Poor production values and even poorer planning make Job World Literacy seem more like a lost episode of The Twilight Zone than an educational video program. We are initially greeted by an overdriven music track that breaks up repeatedly, and then introduced to "Jack" and "John," two guys who seem to have no relation to one another except that today is their first day on the job. Jack appears to have landed a management position, although he knows nothing about computers, fax machines, or even photocopiers, and is given cursory (at least what's shown on the video) instruction about each. Over the course of his working day, he meets Marge, an efficient secretary who shows him the ropes regarding writing business letters, taking phone messages, and handling invoices and purchase orders. He also meets his boss, Tom, a guy who says "have a good attitude," and appears to have never spent a day in front of a camera before. John, on the other hand, who apparently got a job flipping burgers, learns that "the customer is always right," and that's about it. Wooden acting and absolutely bizarre camera shots make Job World Literacy unintentionally funny, but that's about its only plus. Phonework: On The Job, from the same company, offers much better production values, and a very general, basic introduction to using the telephone for business. The tape covers four areas: basic manners, answering, handling customers, and making business calls; alternating between the hostess and "Gail," "Janice," and "Roberto," the three actors who do the role-playing for various telephone situations. Most of the information is strictly common sense ("be courteous," "use correct grammar," etc.), with some specific suggestions for taking phone messages and handling people "on hold." Thank You For Calling: Effective Telephone Techniques, from Cambridge Career Products, is the best of an undistinguished crop. Opening with a framing device showing employees attending an "Effective Telephone Techniques" seminar, the program covers answering the telephone, taking messages, screening calls and placing callers "on hold," handling irate callers, and techniques for saving time and money while placing business calls. The level of detail is much greater than that offered in Phonework: On The Job, and viewers are likely to pick up some useful tidbits that they can successfully incorporate into their telephone work. One extremely annoying drawback, however, is the use of incredibly tiresome skits. In one skit about proper message taking, viewers are forced to sit and watch while a person places a call and then sits on hold for about a minute (we actually just watch this guy waiting on hold doing nothing). And, in another, intended for humor, the stereotypical secretary does the nail filing and gum chewing bit ad nauseam. Job World Literacy and Phonework: On The Job are not recommended. Thank You For Calling is an optional purchase. (Job World Literacy and Phonework: On The Job are available from: Education Associates, Inc., P.O. Box Y, 8 Crab Orchard Rd., Frankfort, KY 40602.) (Thank You For Calling is available from: Cambridge Career Products, P.O. Box 2153, Charleston, WV 25328; 1-800-468-4227.)
Job World Literacy; Phonework: On The Job; Thank You For Calling: Effective Telephone Techniques
(1991) 20 m. $89. Education Associates, Inc. Public performance rights included. Color cover. Vol. 6, Issue 10
Job World Literacy; Phonework: On The Job; Thank You For Calling: Effective Telephone Techniques
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