French for Work: CV, Interviews, Contracts and Professional Emails
Workplace French for job seekers and professionals, including CDI and CDD contracts, formal email openings and closings, and CV and interview vocabulary.
Working in French means more than vocabulary; it means conventions of tone, formality and paperwork. This guide covers the essentials.
The workplace
- le travail — work
- un emploi / un poste — job, position
- une entreprise / une société — company
- le bureau — office
- un patron / une patronne — boss
- un directeur / une directrice — manager, director
- un collègue / une collègue — colleague
- une équipe — team
- une réunion — meeting
- un client — client
- un salarié — employee
- un stagiaire — intern
- un(e) indépendant(e) / un freelance
Contracts and conditions
- un CDI — contrat à durée indéterminée, a permanent contract
- un CDD — contrat à durée déterminée, a fixed-term contract
- un stage — an internship
- l'intérim — temporary agency work
- le salaire — salary
- le salaire brut / net — gross / net salary
- les congés payés — paid leave
- les heures supplémentaires — overtime
- le télétravail — remote working
- la démission — resignation
- le licenciement — dismissal
- la retraite — retirement
- le chômage — unemployment
- la mutuelle — supplementary health insurance
Applying for a job
- une offre d'emploi — job advert
- le CV — curriculum vitae
- une lettre de motivation — cover letter
- postuler — to apply
- un entretien (d'embauche) — job interview
- les compétences — skills
- l'expérience professionnelle — work experience
- les études / la formation — education / training
- les langues — languages
- les centres d'intérêt — interests
- les références
CV tips: French CVs are typically one page, and may include a photo (though this is optional and, for discrimination reasons, not required). Sections often include Expérience professionnelle, Formation, Compétences, Langues and Centres d'intérêt.
At the interview
- Pourquoi voulez-vous travailler chez nous ? — Why do you want to work with us?
- Parlez-moi de vous. — Tell me about yourself.
- Quelles sont vos qualités / vos défauts ? — What are your strengths / weaknesses?
- Quelles sont vos prétentions salariales ? — What are your salary expectations?
- Je suis motivé(e) et rigoureux(se). — I'm motivated and rigorous.
- J'ai deux ans d'expérience dans... — I have two years of experience in...
Use vous with interviewers, and shake hands.
Professional emails
Opening (formal):
- Madame, Monsieur, — Dear Sir or Madam
- Madame la Directrice,
- Bonjour Madame Dupont, — for someone you've corresponded with
Common phrases:
- Suite à notre conversation... — Following our conversation...
- Je vous contacte au sujet de... — I'm contacting you regarding...
- Veuillez trouver ci-joint... — Please find attached...
- Pourriez-vous me confirmer... ? — Could you confirm...?
- Je reste à votre disposition. — I remain at your disposal.
- Dans l'attente de votre réponse... — Awaiting your reply...
Closings:
- Cordialement, — Kind regards (most common, neutral)
- Bien cordialement, — warmer
- Bien à vous, — semi-formal
- Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées. — very formal, in letters
Meetings
- l'ordre du jour — agenda
- un compte rendu — minutes, report
- Je voudrais ajouter quelque chose. — I'd like to add something.
- Je suis d'accord / je ne suis pas d'accord.
- Pourriez-vous répéter ?
Workplace culture
- French workplaces can be more formal than some English-speaking ones: vous is common at first.
- Colleagues often greet each other with a handshake or la bise (cheek kisses), depending on the workplace.
- Lunch is an important social break.
- Working hours are regulated, with a standard 35-hour week in law (though practice varies).
Vocabulary for tasks
- un dossier — file, project
- une échéance — deadline
- un rendez-vous — appointment
- un devis — quote
- une facture — invoice
- un contrat — contract
Practice
Write a formal email requesting a meeting, and draft answers to three interview questions in French.
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