March 5th, 2010

How an 86-year-old Language Tutor stopped the Japanese Bullet Train with her bare hands

It’s true! Last November, 86-year-old multilingual language tutor Mrs. Suki Suzuki Honda Kawasaki of Fukuoka hit the headlines worldwide. She’d achieved something no other person in history had managed to do: bring the Shinkansen Bullet Train in Japan (en route from Tokyo to Osaka at an astonishing 361 miles-per-hour) to a sudden screeching halt after almost ripping the emergency stop cord from its casing.

A Language Tutor on a Mission

As well as permanently deafening hundreds of local birds and other wildlife, Mrs. Kawasaki caused injuries to 226 passengers, including: 78 broken necks, 62 dislocated limbs, 56 cases of whiplash, and a truly horrific eye injury in carriage 16 where a nun’s false teeth flew out and lodged in the eye-socket of popular Yamagata burger bar owner Hirohito ‘that’s one in the eye for McDonald’s’ Nagasaki.

Mrs. Kawasaki’s motive for her actions?

In carriage 11, whilst surfing the Internet on her laptop looking for a well-paid and exciting language tutoring job in London, Mrs. Kawasaki suddenly came across the Appointments Bi-Language website and was astonished by the language tutoring opportunities available there.

Within 36 hours of pulling that emergency cord, Mrs. Kawasaki dramatically appeared outside our London office, enthusiastically smiling, immaculate in a business suit, CV in hand, and waiting eagerly for one of our friendly and dedicated staff members to open up.

Was she hired on the spot?

Not quite. Why? Because determination and enthusiasm is great, but when it comes to hiring language tutors of the highest calibre, Appointments Bi-Language look for more than that from applicants, much more…

A Language Tutor for Just About EVERY Language

Appointments Bi-Language increasingly supplies freelance and permanent language tutors to companies throughout the UK.

We cover over 300 languages including teachers of Mandarin and Korean, to the more obvious European languages.

All our language tutors are experienced, qualified, and to mother-tongue standard, and are only selected for employment after going through a rigorous screening process which includes:

1. Face-to-face interviews

2. Checking of all work-related documents

3. Education qualification checks

4. Reference checks and previous employment verification

First-Class Language Tutors Out There, Get in Touch!

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a language tutor with Appointments Bi-Language, and you are happy to teach small business groups and/or high level individuals seeking to improve their language skills, then please get in touch. Mrs. Kawasaki did, and was successful in her application, but, sadly, she was forced to return to Fukuoka in mid-January after consistently complaining to clients that the London Underground trains were ‘too slow, too slow’.

How did we react to this intolerable behaviour?

We gave her the bullet!

Email address - Candidates

To apply for vacancies, or for further information about appointments -

info@appointmentsbilanguage.co.uk

Email address – Clients

For further information about our services, or to contact us about a vacancy -

james@appointmentsbilanguage.co.uk

Categories: Language Tutors, Multilingual Recruitment

February 16th, 2010

What is a GREAT Bi-Lingual Sales Job? It all depends on how you look at it!

“YOU’RE SACKED, JENKINS. CLEAR YOUR DESK.”

“But, Mr. Graves! I did my best to hit the sales target. Only-”

“I’m not prepared to discuss it, Jenkins. Your performance in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen and Oman was pathetic. You returned from the Middle East without making a single sale, laddie. You’ve brought disgrace on the firm. Now, ON YOUR BIKE, BEFORE I CALL SECURITY!”

Poor Jenkins. He did his best to sell the firm’s new incredibly thirst-quenching fruit gums to the Arabs, but his lack of bi-lingual sales skills only led to confusion, irritation, dismay…

Jenkins takes up the (horrendous) story:

“I arranged three posters in a row. Poster 1 showed a desperate man wandering aimlessly in the desert, almost dying of thirst. Poster 2 showed him eating one of our new thirst-quenching fruit gums. Poster 3 showed him refreshed, revitalised, reborn and ready to continue his journey. My undoing? How was I to know the Arabs read from right to left?”

OOPS.

If only Mr Graves had sent a bi-lingual sales person from Appointments Bi-Language, instead of poor Jenkins. All he had to do was get in touch.

Bi-lingual sales job vacancies to, err, die for

At Appointments Bi-Language we have some of the best English speaking and bi-lingual sales job vacancies in London.

