How to Speak Professionally in French Meetings

You understand most of what is being said in the meeting. But when you want to speak — to add a point, push back on an idea, or ask a question — you freeze. You do not have the right formula to take the floor without being rude, and you do not know how to disagree without it sounding harsher than you intend. These phrases solve that problem.

How to Introduce Yourself in a French Job Interview

The interviewer says Pouvez-vous vous présenter ? — and you have about two minutes to make a strong first impression in French. This is one of the most predictable moments in any interview, and one of the highest-stakes ones. Here is exactly how to structure it, what to say, and what to avoid.

French Workplace Etiquette Explained

You greet a French colleague on their first day back after a holiday and say “Hey, how was it?” They smile, answer briefly, and move on. Later you find out that in this office, everyone shakes hands or does the bise every single morning — and you skipped it without realising. Small things like this define how you are perceived in a French workplace long before your professional performance does.

French Work Culture: Do’s and Don’ts

Your first week in a French office can feel disorienting even if your French is solid. The rules are unwritten, the hierarchy is real but rarely stated, and what counts as “direct” communication in your country may read as rude — or naively enthusiastic — here. This guide maps out the cultural expectations that take most foreigners months to piece together on their own.

30 Useful Business Verbs for the Office

Vocabulary lists often focus on nouns — la réunion, le contrat, le budget. But verbs are where professional French really lives. Saying what you do, what needs to be done, and what went wrong all depends on having the right verbs. Here are 30 that come up constantly in French offices, with real usage examples for each.

French CV vs English CV: The Differences

You have spent years building an impressive career, and your English CV has served you well. Then you apply for a job in France and hear nothing back. The issue is rarely your qualifications — it is usually that your CV does not match French expectations in format, content, or length. Here is what actually differs, and what you need to change.

How to Write a Professional Email in French

You know enough French to hold a conversation, but writing a formal email is a different challenge. The conventions are strict, the formulas are specific, and the wrong sign-off can make a perfectly good email feel abrupt. This guide gives you the full structure, the key formulas, and five ready-to-use templates for the most common business situations.

20 Expressions You Must Know for Professional French

You have a meeting in an hour. Your French is decent, but you keep reaching for the same five phrases. You want to sound credible, not just comprehensible. These 20 expressions are the ones professionals actually use — in emails, in meetings, and in everyday office conversations.