Business people constantly use business cards to quickly exchange contact information with business partners and clients. To make a good impression, great attention is paid not only to the completeness of the data presented on the business card, but also to the overall design.
Even a business completely concentrated in Russia may involve regular or occasional communication with foreign partners, and some companies are even focused mainly on importing their products or services abroad. In such cases, business cards in English, which has long had the status of a generally accepted international language, will be indispensable.
Sometimes the English version of the contact information is located on the back of the business card, but this practice can be very inconvenient for the recipient, because in this case he will not be able to use this space for notes, for example. Since ease of use by the recipient is one of the main requirements for a good business card, it is better to avoid this practice. The best option is to immediately order business cards in both Russian and English. This will not only increase the efficiency of work contacts, but also demonstrate a good knowledge of business etiquette.
Data in English is as easy as making regular business cards. Printing specialists can either create a completely unique design for a business card or offer several ready-made templates into which you only need to insert your own data.
The general set of information that must be present on a business card with international status is not much different from a standard Russian-language card. As a rule, the owner's name, contact information, position and organization that he represents must be indicated. Sometimes, in addition to this block, the company’s activities or a list of main services may also be indicated.
However, the English text will also have some differences from the Russian one. For example, in most English-speaking countries there is no such thing as a middle name, so it is best not to include it on a business card. Alternatively, the middle name can be abbreviated to one letter (for example, “A.”) between the first and last names. Also, do not forget that in classical English the first name is indicated first, and then the surname.
If the name of the organization that the owner of the business card represents contains surnames with initials, then in the English version it is better to omit the initials (for example, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University is best designated as “Lomonosov Moscow State University”).
Trying to literally translate addresses into English is also not worth it. It is best to indicate transliterated designations, that is, Russian words translated into English characters that sound as close as possible (for example, “Tverskaya street”). Following these simple rules will make it easier and more convenient for a non-Russian speaking recipient to understand a business card.
Business people without business cards are like without hands. A business card not only saves time when exchanging contact information, but also forms a certain impression about you among your business partner. The first impression is undoubtedly the most important, so it is worth paying due attention to the creation of a business card.
If your business is international in nature, then the correct design of a business card is doubly important for you. The generally accepted international language is English, and business cards in English, samples of which you can see on our website, will be very useful at a meeting with foreign partners. You can place English-language information on the back of your regular business card, but then it will be difficult for your partners to make any additional notes. It would be much more forward-thinking to make a separate set in international English, besides, in this way you will demonstrate your knowledge of business etiquette.
Business card in English: example, varieties and features
A sample business card in English can be easily found on the Internet, but template options are usually presented there. If you want to make yourself a unique business card, then you need to know a number of rules that you should adhere to.
A business card in English, in principle, assumes the presence of the same information as a regular one: personal data, maximum contact information, name of the organization, position and, if necessary, a list of services provided by your organization. But how to write all this correctly in English?
- Foreigners, as a rule, do not have the concept of “patronymic”, therefore, in order not to get into trouble, it is better to write only the surname and first name in the following order: first name then surname, or designate the patronymic with one letter and place it between the first and surname. For example, Petrov Ivan Sergeevich in the English version should look like this: Ivan S. Petrov.
- If the name of the organization contains surnames with initials, for example, “Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov,” then in the English version only the surname will remain, and the name of the organization should be written this way: “Lomonosov Moscow State University.”
- Addresses are not translated from Russian, so that a foreigner can read the address in English, but it sounds in Russian. For example, Tverskaya street in an English business card should be written like this: Tverskaya street.
If you adhere to the above recommendations, then the design of the English business card will be correct, and foreign partners will have a favorable opinion of you.
How to translate a business card into English
Now a business card is a necessary thing for people of many professions: businessmen, journalists, managers, etc. But those employees who often encounter foreigners also need business cards in English, since not all professionals working and visiting here speak Russian.How to translate a business cardto English language?
1. Create a sample of a Russian-language business card, select the paper, font and format of your card.
2. If the organizations you contacted do not provide translation services, find one yourself, contact any translation agency or translate yourself.
3. It’s better to translate the text yourself. To do this, knowledge of business vocabulary in English is sufficient.
First, write down your first and last name correctly in English letters. The middle name can be omitted as it is not used in English-speaking countries. For transliteration, use special sites, for example, Translit.ru or simply copy the name from your passport.
