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离职谈话有意义吗(下)
- Authors
关键是，这样做的结果难以预料。公司可能会拒绝给你写推荐信，或者故意把你股票期权和养老金计划的相关文书工作变得复杂。
双语精读
The bottom line is, you never know. You can be denied a reference or unnecessarily complicate the paperwork related to your stock options and pension plan. Or you could miss a chance to turn a former employer into a client.
关键是，这样做的结果难以预料。公司可能会拒绝给你写推荐信，或者故意把你股票期权和养老金计划的相关文书工作变得复杂。你还可能会失去把前雇主变成客户的机会。
Your columnist, a guest Bartleby, has no immediate plans to leave her current job. But if she ever did, and was asked to participate in an exit interview, she would agree to do so--and would advise you to do the same.
本文的专栏作者是巴托比专栏的客座作家，她目前还没有离职的计划。但如果她打算辞职，并被邀请参加离职谈话，她会欣然接受，并且建议你也这样做。
As in any break-up, the one with an employer involves dealing with elusive concepts such as decorum ("It's not you, it's me") or closure ("Thank you for everything").
和任何分手场景一样，在离职谈话时员工和雇主也会说一些语义含混的客套话（"不是您的问题，是我自己的问题"）或结束语（"谢谢您所做的一切"）。
It is also transactional. As such, it pays not to be too candid. Whether the process happens over the phone, on Zoom, in person or in an online form, refrain from speaking your mind too freely.
这些话都是礼尚往来，所以最好不要太过坦率。无论是通过电话、Zoom会议、面谈还是在线表格进行离职谈话，都不要太随意地说出你的想法。
It is better to be excited about your new chapter than to unleash vitriol on colleagues who were unkind or censorious over the years. Being too diplomatic is safer, unless it devolves into insincere platitudes.
与其在背后抨击这些年对你不甚友善或吹毛求疵的同事，不如说说对自己新工作的期待。保持外交客套是安全之策，除非它变成不真诚的陈词滥调。
"This place is toxic" is bad; "the thing I admire about the leadership team is their long-term vision" may be worse. To strike the right balance it is useful to think of the exit interview as a performance appraisal in reverse.
吐槽"这个地方害人不浅"不好；恭维"领导团队的长远眼光令我钦佩"可能更糟。要想恰到好处，你需要将离职谈话视为一种反向绩效评估。
Outlining what you enjoyed most about the place (the pay, the camaraderie or the coffee) is a good place to start. Explaining what drew you to another employer can be particularly instructive.
大概说出你最喜欢公司的地方（工资、同事情谊或咖啡）是个很好的切入点。向公司解释自己为什么去了其他地方尤其有启发性。
Gentle suggestions about what you would improve are fair game. Always remember that notes from the interview are official documentation that can be reviewed. Whatever you do, do not post rude comments about your former employer on social media.
给公司提出一些委婉的改进建议也很合理。一定要记住，离职谈话的内容会被正式记录留存。无论你做什么，都不要在社交媒体上说前任老板的坏话。
In his book "Liar's Poker", Michael Lewis tells the story of a senior trader quitting Salomon Brothers after being offered much more money by Goldman Sachs.
迈克尔·刘易斯在他的《说谎者的扑克牌》一书中讲述了这么一个故事：所罗门兄弟公司的一位资深交易员被高盛集团以高价挖走。
His managers pleaded for him to stay, invoking loyalty to the firm; the trader retorted that if they wanted loyalty they should have hired a cocker spaniel. But a good exit interview should be about mutual graciousness when neither party has anything else to lose.
这位交易员的领导恳请他留下来，希望他能继续效忠公司；但这名交易员反驳道，如果他们想要忠诚，当初就应该雇一只可卡犬。一场好的离职谈话应该是在惠及双方的情况下进行友好交谈。
For an employee to deny such a conference shows pettiness and resentment. For a good company it is one last chance to leave a good impression. If you decide to part ways, why not do so on amicable terms?