If you want to be very well paid doing a job you love for a great company in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, then Appointments Bi-Language can offer you all that and more.

Take a look at just some of the exciting bi-lingual sales job vacancies we can offer you:

Media Sales Executive with German. BASIC: £18-25,000; £35-40,000 OTE Central London. THE COMPANY – a well-recognised global Publisher.

French Speaking International Television and Film Sales Manager/Account Manager. SALARY £26000-£32000 + commission. LOCATION West End (well known company).

Bilingual Portuguese / English – Mortgage Sales Manager in Banking (Portuguese properties). BASIC: £50,000- £70,000 per annum – Depending on experience, up to £70,000 OTE – (inc. bonus) Generous Pension Contribution + excellent corporate benefits.

Now, do you really need time to chew it over?!

Email address – candidates

To apply for vacancies or for further information about appointments -
info@appointmentsbilanguage.co.uk

Email address – companies

For further information about our services or to talk to us about a vacancy -
james@appointmentsbilanguage.co.uk

Categories: Bi-Lingual Sales Jobs

January 23rd, 2010

Why a Translator with Local Knowledge is TRANSLATION GOLD

Did you know that in Denmark it is considered highly insulting not to eat every morsel of your meal if you are a guest in someone’s house? (Whereas in British culture, to leave a couple of peas on your plate after a hearty Sunday roast is regarded as a compliment to the cook: ‘No, really, Mrs Crimble, that was so filling, so fortifying, SO mouth-watering delicious, I thought I’d better leave some room for your legendary sticky toffee pudding!’).

And are you aware that in Poland to not generously tip a public toilet attendant is the equivalent of tying them to a chair and slapping them about the face hard and repeatedly with a filthy (hasn’t been rinsed out since the 1980 Gdansk riots) mop?

And what about in Spain where to come straight to the point in a business meeting is as unthinkable as wearing a Man United home jersey at the Pamplona running of the bulls.

Where is all this leading? To the best translators in the UK, that’s where: Appointments Bi-Language translators – translators with in-depth local knowledge – top professional translators who offer more than the ability to translate one language to another. Much more…

Translation, translation, translation…
When it comes to adding value to a client’s business, you simply can’t beat local knowledge. That’s why so many companies large and small across London and the whole of the UK, in fact, turn to Appointments Bi-Language first when seeking expert translation from a professional translator – a translator who is not only fluently bi-lingual, or even multi-lingual, but also knows a thing or two about local customs and tradition within the realm of business etiquette, and socially, too.

Translation from professional translators
At Appointments Bi-Language, we can supply translations into or from almost any language and covering a vast range of fields including technical, financial, legal and commercial.

All our translators are fully qualified and referenced – to ensure our credibly as the UK’s No.1 bi-lingual and multi-lingual translation services recruitment agency is maintained.

We also always aim to use a translator who has worked with us before.

Whether you require translation services for direct online website translations, legal correspondence, employment contracts, company newsletters or another type of translation project, we can supply the perfect person for the job.

We can also provide qualified interpreters at short notice.

Fast translation translates to increased business
Appointments Bi-Language has contact details for world-class translators in London always at our fingertips – translators who can provide the quickest translation turnaround times possible and at the most competitive rates.

Now THAT’S local knowledge!

For further information and assistance about our translation services, please e-mail: olga@appointmentsbilanguage.co.uk.

Needs something translated perfectly and FAST? Let us take care of it

Categories: Translation

December 19th, 2009

Why it’s NOT ‘Just a job in Customer Services’

Ring Ring. Ring Ring.

“Hi. Customer services job candidate speaking!”

“Good afternoon. This is Appointments Bi-Language – the recruitment agency that offers bi-lingual and multi-lingual customer service jobs other agencies can only dream of. Are you ready for this?”

“My cheeks are crimson with excitement! I’m champing at the bit!”

“Picture the scene: A call centre in South London. A bullying boss. Demoralised staff. Dodgy equipment. Low pay. No prospects. Call after call after call. Another glance at the clock. 7 hours to go… AAARGH…

 …Now, does that sound like the ideal customer services job to you?”

(Whimpering noises): “No, Ma’am. I think I’m going to be sick. I-”

“Worry not, potential customer services candidate. Take a deep breath. There is another way.”

