陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。他在餐厅里找到美国同Amy 。
(Office ambience)
A：Hello Chen Hao. How are you?
C：还行。不过，我有点事想征求一下你的意见。
A：What is it?
C：你认识我们办公室的Sue吗？
A：I’ve worked on a couple of projects with her. Why?
C：我告诉你，你可得保密，Sue正在找工作。
A：Why is that a problem?
C：她让我做她的推荐人。
A：That bothers you?
C：Sue工作不是很靠谱，推荐她，那不等于说瞎话嘛！
A：What did you say when she came to you?
C：我没直接回答她。我说那份新工作听上去是个不错的机会，然后就假称要开会，逃掉了。
A：I have a couple of suggestions for you.
C：太好了，你快告诉我。我今天一天都躲躲藏藏的，生怕遇到Sue。
A：Let’s sit down over there.
******
两人坐下，边吃边聊。
C：Amy，你快说说，我该怎么办。
A：Sue must have some positive traits or she wouldn’t be working here.
C：优点肯定是有，不过我得仔细想想。
A：I suggest that you make a list of her strengths.
C：可她的缺点要比优点多得多。
A：Try not to focus on her shortcomings, but list them out, too. You can call them areas where she needs to grow.
C：需要改进的地方？那人家给我打电话，了解Sue的情况，我该怎么说呢？
A：You begin by saying that she is a good team player, but could benefit from the opportunity to work independently and grow professionally. That makes you honest.
C：有道理，我就说她很容易相处，但是如果有一个独立工作，需要精湛技能的机会，将对她有帮助。可是Amy,我怎么才能不去提她的缺点呢？
A：Let the interviewer know that you have worked with Sue on a limited basis so you can only speak about your experience on the team.
C：就说，跟Sue共事机会不多，有些情况没有发言权。Amy, 我有个更简单的办法，要不我这段时间干脆不接电话了，留言也不回。
A：That’s cowardly. Besides it will reflect poorly on you.
C：要这么说，不回电子邮件也行不通了。
A：You have another choice. You can tell Sue that you aren’t comfortable in giving references to her because you are afraid of saying the wrong thing.
C：这样好。我就说自己英语不好，搞不好词不达意，再说错了话。
A：It is difficult when a colleague who is not a good worker asks you for a reference.
C：你能在重复一遍，我都有哪些选择吗？
A：If you agree to be a reference, rehearse what you plan to say. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into areas where you are not comfortable.