对于一名员工来说，拒绝参加这样的离职谈话只会显得自己小肚鸡肠、心怀愤懑。而对于一家好公司来说，这是最后一个给人留下好印象的机会。如果你已经决定和公司分道扬镳，为什么不好聚好散呢？
词汇预习
particularly [高考]
美[pərˈtɪkjələrli] | 英[pəˈtɪkjələli]
adv. 特别；尤其；详细地
current [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrənt] | 英[ˈkʌrənt]
n. 趋势；(水、气、电)流 adj. 现在的；流通的
immediate [高考]
美[ɪˈmiːdiət] | 英[ɪˈmiːdiət]
adj. 直接的；最接近的；立即的；目前的
employer [高考]
美[ɪmˈplɔɪər] | 英[ɪmˈplɔɪə(r)]
n. 雇主
deny [高考]
美[dɪˈnaɪ] | 英[dɪˈnaɪ]
vt. 否认；拒绝承认；拒绝给予；自制
complicate [高考]
美[ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪt] | 英[ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt]
v. 使复杂化；使起纠纷 adj. 复杂的
vision [高考]
美[ˈvɪʒn] | 英[ˈvɪʒn]
n. 视力；视觉；幻觉；眼光；洞察力；想象力 v. 幻想；设想
unkind [高考]
美[ʌnˈkaɪnd] | 英[ˌʌnˈkaɪnd]
adj. 不和善的；无情的；不厚道的
reverse [高考]
美[rɪˈvɜːrs] | 英[rɪˈvɜːs]
v. 逆转；倒退；互换；改变 adj. 相反的；反面的；颠倒的 n. 相反；背面；失败；倒档
mutual [高考]
美[ˈmjuːtʃuəl] | 英[ˈmjuːtʃuəl]
adj. 共同的；相互的
instructive [高考]
美[ɪnˈstrʌktɪv] | 英[ɪnˈstrʌktɪv]
adj. 教育性的；有启发的；有益的
documentation [高考]
美[ˌdɑːkjumenˈteɪʃn] | 英[ˌdɒkjumenˈteɪʃn]
n. 文件；证明文件；史实；[计]文件编制
columnist [高考]
美[ˈkɑləmnɪst] | 英[ˈkɒləmnɪst]
n. 专栏作家
media [高考]
美[ˈmiːdiə] | 英[ˈmiːdiə]
n. 传播媒介；(medium的复数)媒体；新闻媒介
former [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrmər] | 英[ˈfɔːmə(r)]
adj. 前者的；前任的；以前的 n. 创造者；[英]学校某一年级的学生
reference [高考]
美[ˈrefrəns] | 英[ˈrefrəns]
n. 参考；参照；出处；推荐人；推荐函 v. 注明出处；附参考资料
exit [高考]
美[ˈeksɪt] | 英[ˈeksɪt]
n. 出口；退场 v. 离去；退出
chapter [高考]
美[ˈtʃæptər] | 英[ˈtʃæptə(r)]
n. 章，回，（俱乐部、协会等的）分会 vt. 把…分成章节
participate [高考]
美[pɑːrˈtɪsɪpeɪt] | 英[pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt]
vi. 参加；参与 vt. 分享
paperwork [高考]
美[ˈpeɪpərwɜːrk] | 英[ˈpeɪpəwɜːk]
n. 文书工作
pension [高考]
美[ˈpenʃn] | 英[ˈpenʃn]
n. 养老金；退休金；抚恤金；年金；（欧洲等地的）私人小旅店 v. 发退休金
related to [高考]
美 | 英
与 ... 相关
in person [高考]
美[ɪn 'pɜːrsn] | 英[ɪn 'pɜːsn]
亲自
participate in [高考]
美[pɑrˈtɪsəˌpet ɪn] | 英[pɑ:ˈtisipeit in]
参与； 参加
client [高考]
美[ˈklaɪənt] | 英[ˈklaɪənt]
n. 委托人；客户
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
loyalty [四级]
美[ˈlɔɪəlti] | 英[ˈlɔɪəlti]
n. 忠诚；忠心；忠贞
long-term [四级]
美[ˌlɔːŋ ˈtɜːrm] | 英[ˌlɒŋ ˈtɜːm]
adj. 长期的
diplomatic [四级]
美[ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk] | 英[ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk]
adj. 外交的；古字体的；老练的