Fantastic Customer Services jobs through Appointments Bi-Language – that’s better!

Check these jobs out:

JOB TITLE: Bilingual Dutch-English Sales Support Administrator SALARY Up to c £18,000 + performance related bonus

JOB TITLE: French speaking 1st Line Desktop Support Analyst (Help Desk) SALARY £18k + excellent company benefits

And how about this little gem:

JOB TITLE: Client facing banking CASHIER (Arabic essential) SALARY £21,000 pa + excellent banking benefits THE COMPANY: An international bank with a fabulous reputation!

Not bad, eh? We don’t just hand jobs like these out like sweets, though. Oh, no…

Have you got the right attitude? The right manner? THE RIGHT STUFF?!

At Appointments Bi-Language we understand that the anonymity often afforded to customer service staff allows them to be rude to customers when talking on the phone. Staff can basically say what they want because the chances of them actually having to face the human being at the other end of the line are slim.

Now, as much as we’d like to give you a great job with great money working for a great company, any rudeness to customers will be taken very seriously indeed and could quite possibly result in instant dismissal. Also, you are expected to be punctual, committed, eager to learn, and to carry out your duties to the best of your ability at all times.   

That’s not much to ask considering we are offering you the plum jobs in customer services across the UK, is it?

Talk to us about customer services jobs TODAY

If you think that you can meet all the required criteria and will look at a customer services job through Appointments Bi-Language as a golden opportunity, rather than just something to ’tide you over’ until the next round of X-Factor or Britain’s Got Talent auditions, then please get in touch.

We’d LOVE to hear from you.

P.S. And if you are a company seeking to employ excellent customer services staff, please get in touch with James NOW.

Categories: Uncategorized

November 10th, 2009

How to GET HIRED ON THE SPOT (or not!)

Are you an ambitious bi-lingual secretary, administrator, language tutor, translator, or sales person who believes in only working to the very highest standards?

Would you like to work for an award-winning multi-lingual recruitment agency with a portfolio of international clients?

Of course you would! And, thanks to the abundance of exciting employment opportunities AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW through Appointments Bi-Language, you can.

But WAIT. Before we take things further…
Whatever you do, if you really want to work for us, please do NOT ask any of the following 10 questions at an Appointments Bi-Language job interview (all of which were asked at job interviews across the UK over the past year):

  1. “What is it that you people do at this company?”
  2. “Why on earth do you want references?”
  3. “Do you mind if I eat my lunch through this? I’ve had a hell of a morning.”
  4. “Sometimes I feel like smashing things. Is that going to be OK?”
  5. “Can I use your phone to ring my therapist?”
  6. “I know this might seem inappropriate, but will you like to adopt a kitten?”
  7. “Do lots of people here have affairs?”
  8. “Once I’m established at one of your client’s premises, what would happen if I put beer in the water cooler?”
  9. “If I work for you for more than 6 weeks, do I qualify for a loyalty bonus?”

    and (wait for it!):

  10. “Will Appointments Bi-Language pay to relocate my ponies?”

None of the above ‘candidates’ ever approached us for a job. They wouldn’t dare. Why? Because when it comes to finding the right people to fill some of the best multilingual sales, secretarial, tutoring, translation and customer service vacancies in London and beyond, Appointments Bi-Language only interview and accept the cream of the crop.

Is that you?

If so, we want to hear from you.

Get in touch TODAY (before someone else does)
To apply for vacancies or for further information about appointments – get in touch NOW.

Categories: Uncategorized

October 5th, 2009

How to Find the Perfect Bilingual Secretary or Salesperson, Without Even Looking!

Which one of these ancient proverbs captures your imagination the most?

‘No wind, no waves.’

‘Steal a bell with one’s ears covered.’

‘You cannot push a cow’s head down unless it is drinking by its own will.’

‘Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend’s earlobe.’

And (wait for it…)

‘When it comes to finding the right bilingual secretary or salesperson, leave the entire process of advertising for, screening, interviewing and testing candidates to an expert, and end up recruiting the cream of the crop!’

It’s true. There IS another way…

Whether you are an investment bank, management consultants, fashion emporium, publisher or other, when it comes to recruiting staff for your business, nothing’s more exciting than finding the perfect person for the job.