4. Transfer your position. This shouldn't be a problem if you use a modern Russian-English dictionary. If the job title consists of several words and you are not sure of the adequacy of your translation, use search engines.
The company name can also be written using transliteration. The address of the organization must be indicated as it is done in English-speaking countries - first the house and office number, then the street, city, postal code and country. The telephone number must be indicated with the country and city code so that you can call from another state.
To facilitate translation, you can use the following transliteration tables.
ReadinformationOtransliterations
Read the information about the transliteration given below
Table 1. Russian-English transliteration table
| Russian | English |
| Ahh | A a |
| BB | B b |
| Vv | V v |
| GG | G g |
| Dd | D d |
| Her | Ye ye, E e (*) |
| LJ | Zhzh |
| Zz | Z z |
| Ii | I i |
| Yikes | Y y |
| Kk | K k |
| Ll | L l |
| Mm | Mm |
| Nn | Nn |
| Ooh | O o |
| pp | P p |
| RR | R r |
| Ss | Ss |
| Tt | T t |
| Ooh | U u |
| Ff | F f |
| Xx | Khkh |
| Tsts | Tsts |
| Hh | Chch |
| Shh | Shsh |
| Shch | Shchshch |
| ъ | " |
| s | y |
| b | " |
| Uh uh | Ee |
| Yuyu | Yuyu |
| I I | Yaya |
* Russian “e” is transliterated as “ye” in initial position, after a vowel, й, ъ or ь; and as "e" in all other cases.
Table 2. Transliteration table of Russian endings
| Russian | English |
| th | iy |
| Ouch | oh |
| her | eye |
| oh | oye |
| and I | aya |
| yaya | yaya |
| and I | iya |
| no | iye |
| s | yye |
Practical work No. 3
Subject:Resumeis a Form of the Business English.
Summaryas a form of business English
1. Read information about how to write a resume.
2. Learn basic words and expressions on the topic.
3. Learn the rules for writing and formatting a resume.
4. Translate texts on the topic with a dictionary.
5. Write a resume in English.
Read the information in Russian how to make up the resume:
In most cases, when applying for a job, you must submit a resume (information about education and professional experience), which is written according to a specific plan.
The resume is written on A4 paper and should be written clearly and clearly so that the person reading it can get comprehensive information about you and your professional experience.
Resume Writing Plan
At the beginning of the page, indicate your first and last name, full postal address, telephone number, fax number and email address.
At intervals of one line, write the goal (Objective) - the position for which you are applying.
The following is information about your professional experience (Work Experience). First, the last place and position you held is indicated, and then information about all positions is reported. in reverse order to the very first one with which you started your professional position. This usually lists achievements that have been achieved, as well as incentives or promotions. It is also necessary to mention publications here, if any.
Then information about education is reported, which is also written in reverse order.
The next paragraph indicates the additional skills you have (Additional Skills), as well as your range of interests (Interests).
In your resume The pronoun “I” is not used. Instead of the sentences “I did the work”, “I completed the courses”, etc., impersonal sentences are written « did the project, accomplished the job”, etc.
IN first point Work Experience verbs are used in tense Present Indefinite ; in the remaining paragraphs of this section Past – Indefinite .
The resume should not exceed one page.
Sample
Name: Torbeeva Olga Aleksandrovna
Address: Apt. 28, 9 Roterta Street Moscow 129347 Russian Federation
Tel.: +7 499 1823767
Email:[email protected]
Place of birth: Moscow
Marital Status: Single
Nationality: Russian Federation
Education
2005 – present Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Engineering Business and Management Faculty Bachelor’s degree
2001-2005 Lyceum of Information Technologies 1537 School-leaving certificate
Professional Experience
July 2008 Kamov Company – a month summer internship Assistant in the Finance Department:
responsible for the workflow involving accounting software 1C;
interaction with company departments.
Computer skills
Microsoft Office, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, MS Project;
Law and accounting software Consultant-1-, Garant, 1C;
Basic, Visual Basic, programming algorithms, HTML code;
MathCAD, AutoCAD, Photoshop CS, etc.
