A JOB INTERVIEW

Useful Vocabulary
Conversation about a job

To apply for a job: poser sa candidature

pour / un poste

Interviewer: So why did you decide to apply

for this job ?

Ive always wanted to work in this

sector: Jai toujours voulu travailler dans ce
Candidate: Well, Ive always wanted to work secteur
in this sector and I feel I have the right profile
my background is in administration:
and experience for the post.
mon exprience est dans ladministration
I.: Tell me a bit about your experience.

In my previous job I was responsible

for: dans mon prcdent poste, jtais
C.: Well, my background is in administration. responsible de
In my previous job I was responsible for the
day-to-day running of a small but busy office. the day-to-day running of the office: la
Im keen to work in a larger organization which gestion quotidienne du bureau
will allow me to develop my existing skills and Im keen to work: je suis impatient de
take on new responsibilities.
travailler
I.: This job involves working under pressure
and to tight deadlines. How would you cope
with that ?

to develop ones existing skills:

dvelopper ses comptences actuelles
under pressure: sous une certaine
pression

C.: Well, I enjoy a challenge and work better

under pressure. But I believe in proper planning to tight deadlines: dans des dlais serrs
and time management to get the job done
efficiently.
proper planning and time
management: une bonne planification et
I.: What has been your biggest problem in your
une bonne gestion du temps
work to date ?
get the job done efficiently: tre
efficace dans son travail
C.: Well, when I took up the post of office
manager everyone was spending too much time
in meetings which seemed to go on for ever. I
rescheduled our meetings to just before lunch
and they started to go much quicker. Productivity
went right up and earned me a pay rise. So my
biggest problem turned out to be my greatest
achievement

take up a post: assumer un poste

reschedule a meeting: changer lheure
dune runion
pay rise: hausse de salaire
turned out to be my greatest
achievement: sest avr ma plus
grande russite

More job interview idioms

What are your ambitions ?: Quelles sont vos ambitions ?
My particular specialization is in : Je suis particulirement comptent en
Im a good team player : je travaille bien en quipe
Im able to work both to a brief and on my own initiative : je peux aussi bien travailler
en suivant des directives ou de manire autonome

I have good written and oral communication skills : je suis bon en communication crite
et orale
I have developed strong leadership skills: jai de bonnes comptences pour diriger
Im experienced in problem solving: jai une bonne exprience pour rsoudre les
problmes
I have good organizational skills: je suis quelquun de trs organis
Im able to accept responsibility : je sais assumer les responsabilits
This would be a unique opportunity for me : cela reprsenterait pour moi une occasion
unique
I would welcome the chance / opportunity to : je me rjouirais de la possibilit de
Im very excited by the prospect of : je suis trs enthousiasm par la possibilit de
My strategy for prioritizing is : ma stratgie pour tablir les priorits est
I would really look forward to the opportunity of using the skills and experience I
have in a new context : japprcierais beaucoup de pouvoir dvelopper dans un cadre
nouveau mes comptences et mon exprience.
Taken from Today In English, october 2001

Et pour rappel:
Rencontrer son interlocuteur :
"Good morning / afternoon / evening Sir / Madam"
Se prsenter:
"My names Paul Morgan"
Comment rpondre :
"How do you do ? " enchant (de faire votre connaissance)
"Pleased to meet you" : Trs heureux de vous rencontrer
"Im sorry, I didnt (quite) catch your name" Excusez-moi, je nai pas (bien) saisi votre nom
Solliciter une explication :
"Im sorry, I didnt (quite) understand" Je suis dsol, je nai pas (trs bien) compris
"Can you explain what you mean ? " Pouvez-vous expliquer ce que vous voulez dire ?
"Would you mind repeating what you just said? " Pouvez-vous rpter ce que vous venez de

dire?
Les loisirs :
"What do you like doing in your spare time? " Quest-ce que vous aimez faire pendant votre

temps libre ?
"What are you interested in ? "
"Do you like sports? "
"I like going to the cinema"
"Im fond of (listening to) music" Jaime beaucoup la musique
"Im interested in American literature
"I dont like sport much, but I enjoy playing golf" Je naime pas beaucup le sport, mais jaime

beaucoup jouer au golf

Evoquer sa situation personnelle:
"Im a junior in Fresnel high school in CAEN" Je suis en premire au lyce Fresnel CAEN
"Im studying economics" Jtudie lconomie
Parler de ses expriences:
" I spent a year / month / week in London studying English at X University / grammar School"

Jai tudi langlais pendant un an / un mois / une semaine luniversit de X/ au lyce de X

"I was given training in " Jai reu une formation sur / en
Quitter son interlocuteur :
"Goodbye"
"It was nice meeting you" Je suis heureux davoir fait votre connaissance