Except maybe this…

Underwater hockey before lunch, anyone?

As well as adding a fantastic new member to your team (be that permanently or temporarily), below are just some of the many other benefits outsourcing your staffing needs to Appointments Bi-Language can bring:

  1. Focus upon other aspects of your business safe in the knowledge that all your recruitment requirements are expertly taken care of.
  2. Save time and money on training through letting us do all the background work for you – providing you with a candidate who is already adequately skilled to meet your needs.
  3. Enjoy easier administration, unbiased advice, media knowledge and added expertise.
  4. Undertake any project which involves a bilingual aspect, with 100 per cent confidence that you have the right personnel in place to perform to the highest standards from project procurement through to completion. And last but not least:
  5. Take advantage of all that freed up time by getting in 18 holes before lunch; finally reading that book about Zen meditation you were given 5 Christmases ago; treating your staff to a team-building game of underwater hockey; or even learning to play Lady Gaga’s complete first album on a candy-apple-red kazoo!

The list is ENDLESS.

Interested? Get in touch with James NOW

P.S. Ahhh, the wisdom of those ancient proverbs… And what about thought-provoking African proverbs? Or beautiful French, Spanish and Latin proverbs? Do mystical Arabian proverbs take your breath away? And do you know any proverbs with a language theme that may teach and inspire others?

If so, please get in touch and share them with us!

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Categories: Multilingual Recruitment

October 5th, 2009

10 Secrets about Translation Services that Every Client MUST Know

If someone sent you a CV on Garfield paper and with a note scrawled on the back which said: ‘Do bins, hoover upstairs and buy choccy HobNobs’, what would you do?

And how would you react in a job interview if the interviewee came out with:

“What is it that you actually do at this company?”

Or:

“Why do you need references?”

Or how about:

“On the last translation job I did, I invited myself to their Christmas do and must’ve snogged the entire senior management! Do you know if this client’s parties are any good?”

Or even:

“I remember during a translation job last summer, my little boy played his trumpet down the phone when a client rang one afternoon! People love all that.”

A professional translator vs. a not-so-professional translator. Is it a fine line?

Appointments Bi-Language are masters at sorting out the truly professional translators from, well, the others. We know the secrets to separating the wheat from the chaff, and now we’re itching to share those secrets with you!

Are you ready for this?

Here we go then:

SECRET ONE: The professional translator has a strong linguistic background which includes formal training, qualifications and actual translation experience. The not-so-professional translator claims to be ‘a natural’ who learned their trade in the ‘school of life’.

SECRET TWO: The professional translator realises the importance of having an appreciation of cultural as well as linguistic knowledge – for their work to be truly accurate. The not-so-professional translator didn’t think of that.

SECRET THREE: The professional translator works at it full-time. The not-so-professional translator does not.

SECRET FOUR: The professional translator is polite and enthusiastic from the moment they first take your call. The not-so-professional translator sounds bored and are ‘doing you a favour’ – when you do eventually get to speak to them.

SECRET FIVE: The professional translator gives you a timeframe for the job and is clear on pricing and terms of delivery. The not-so-professional translator is vague about fees, appears to have no real experience when it comes to negotiating with clients, and is evasive about meeting deadlines.

SECRET SIX: The professional translator asks the appropriate questions and comes across as knowing how the translation service process actually works (from both their and the client’s perspective). The not-so-professional translator gives you an e-mail address to send the file to and regards the job as theirs.

SECRET SEVEN: The professional translator is always contactable during normal office hours. The not-so-professional translator is not.

SECRET EIGHT: The professional translator respects their client’s privacy. The not-so-professional translator reveals confidential information about a recent job they have worked on, thinking it makes them sound impressive.

SECRET NINE: The professional translator has a genuine love of their craft and this comes across in spades. They also have an interest in writing itself and immerse themselves in their projects from start to finish. The not-so-professional translator simply wants you to write them a fat cheque.

SECRET TEN: The professional translator is willing to listen to and learn from criticism. The not-so-professional translator becomes aggressive when confronted with the lacerating truth that the ’service’ they provide translates to nothing more than shoddy work, missed deadlines, and, ultimately, lost contracts for clients who were in a desperate position and so felt they had no option other than to give them a chance.

Need something translated to the very highest standards? Contact us.

Tags: , ,
Categories: Translation