than hiring a lot of new employees.
to interact - to have some communication or an exchange with another person
How many co-workers do you interact with on a normal day?
to represent - to be part of some group or organization and have one's words and actions be perceived as relating to that group or organization
If you wear your uniform, you're representing the U.S. Army, even during the hours you're not working.
from the get-go - from the very beginning; from the first moment
She didn't like him from the get-go and nothing he did changed her opinion.
to greet - to say hello to someone and make him or her feel welcome
When I go into a store, I expect to be greeted within the first few seconds.
rude - impolite; treating people in a way that may be offensive, annoying, mean, or discourteous
In most situations, it is rude to ask a woman how old she is or how much she weighs.
back - in return; in response; doing the same thing to a person that he or she just did to oneself
If I had seen you wave, I would have waved back.
attentive - paying attention; giving one's full attention to something
Psychologists can learn a lot about their patients by being attentive to body language.
to meet (one's) needs - to fulfill one's needs; to produce or do what another person needs or expects
Does this set of luggage meet your needs, or do you need suitcases that are larger?
to wander around - to walk slowly through and around an area without a clear purpose
Why are all these students wandering around the halls? Shouldn't they be in class?
to define - to clarify; to correctly identify something; to describe something in detail
Real estate agents are trained to help buyers define what they are looking for in a new home.
commission - a fixed amount of money or a percentage of each sale that is given to the salesperson as a way for the company to encourage more sales
Quentin works on commission, so during a month when he makes a lot of sales, he does very well, but during slower months he barely has enough money to pay his rent.
to hold (one's) hand - to guide and help someone through every step of a process, providing detailed instruction, reassurance, and/or encouragement
A mentor will provide information and support, but he won't hold your hand through every step of opening your own business.