unnecessarily [四级]
美[ʌnˈnɛsəˌsɛrɪlɪ] | 英[ˌʌn'nesəsərəlɪ]
adv. 不必要地；徒然
toxic [四级]
美[ˈtɑːksɪk] | 英[ˈtɒksɪk]
adj. 有毒的
refrain [四级]
美[rɪˈfreɪn] | 英[rɪˈfreɪn]
v. 抑制；避免；克制 n. 副歌；叠句；重复
refrain from [四级]
美[rɪˈfren frʌm] | 英[riˈfrein frɔm]
忍住； 抑制； 制止
unleash [六级]
美[ʌnˈliːʃ] | 英[ʌnˈliːʃ]
v. 解开 ... 的皮带；解除 ... 的束缚；释放
closure [专四]
美[ˈkloʊʒə(r)] | 英[ˈkləʊʒə(r)]
n. 关闭；关口；讨论终结；终结
appraisal [专四]
美[əˈpreɪzl] | 英[əˈpreɪzl]
n. 估计；评估
decorum [专八]
美[dɪˈkɔːrəm] | 英[dɪˈkɔːrəm]
n. 礼貌合宜
amicable [专八]
美[ˈæmɪkəbəl] | 英[ˈæmɪkəbl]
adj. 友好的；和睦的
candid [专八]
美[ˈkændɪd] | 英[ˈkændɪd]
adj. 率直的；坦诚的；公正的；偷拍的
resentment [考研]
美[rɪˈzɛntmənt] | 英[rɪˈzentmənt]
n. 怨恨；愤恨
terms [雅思]
美[tɜːrmz] | 英[tɜːmz]
n. 条件；条款；关系；措辞
重点讲解
The bottom line is, you never know. You can be denied a reference or unnecessarily complicate the paperwork related to your stock options and pension plan. Or you could miss a chance to turn a former employer into a client.
关键是，这样做的结果难以预料。公司可能会拒绝给你写推荐信，或者故意把你股票期权和养老金计划的相关文书工作变得复杂。你还可能会失去把前雇主变成客户的机会。
bottom line
1. 最重要的事；关键
（英文释义：the most important fact in a situation）
【例】The bottom line is we don't have enough health care professionals.
最重要的是我们没有足够多的健康护理方面的专业人士。
2. 最终盈利（或亏损）
【例】The bottom line for 2008 was a pre-tax profit of £85 million.
2008年最终获得税前利润8500万英镑。
Your**** columnist,**** a guest Bartleby****,**** has no**** immediate plans to**** leave her current job.**** But if**** she ever**** did,**** and was asked to**** participate in**** an**** exit**** interview,**** she would agree to**** do**** so****--and**** would advise**** you to**** do**** the same****.****
本文的专栏作者是巴托比专栏的客座作家，她目前还没有离职的计划。但如果她打算辞职，并被邀请参加离职谈话，她会欣然接受，并且建议你也这样做。
As in any break-up, the one with an employer involves dealing with elusive concepts such as decorum ("It's not you, it's me") or closure ("Thank you for everything").
和任何分手场景一样，在离职谈话时员工和雇主也会说一些语义含混的客套话（"不是您的问题，是我自己的问题"）或结束语（"谢谢您所做的一切"）。
it (always) pays to do sth ...是值得的／有好处的
（英文释义：It is (always) a wise or advantageous idea to do the thing specified; doing this specific thing will (always) yield a positive effect.）
【例】In my experience, it pays to have a seasoned legal expert look over every deal you're making before you sign the paperwork.