Language Proficiency
Russian Language – Native;
English Language –Upper-Intermediate Level, First Certificate in English Grade A
Awards
Gold medal for excellent grades at the Lyceum of Information Technologies No. 1537;
Hobbies
Skiing, swimming, classical literature, watching football, etc.
Create your resume as planned: Fill in the Form of the resume
RESUME
Place of birth:
Professional Experience:
Computer skills:
Language Proficiency:
Vocabulary: marital status, hobbies, Language Proficiency, awards, age, computer skills, professional experience, education, address, excellent grades, interaction, gold medal, internship, assistant, State Technical University
Unit 2
Cover(ing) Letter
PracticalJob №4
Subject 4:
Cover(ing) Letter is a Form of the Business letters
Cover letter as a form of business correspondence
Assignments for practical and independent work:
1. Read the rules for creating and formatting a cover letter.
2. Learn the basic cliches used in business correspondence.
3. Write a cover letter in English and format it according to the basic rules and principles of business correspondence in English.
Learn the information about the covering letter and make up your own:
Covering letter (cover(ing) letter) - This is an employment request that communicates the motivation and professional suitability of the applicant for a vacancy.
When composing a business letter, the vocabulary of the official literary style is used. It communicates the knowledge, experience, qualifications, skills and characteristics of the applicant. A cover letter introduces and outlines a resume in English, making the application more personal.
To receive an invitation to an interview, you need to show all your strengths as effectively as possible. There is no need to be too modest or boast (which can have the opposite effect). You must try to look at things from the point of view of your potential employer, communicate what you can do for him, and not what he can do for you. The cover letter is somewhat personal, replete with the pronoun I (I). There is no need to avoid it by replacing it with the present writer, the undersigned, etc.
Your letter should express your confidence without appearing boastful or conceited.
A properly written cover letter takes into account the interests of the employer, not the applicant. Letters addressed to a specific person with a first and last name win: this will indicate your initiative and that you have taken the trouble to learn something about the company.
The letter should not be addressed to the president or general director of the corporation, but specifically to the person for whom you are going to work.
You should know that it is unnecessary and unpleasant for a potential employer to learn from a letter about some of your troubles in the family, an unhappy childhood, unsatisfied ambitions, disagreements with previous management and idle hobbies (if they are not directly related to work).
The cover letter includes the following letter facts:
personal: first name, last name, age, education, skills, qualifications;
length of service: previous places of work;
recommendations.
If for some reason you do not meet the employer's requirements, admit it honestly and directly, especially if you have complementary qualities.
When describing the length of service, it is advisable to indicate the reasons for dismissal.
Read the example of the covering letter in English and its translation too:
Example of a cover letter in English with translation:
| Dear Sirs, Assistant Position I would be glad if you consider how far my qualifications (set on the attached resume) meet your job requirements. It has been my ambition, ever since I was at school, to become a member of a publishing firm, and, if successful in getting this position, I would do my best to give loyal and enthusiastic service. I can come for a job interview any time. Yours faithfully, Tom Davidson | Dear Sirs! Since my school years, I have strived to become a publishing worker, and if you hire me as an assistant, I will do everything in my power to carry out this work professionally and competently. I am ready to come for an interview at any time you suggest. Best regards – Tom Davidson |
Sometimes the use of a diplomatic method defeats its own purpose, as in the case of the old fellow who was enthusiastic in praise of the busy lawyer from whose office he had just come, after a purely social call.
"That feller, for a busy man," he declared earnestly, "is one of the pleasantest chaps I ever did meet. Why, I dropped in on him jest to pass the time o" day this mornin", an" I hadn't" t been chattin" with "immore"n five minutes before he"d told me three times to come and see "imagin."
The customer came to the designer and said:
“My name is Kapiton Akakievich Kefronov, I work as a kefir taster, I have a doctorate in science. I’m planning to go freelance. I want to order business cards for myself, because there are a lot of potential clients in our country. There’s just no end to it. Everyone invites me to tastings. I want business cards in English and Russian language Foreigners often invite me.
My office is located at: 01001, Kiev, Khreshchatyk street, 26.
My phones: office - 255-43-43, mobile - 0-67 346-77-33,
my ICQ: 356279,
my skype: Kefirnem,
my mail: [email protected],
Website: www.kefircik.com."
