French Job Interview Vocabulary
Getting Started
Looking for work in Canada comes in three stages — the application, the interview and the offer — and each has its own vocabulary. TEF and TCF speaking and writing tasks also ask you to describe your experience, your skills or a job you are applying for.
Note: Pronunciation is approximate. Practise the French r, the nasal vowels and silent final letters with real audio.
1. Looking for Work
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| la recherche d’emploi | job search | La recherche d’emploi prend du temps. | Job hunting takes time. |
| l’offre d’emploi | job posting | J’ai vu une offre d’emploi intéressante. | I saw an interesting job posting. |
| la candidature | application | J’ai envoyé ma candidature hier. | I sent my application yesterday. |
| l’employeur | employer | L’employeur m’a appelé ce matin. | The employer called me this morning. |
| la lettre de présentation | cover letter | J’écris une lettre de présentation. | I am writing a cover letter. |
| l’agence de placement | employment agency | L’agence de placement m’a trouvé un poste. | The employment agency found me a position. |
| le réseautage | networking | Le réseautage aide à trouver un emploi. | Networking helps you find a job. |
| la référence | reference | Mon ancien patron est ma référence. | My former boss is my reference. |
2. The Interview
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| l’entrevue | interview | J’ai une entrevue lundi. | I have an interview on Monday. |
| le recruteur / la recruteuse | recruiter | La recruteuse pose beaucoup de questions. | The recruiter asks a lot of questions. |
| le candidat / la candidate | candidate | Il y a trois candidats pour ce poste. | There are three candidates for this job. |
| se présenter | to introduce oneself | Pouvez-vous vous présenter ? | Can you introduce yourself? |
| le parcours | background, career path | Parlez-moi de votre parcours. | Tell me about your background. |
| le point fort | strength | Mon point fort, c’est l’organisation. | My strength is organisation. |
| le point faible | weakness | Quel est votre point faible ? | What is your weakness? |
| la poignée de main | handshake | Il a une poignée de main ferme. | He has a firm handshake. |
| être à l’heure | to be on time | Il faut être à l’heure à l’entrevue. | You must be on time for the interview. |
Note: In Canada a cover letter is usually la lettre de présentation; in France it is la lettre de motivation. Likewise, an interview is l’entrevue in Canada and l’entretien in France. Both are understood everywhere.
3. Skills and Experience
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| l’expérience de travail | work experience | J’ai trois ans d’expérience de travail. | I have three years of work experience. |
| la compétence | skill | Cette compétence est très utile. | This skill is very useful. |
| bilingue | bilingual | Je suis bilingue. | I am bilingual. |
| autonome | independent, self-directed | Je suis autonome au travail. | I work independently. |
| polyvalent / polyvalente | versatile | Elle est très polyvalente. | She is very versatile. |
| le travail d’équipe | teamwork | J’aime le travail d’équipe. | I like teamwork. |
| la réalisation | achievement | C’est ma plus grande réalisation. | It is my greatest achievement. |
| résoudre un problème | to solve a problem | J’aime résoudre des problèmes. | I like solving problems. |
4. The Job Offer
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| embaucher | to hire | L’entreprise veut m’embaucher. | The company wants to hire me. |
| le contrat de travail | employment contract | Je signe le contrat de travail. | I am signing the employment contract. |
| les avantages sociaux | benefits | Les avantages sociaux sont bons. | The benefits are good. |
| la période d’essai | probation period | La période d’essai dure trois mois. | The probation period lasts three months. |
| à temps plein | full time | Je cherche un poste à temps plein. | I am looking for a full-time job. |
| à temps partiel | part time | Elle travaille à temps partiel. | She works part time. |
| le taux horaire | hourly rate | Le taux horaire est de vingt dollars. | The hourly rate is twenty dollars. |
| négocier | to negotiate | Je veux négocier mon salaire. | I want to negotiate my salary. |
Note: Les bénéfices is a false friend: it means a company’s profits, not your benefits. For insurance, dental or a pension, say les avantages sociaux.
What’s Next
Connect this vocabulary with French Work and Office Vocabulary. To describe past jobs, review the Passé Composé. Review the words every day with the Flashcards.
Put these words into full answers: The Job Interview: Questions and Answers. Once you have the job: Workplace Culture in Quebec and Canada.
FAQ
Should I say 'entrevue' or 'entretien' for a job interview in Canada?
Both are correct. In Quebec and the rest of Canada you will usually hear 'l'entrevue'; in France 'l'entretien d'embauche' is more common.
Why not 'les bénéfices' for job benefits?
'Les bénéfices' means a company's profits. For a dental plan, insurance or a pension, say 'les avantages sociaux'.
How do I use 'point fort' and 'point faible' in an interview?
A recruiter will often ask 'Quels sont vos points forts ?'. Name one strength and give an example. When you name a weakness, say what you are doing to improve it.
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