根据我的经验，在你签署文件之前，请一位经验丰富的法律专家检查每一笔交易是有好处的。
refrain from (sth/doing sth） 克制；避免
（英文释义：to stop yourself from doing sth, especially sth that you want to do）
【例】He has refrained from criticizing the government in public.
他克制住了自己，没有在公开场合批评政府。
It is also transactional. As such, it pays not to be too candid. Whether the process happens over the phone, on Zoom, in person or in an online form, refrain from speaking your mind too freely.
这些话都是礼尚往来，所以最好不要太过坦率。无论是通过电话、Zoom会议、面谈还是在线表格进行离职谈话，都不要太随意地说出你的想法。
it (always) pays to do sth ...是值得的／有好处的
（英文释义：It is (always) a wise or advantageous idea to do the thing specified; doing this specific thing will (always) yield a positive effect.）
【例】In my experience, it pays to have a seasoned legal expert look over every deal you're making before you sign the paperwork.
根据我的经验，在你签署文件之前，请一位经验丰富的法律专家检查每一笔交易是有好处的。
refrain from (sth/doing sth） 克制；避免
（英文释义：to stop yourself from doing sth, especially sth that you want to do）
【例】He has refrained from criticizing the government in public.
他克制住了自己，没有在公开场合批评政府。
It is better to be excited about your new chapter than to unleash vitriol on colleagues who were unkind or censorious over the years. Being too diplomatic is safer, unless it devolves into insincere platitudes.
与其在背后抨击这些年对你不甚友善或吹毛求疵的同事，不如说说对自己新工作的期待。保持外交客套是安全之策，除非它变成不真诚的陈词滥调。
unleash v. 发泄；释放；突然爆发，使爆发
（英文释义：to suddenly start or send a powerful force, feeling, activity, or group somewhere）
【例】to unleash anger on sb 对某人发泄怒气
"This place is toxic" is bad; "the thing I admire about the leadership team is their long-term vision" may be worse. To strike the right balance it is useful to think of the exit interview as a performance appraisal in reverse.
吐槽"这个地方害人不浅"不好；恭维"领导团队的长远眼光令我钦佩"可能更糟。要想恰到好处，你需要将离职谈话视为一种反向绩效评估。
strike a balance 平衡（对立双方）；找到折衷办法
（英文释义：to find an acceptable position which is between two things）
【例】It's a question of striking the right balance between quality and productivity.
这是在质量和效率之间找到平衡的问题。
【拓展】balance相关的一些表达：
1. be/hang in the balance 结果不明朗；悬而未决
【例】The long-term future of the space programme hangs in the balance.
航天计划的长远前景尚未明朗。
2. on balance 总得来说；考虑到正反两方面
【例】On balance, the company has a successful year.
总的来说，公司这一年业绩很好。
Outlining what you enjoyed most about the place (the pay, the camaraderie or the coffee) is a good place to start. Explaining what drew you to another employer can be particularly instructive.
大概说出你最喜欢公司的地方（工资、同事情谊或咖啡）是个很好的切入点。向公司解释自己为什么去了其他地方尤其有启发性。
fair game
1. 公平合理的做法
（英文释义：used to express approval when sb has done sth that you think is right or reasonable）
【例】The committee's job is to ensure fair game between all the political parties during the election.
委员会的工作就是确保所有党派之间的竞选公平合理。
【拓展】同义词：fair play
【例】The visiting team did not get fair play in the game.
客队在这场比赛中没有获得公平的待遇。
2. 可开玩笑（或嘲弄、批评）的对象
（英文释义：If a person or thing is said to be fair game, it is considered acceptable to play jokes on them, criticize them.）
【例】Celebrities are fair game for the press to gossip.
名人是供媒体八卦的绝佳对象。
Gentle suggestions about what you would improve are fair game. Always remember that notes from the interview are official documentation that can be reviewed. Whatever you do, do not post rude comments about your former employer on social media.
给公司提出一些委婉的改进建议也很合理。一定要记住，离职谈话的内容会被正式记录留存。无论你做什么，都不要在社交媒体上说前任老板的坏话。
fair game
1. 公平合理的做法
（英文释义：used to express approval when sb has done sth that you think is right or reasonable）
【例】The committee's job is to ensure fair game between all the political parties during the election.
