From the CV to the interview. Master the formal language, vocabulary, and professional etiquette of the French office place.
Entering the French job market — or simply discussing business — requires specific terms.
Your first step is sending your resume, which French speakers call le CV. After they review your profile, they will invite you for a job interview, called l'entretien.
Think of a job interview as a cinema ticket. In French, the word for interview is l'entretien. Think of it as your "entry ticket" — you must hand it in to enter the theater (the company) and start the movie (your career).
Let's study our two vocabulary anchors for this section:
Let's hear how these fit into active sentences:
Look away from the screen. What is the French term for "resume"? What is the word for "job interview"? Recite its "entry ticket" mnemonic to lock it in.
1. What is the French word for a job interview?
2. How is the French word "CV" pronounced?
3. Which English word helps us remember "l'entretien"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: A. *L'entretien* is a job interview. *Le CV* is a resume.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. It uses the French alphabetical sounds for C [say] and V [vee].
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. "entry ticket" reminds you of "l'entretien" (your ticket into the firm).
In your professional life, you will experience transitions. The boss might offer you the position, meaning **"to hire"** (embaucher).
Or, if you decide to leave the firm for a better offer, you will choose **"to quit / resign"** (démissionner).
Let's study our two vocabulary anchors for this section:
Let's hear how these verbs sound in office announcements:
Look away from the screen. What is the French verb for "to hire"? What is the verb for "to quit"? Recite the "quit your mission" mnemonic to anchor it.
1. Which verb translates to "to hire" in French?
2. Which verb translates to "to quit / resign"?
3. Which English word helps us remember "démissionner"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: A. *Embaucher* means to hire.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. *Démissionner* means to quit or resign.
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. Resigning is ending your "mission" (*démissionner*).
French social etiquette is strictly observed in the office. Addressing people correctly establishes professionalism.
To address someone formally using **vous**, we use the verb **se vouvoyer**. To address a close colleague informally using **tu**, we use the verb **se tutoyer**.
In a French company, always default to se vouvoyer (using vous) with everyone, including peers, on your first day. Only switch to se tutoyer (using tu) if a colleague explicitly invites you by asking: "On peut se tutoyer ?" (Can we use 'tu'?).
Let's study our two vocabulary anchors for this section:
Let's hear how this etiquette rule is stated:
Look away from the screen. What is the French verb for "using vous to address someone"? What is the verb for "using tu"? Recite the golden rule of French office etiquette.
1. Which verb describes addressing someone formally as "vous"?
2. When you start your first day at a French office, how should you address your peers?
3. What is the verb for using "tu"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: A. *Se vouvoyer* is to address someone as *vous*.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. Always default to formal language in the workplace until invited to do otherwise.
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. *Se tutoyer* contains the *tu* root.
Once inside the office, you need to know where you sit and when events occur.
Your desk or office space is called le bureau. When you gather with your team, you attend a meeting, called la réunion.
Let's study our two vocabulary anchors for this section:
Let's hear how these objects and events are discussed:
Look away from the screen. What is the French word for "desk"? What is the word for "meeting"? Recite the "reunion" mnemonic to connect it to your memory.
1. What does the word "bureau" translate to in an office context?
2. Which English word helps us remember "la réunion"?
3. Translate: "Voici votre bureau."
Question 1: Correct Answer: A. *Le bureau* is the office or desk space.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. *Réunion* means meeting (a reunion of workers).
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. "Voici" means "here is". *Votre bureau* is "your desk/office".
Test your etiquette! Answer the director's questions. Remember: you must be professional and use polite terms to get hired (*embauché(e)*).
Directrice: Bonjour. Asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît. Parlez-moi de vous.
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1. What is the French word for "resume" or "CV"?
2. What is the meaning of "l'entretien"?
3. If you want to say "to hire" in French, which verb do you use?
4. What does "se vouvoyer" mean in office etiquette?
5. What is "la réunion"?