Job Interview Vocabulary and Expressions in French

The Opening: Greetings and Small Talk

French interviews begin more formally than in the UK or US. The recruiter will greet you with a handshake and likely offer you a seat. Common opening exchanges:

• Bonjour, je suis [Prénom Nom]. Enchanté(e) de vous rencontrer.
  (Hello, I am [First Name Last Name]. Pleased to meet you.)
• Vous avez trouvé facilement ? — Did you find the place easily? (Standard small talk opener)
• Oui, merci. J’avais bien repéré les lieux à l’avance.
  (Yes, thank you. I had checked the location in advance.)

Use vous throughout the interview unless the interviewer explicitly switches to tu. Starting with tu uninvited is considered overly familiar and can create a poor first impression. This is a key point covered in our guide on French workplace etiquette.

Introducing Yourself: Présentez-vous

Almost every French interview starts with some version of: Pouvez-vous vous présenter ? (Can you introduce yourself?) or Parlez-moi de vous. (Tell me about yourself.)

Your answer should be a structured two-to-three-minute overview. Here is a useful template:

Bien sûr. J’ai [X] ans et je suis [nationalité]. J’ai suivi une formation en [domaine] à [université/école]. Après mes études, j’ai travaillé pendant [X ans] chez [entreprise] en tant que [poste], où j’ai principalement [responsabilité principale]. Suite à cela, j’ai rejoint [entreprise 2], où j’ai [réalisation clé]. Je suis aujourd’hui à la recherche d’un nouveau défi dans [secteur], et c’est ce qui m’a amené(e) à postuler chez vous.

Translation: Of course. I am [X] years old and [nationality]. I studied [field] at [university/school]. After my studies, I worked for [X years] at [company] as a [position], where I mainly [main responsibility]. Following that, I joined [company 2], where I [key achievement]. I am now looking for a new challenge in [sector], which is what led me to apply here.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Quelles sont vos principales qualités ? — What are your main strengths?
• Quels sont vos points d’amélioration ? / Avez-vous des défauts ? — What are your areas for improvement? / Do you have any weaknesses?

For strengths, use specific adjectives and back them up: Je suis rigoureux(se) et orienté(e) résultats — par exemple, dans mon dernier poste, j’ai… (I am precise and results-oriented — for example, in my last position, I…) For weaknesses, choose something real but not disqualifying, and always mention what you are doing to address it.

Motivation

• Pourquoi postulez-vous chez nous ? — Why are you applying to our company?
• Qu’est-ce qui vous attire dans ce poste ? — What attracts you to this position?
• Que savez-vous de notre entreprise ? — What do you know about our company?

French recruiters expect you to have done research. Mentioning a recent project, a company value, or a specific aspect of their business model signals genuine interest.

Career History

• Pourquoi avez-vous quitté votre dernier poste ? — Why did you leave your last position?
• Parlez-moi d’une réussite dont vous êtes fier(ère). — Tell me about an achievement you are proud of.
• Comment gérez-vous le stress ? — How do you handle stress?

Future Plans

• Où vous voyez-vous dans cinq ans ? — Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Quelles sont vos ambitions professionnelles ? — What are your professional ambitions?

Talking About Your Skills in French

Being able to describe your skills and experience fluently is essential. Our guide on talking about your experience and skills in French has a full list of professional vocabulary. Key expressions:

• J’ai une solide expérience en… — I have solid experience in…
• Je maîtrise [outil/logiciel]. — I am proficient in [tool/software].
• J’ai eu l’occasion de [action] lors de mon précédent poste. — I had the opportunity to [action] in my previous position.
• J’ai géré une équipe de [X] personnes. — I managed a team of [X] people.
• J’ai contribué à une augmentation de [X]% du chiffre d’affaires. — I contributed to a [X]% increase in revenue.

Asking Questions at the End of the Interview

At the end of the interview, you will almost certainly be asked: Avez-vous des questions ? (Do you have any questions?) Always say yes. Candidates who have no questions are perceived as uninterested. Good questions to ask:

• Quels sont les principaux défis du poste dans les six premiers mois ? — What are the main challenges of the role in the first six months?
• Comment se passe l’intégration des nouveaux collaborateurs ? — How does onboarding of new team members work?
• Quelles sont les perspectives d’évolution pour ce poste ? — What are the growth prospects for this position?
• Quelle est la culture d’entreprise ici ? — What is the company culture like here?
• Quelles sont les prochaines étapes du processus de recrutement ? — What are the next steps in the recruitment process?

Salary Discussion Vocabulary

If the recruiter raises salary — Quelles sont vos prétentions salariales ? — you need to be ready. Key phrases:

• Mes prétentions se situent autour de X euros brut annuel. — My expectations are around X euros gross annually.
• En tenant compte de mon expérience et du marché, j’envisage une fourchette entre X et Y euros. — Taking my experience and the market into account, I am considering a range between X and Y euros.
• Je suis ouvert(e) à la discussion selon l’ensemble des avantages proposés. — I am open to discussion depending on the overall benefits offered.

Our full guide on how to negotiate your salary in French covers this in detail, including what is and is not negotiable.

Closing the Interview

End on a confident, positive note:

• Merci beaucoup pour cet entretien. Je suis très enthousiaste à l’idée de rejoindre votre équipe.
  (Thank you very much for this interview. I am very enthusiastic about the idea of joining your team.)
• Je me tiens disponible pour tout complément d’information.
  (I am available for any additional information.)
• Au revoir, et bonne journée. — Goodbye, and have a good day.

Shake hands again on the way out. A follow-up thank-you email within 24 hours is professional but not universally expected in France — it will not hurt and may make a positive impression.