Job interview in French: questions, answers and vocabulary
By Thierry Gustin
Published
Updated
4 min read
Contents
A job interview in French can be intimidating, but you prepare for it like any exam: the questions are predictable and the answers can be rehearsed. Here are the most common questions, how to answer them and the vocabulary you need.
How do you start the interview?
The first few minutes create the impression. Greet the interviewer with Bonjour Madame / Bonjour Monsieur, always use vous and prepare a few polite phrases:
- Merci de me recevoir. (Thank you for seeing me.)
- Je suis ravi(e) d'être ici. (I'm delighted to be here.)
- Pourriez-vous répéter la question, s'il vous plaît ? (Could you repeat the question, please?)
The inevitable question: "Présentez-vous"
Prepare a self-introduction of about two minutes, in three parts: who you are, what you have done and why this position.
Je m'appelle Laura García, je suis ingénieure en informatique. Depuis cinq ans, je travaille comme développeuse dans une entreprise de logiciels à Madrid, où j'ai notamment dirigé un projet de migration vers le cloud. Aujourd'hui, je souhaite mettre mon expérience au service d'une équipe internationale, et c'est pourquoi votre entreprise m'intéresse particulièrement.
Learn it well, but don't recite it like a text: practise it aloud until it sounds natural.
The most common questions
| Question | What they're looking for | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Pourquoi voulez-vous travailler chez nous ? | Motivation, knowledge of the company | Mention a specific project, value or product of the company. |
| Quelles sont vos qualités ? | Self-awareness | Two qualities with an example for each: Je suis rigoureux : par exemple… |
| Quel est votre principal défaut ? | Honesty and ability to improve | A real but not critical weakness, and what you do to correct it. |
| Parlez-moi d'une difficulté que vous avez surmontée. | Problem-solving | Situation, action, result, in a few sentences. |
| Où vous voyez-vous dans cinq ans ? | Career outlook | An ambition consistent with the position. |
| Quelles sont vos prétentions salariales ? | Salary expectations | A reasonable range, in gross annual euros. |
Useful vocabulary
- The position: le poste, l'offre d'emploi, les missions, le contrat à durée indéterminée (CDI), le contrat à durée déterminée (CDD), la période d'essai.
- Your experience: j'ai été chargé(e) de…, j'ai géré une équipe de…, j'ai mis en place…, mes compétences.
- Salary: le salaire brut annuel, les avantages, le télétravail.
- To buy time: C'est une bonne question. Si je comprends bien, vous me demandez…
Watch out for false friends: un stage is an internship, not a stage, and demander means to ask, not to demand. There are more in French–English false friends.
What should you ask at the end?
You will almost always be asked Avez-vous des questions ?. Have two or three ready:
- Comment se compose l'équipe ? (How is the team made up?)
- Quelles seraient mes priorités pendant les premiers mois ? (What would my priorities be in the first few months?)
- Quelles sont les prochaines étapes du recrutement ? (What are the next steps in the recruitment process?)
Mistakes to avoid
- Using tu with the interviewer: always use vous.
- Reciting a memorised text: it shows immediately.
- Translating English expressions literally: ✗ Je suis très excité par ce poste (in French, excité suggests being overexcited, or even aroused) → ✓ Ce poste me motive beaucoup.
- Not preparing the vocabulary of your sector: it is what blocks people most on technical questions.
- Forgetting the thank-you email after the interview. I explain how to write it in the formal email in French.
To look for job offers and understand the codes of each sector, French job sites such as France Travail (the public employment service) or Welcome to the Jungle are good starting points.
Frequently asked questions
How do I introduce myself in a job interview in French?
With a self-introduction of about two minutes: who you are, your main experience and why the position interests you. Rehearse it aloud several times.
What level of French do I need for a job interview?
It depends on the position, but working in French usually requires at least a B2. For some positions, a solid B1 with good sector vocabulary may be enough.
Should I use "tu" or "vous"?
Always vous, unless the interviewer explicitly suggests using tu.
How long does it take to prepare for a job interview in French?
At an intermediate level, four to eight lessons focused on your self-introduction and mock interviews are usually enough.
If you have an interview coming up, in my business French lessons we do full mock interviews with the questions of your sector.
Read next
How to write a formal email in French (with templates)
How to write a formal email in French: greeting, structure, polite phrases and sign-off, with ready-to-use templates and typical English speakers' mistakes.
DELF, DALF or TCF: which official French exam to choose
DELF, DALF and TCF compared: levels, validity, fees and what each official French exam is for. A guide from a native French teacher.
DELF B2: exam format, scoring and how to prepare
What the DELF B2 looks like: the four papers, their length, how they are marked, and a native teacher's advice on preparing each part to pass first time.