ENGL 420: Business Writing

One thing that I have tried to practice, but never really succeeded is company research. Off course, it is easy to know what the company do and what kind of product are they manufacturing. However, when it comes to learning about their current issues or their position on environment, it becomes harder to choose what is important and what is not, which one you can bring up in an interview to impress the employer. I guess this problem I am having boils down to the fact that I never really understand the importance of such researching, aside from just doing what I am told to.

1.I am from Indonesia, a tropical country where it is hot all year long. In fact, my hometown is located right at the equator.
2.I am a junior in Chemical Engineering
3.After gaining some work experience in ChE field, I wish to pursue a graduate degree in business and, then be a full-time housewife and part-time business woman.
4.I hope that at the end of this course, I can speak with confidence with people, maybe future employer or business partner, in professional circumstances.
5.People say I sing very well, I'd like to think I still do, but I do not sing that much anymore.

I was surprised that I was NOT too surprised to learn that communication skill is one of the most vital elements of success for engineer. Probably, the fact that English is not my first language has made me truly appreciate the importance of being able to communicate my thoughts and feelings effectively, which I did find difficult sometimes.

I only started looking for job last semester and it does have a major effect in the way I perceive written communications and their purposes, especially that of an email. Although I had tried to use good English in my emails, I had failed to adjust the tone and style of my writing. That had been largely due to my ignorance of the fact that one of the inevitable purposes of writing was for people to know you, and, eventually, to establish a good relationship. Maybe, like what Professor Ghering said in class, I thought it was anonymous, despite knowing it was not at the back of my head.