After thinking and adhering to all the basic rules, the miracle designer made wonderful business cards in Russian and English. There’s no shame in coming to tastings with these business cards, there’s no shame in looking people in the eye, and there’s no shame in handing them out.
So, how was the designer able to achieve such perfection, what rules did he follow? He couldn't know everything himself!
Of course not, here it is
General provisions.
- To select a font, I suggest using system fonts such as: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, the use of which practically guarantees the accuracy of the business card. Font size may vary. For example, to write your first and last name, you can choose a slightly larger size than for writing your position and contacts.
- You cannot write entire words and sentences in CAPITAL LETTERS, both in headings and in the rest of the text. Capital letters are created only to indicate the beginning of a sentence, to indicate proper names (Nastya, Nikolai Petrovich, Shurik) and for abbreviations (for example, KGB).
- In Russian texts, translations of English terms should be used. For example: internet - Internet; E-mail - electronic mail; Mbps - Mbit/s; Kbyte, Mbyte, etc. - Kbyte, MB, etc., but it is quite acceptable to use Skype, ICQ because these words in Russian transcription will frustrate the reader.
- Spaces are not placed before punctuation marks, closing parentheses, or quotation marks. They are placed after them. There are no spaces after opening brackets or quotation marks. They are placed in front of them. A dash looks longer than a hyphen and, unlike a hyphen, is separated by spaces on both sides.
- A colon replaces the phrase “namely” and is used before a listing. A dash replaces the word “this”. When listing, you should separate items with a semicolon.
- After contractions there is a period. For example: comrade, UAH. etc. There is no dot after the abbreviations of weights and measures: g, kg, m, km, etc. There is a space after the comma.
- Information that is enough for a piece of paper to be called a business card:
First and last name, specialization, titles, contacts. When making corporate business cards, there is usually a logo. But, if you personally don’t have a logo, it’s better not to insert any pictures at all. Leave the lines, vignettes, pictures, backgrounds to the shitty designers. Normal guys won't put such bullshit on a business card.
- Each line of contacts is written with a small letter. There is also no need to put semicolons at the end of lines, just like just periods or commas. The end of the line itself in this case acts as a punctuation mark.
- The designations “site” or “e-mail” can be omitted, since the presence of “@” and “www” identifies the mail and site instantly, which cannot be said about the phone number and ICQ number, for example.
- A business card must contain fields. The technological function of margins is to provide safe tolerance when cutting printed products. On average, you can leave about 5 mm of indentation from the text on all sides, but this will not affect other graphic elements, which may protrude beyond the business card “bleed” by 2-3 millimeters.
- In company names consisting of many words, only the first word of the name is written with a capital letter, the remaining words are written in accordance with the rules of the Russian language. For example: Institute of Foreign Languages, Ukrneftprom.
- If the name of the company is preceded by the name of the form of organization (OJSC, company, etc.), then the name should be enclosed in quotation marks. In this case, only the name of the form of organization is declined. For example: CJSC “International Fund for the Support of Mexican Refugees” gave one buritos to each Ukrainian. Otherwise, you can do without the quotes. In this case, all words of the name are declined. For example: This month there has not been a single break in the Bubble Blowers Association.
Name block.
Proper names are written in the following format: Alexander Anatolievich Krygin, A. B. Korolev, Grigory Ivanov, Alina Navrotskaya. First name, then surname. The position is written under “full name” or to the right of the last name. The job title begins with a capital letter, but does not end with a period. The font of the post should be smaller or lighter. Scientists, military and other ranks/degrees are written immediately below the position, on a new line, in absolutely the same font. When designing corporate business cards, it is imperative to allocate enough space to display the longest middle name or surname, for example, Alexandra Vladislavovna Kostyushko-Podpolyanichenskaya. It is not allowed to type initials on different lines (incorrectly “A. || S. Pushkin”), initials and surnames (incorrectly “N.V. || Gogol”). Although transferring a surname when typing is generally allowed (you can “I.S. Tur-||genev...”), this cannot be done when writing business cards. You can stick to the “European” model and omit the middle name.
In the English version, the middle name is not indicated. You should not engage in amateur activities and translate the client’s first and last name into English. Ask its owner, for example, to provide you with a photocopy of your passport. The title and degree should also be checked with the owner. For example, a Doctor of Science is registered as a PH.D. - Philosophy Doctor, but Doctor House has an M.D. degree. - Medicine Doctor.