委员会的工作就是确保所有党派之间的竞选公平合理。
【拓展】同义词：fair play
【例】The visiting team did not get fair play in the game.
客队在这场比赛中没有获得公平的待遇。
2. 可开玩笑（或嘲弄、批评）的对象
（英文释义：If a person or thing is said to be fair game, it is considered acceptable to play jokes on them, criticize them.）
【例】Celebrities are fair game for the press to gossip.
名人是供媒体八卦的绝佳对象。
In his book "Liar's Poker", Michael Lewis tells the story of a senior trader quitting Salomon Brothers after being offered much more money by Goldman Sachs.
迈克尔·刘易斯在他的《说谎者的扑克牌》一书中讲述了这么一个故事：所罗门兄弟公司的一位资深交易员被高盛集团以高价挖走。
invoke v.
1. 提及，援引（某理论、实例等作为支持）
【例】She invoked several eminent scholars to back up her argument.
她援引了几位赫赫有名的学者来支持她的论点。
2. 援引，援用（法律、规则等）
【例】The President invoked an emergency act as a reason for barring a sale.
总统援用一项紧急法令作为禁售的理由。
3. 请求（神灵的）帮助
【例】to invoke God’s mercy 祈求上帝慈悲
His managers pleaded for him to stay, invoking loyalty to the firm; the trader retorted that if they wanted loyalty they should have hired a cocker spaniel. But a good exit interview should be about mutual graciousness when neither party has anything else to lose.
这位交易员的领导恳请他留下来，希望他能继续效忠公司；但这名交易员反驳道，如果他们想要忠诚，当初就应该雇一只可卡犬。一场好的离职谈话应该是在惠及双方的情况下进行友好交谈。
invoke v.
1. 提及，援引（某理论、实例等作为支持）
【例】She invoked several eminent scholars to back up her argument.
她援引了几位赫赫有名的学者来支持她的论点。
2. 援引，援用（法律、规则等）
【例】The President invoked an emergency act as a reason for barring a sale.
总统援用一项紧急法令作为禁售的理由。
3. 请求（神灵的）帮助
【例】to invoke God’s mercy 祈求上帝慈悲
For an employee to deny such a conference shows pettiness and resentment. For a good company it is one last chance to leave a good impression. If you decide to part ways, why not do so on amicable terms?
对于一名员工来说，拒绝参加这样的离职谈话只会显得自己小肚鸡肠、心怀愤懑。而对于一家好公司来说，这是最后一个给人留下好印象的机会。如果你已经决定和公司分道扬镳，为什么不好聚好散呢？
part v. 使分开
【例】She parted the curtains a little and looked out.
她略微扒开窗帘，向外张望。
【搭配】part company (with/from sb) 分手；断绝关系
（英文释义：to end a relationship with sb）
【例】The band have parted company with their manager.
乐队与其经理人已散伙了。
课后练习
What may happen if employees refuse to have exit interviews?
A. They may ruin their career prospects.
B. They may be forbidden to quit their jobs.
C. They may have unnecessary inconveniences.
D. They may complete the exit procedures faster.
According to the author, it is sensible to ____ in an exit interview.
A. remain silent and make no comment
B. pretend to be grateful for the employer
C. be cautious about speaking the real thoughts
D. take an honest and outspoken attitude
In an exit interview, it is safe to talk about ____.
A. the shortcomings of the colleagues
B. the unique merits of the leaders
C. the lessons learned from the job
D. the pleasant features of the company
The example of Michael Lewis’ story shows that ____.
A. the attraction of a high salary is hard to resist
B. it is important to be polite to the ex-employer
C. the loyalty to the firm is impossible
D. people spread rumors about resignations
According to the text, a good ex-interview should be ____.
A. friendly and mutually beneficial
B. transparent and honest
C. free from negative remarks
D. fair and without prejudice