Contact block.
Address
The format for recording the address is as follows: recipient's name, company name (if it is a business address), street and house number, apartment or office number (if any), city, country and zip code. All elements of the address are separated by commas. Postal code and country name are optional on Russian-language business cards. The name of the city on the business card may be absent only in large metropolitan areas, subject to the obligatory condition that the telephone numbers will contain the city code. If the address does not fit on one line, it is advisable to place it on several lines, while commas are still placed at the end of the lines.Writing examples:
st. Khreshchatyk, 26/30, office 3, Kiev, Ukraine, 01001
st. Khreshchatyk, 26b, office 15, floor 3, Kiev
st. Khreshchatyk, 26a, office 15, fl. 3, Kiev, Ukraine, 01001
In the English version, all address attributes are written in the same order as in the Russian version. The country and major cities are translated into English. language: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kiev. Street names and abbreviations are written either in Latin transliteration or translation is allowed: st. - str., sq. - apt., because everything on the envelope after the name of the country is read by our postmen.
Writing examples:
ul. Kreschatik, dom 26/30, office 3, Kiev, Ukraine, 01001
Kreschatik str., 26b, apt. 15, floor 3, Kiev, 01001
Phones
The usual order of telephone numbers is: work, general/multi-line, fax, mobile, home. If two or more phone numbers are on the same line, separate them with a comma. It is worth remembering that hyphens in telephone numbers can be safely replaced with spaces.On October 14, 2009, Ukraine switched to the European telephone numbering system; the procedure for dialing long-distance and international telephone numbers is changing. With the introduction of new rules, there is only one logically correct form of notation left: (+38) 0-YY XXX-XX-XX, Where YY— city code or operator code.
And so let’s look at the options for writing mobile and landline numbers. The city code "YY" with the index "0" are connected by a hyphen, as a part necessary for access to the intercity, and for the same reasons it is separated by spaces from the telephone number itself.
Golden Rule. Only that part of the number that can be omitted when dialing should be placed in brackets.
Format for writing landline numbers. We call, for example, a home phone.
The number is dialed from mobile phones from abroad: +38 0-44 ХХХ-ХХ-ХХWriting example:
+38 0-44 222-22-22
+380 44 222-22-22
The number is dialed from landline phones within Ukraine: 0-44 ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ
Writing example:
0-44 222-22-22
(+38) 0-44 222-22-22 (the part in parentheses can be omitted when calling)
The number is dialed from landlines within the city: ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ
Writing example:
222-22-22
(+380 44) 222-22-22
(+38 0-44) 222-22-22 (the part in brackets can be omitted when calling)
Format for writing mobile numbers. We call a mobile phone, for example, to a friend.
The number is dialed from mobile phones within Ukraine: 0-67-ХХХ-ХХ-ХХWriting example:
0-67-222-22-22
(+38) 0-67 ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ (the part in brackets can be omitted when calling)
*In this case, it is quite possible to write this type 067 222-22-22, but without parentheses.
The number can be dialed from mobile and landline phones throughout the world:
+38 0-ХХ ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ
Writing example:
+38 0-67 222-22-22
Part of virtual contacts.
Phone numbers are followed by: ICQ number, Skype, twitter, email address, website. The domain name is written in lowercase letters only, without underscores. Indicating the type of protocol in the Internet address on a business card is impractical. Instead of "http://" we write "site". In Russian we write: “electronic mail”, not e-mail, and then follows the email address. Skype, ICQ are not translated. The designations “website” or “email” can be omitted, since the presence of @ and www instantly identifies the mail and site. ***
Whether to make a double-sided business card or print them separately is your personal psycho-sexual problem. But, there are opinions that double-sided business cards are bad manners because:
- you're a redneck, because printing on two sides is usually done to save money.
- foreigners will not be able to find the Latin alphabet on the other side and will spend a long time sticking to the side with the Cyrillic alphabet.
- you need to leave a free side for notes.
- you are not a redneck at all, but an excellent business partner, because you know the value of money.
- if a person is a foreigner, this does not mean that he is an aborigine; any civilized person will be able to notice that a business card has two sides.
- Notes need to be written in a diary, but an ideal business card already has everything you need.
