Looking for a job
À la recherche d'un emploi
- Create and send your curriculum.
- Use job portals to search for a job.
This A2 lesson focuses on job searching vocabulary in French, teaching you how to prepare a CV, send it by email, and search online with key verbs like « rechercher » (to look for), « imprimer » (to print), and « postuler » (to apply).
Vocabulary (20) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercice 1: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- How long did you have to look for a job last time? (How long did you have to look for a job last time?)
- What is important when applying? (What is important when applying?)
- How does your CV look like? (How does your CV look like?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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J'ai cherché un emploi pendant trois mois. C'était un peu difficile, mais j'en ai trouvé un bon. I looked for a job for three months. It was a bit hard, but I found a good one. |
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J'ai trouvé un travail après un mois. J'ai utilisé des sites internet et envoyé de nombreux CV. I found a job after one month. I used websites and sent many CVs. |
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Il est très important d'envoyer votre CV et votre lettre de motivation par email. It is very important to send your CV and Cover letter via email. |
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Il est bon de dire que vous avez déjà de l'expérience dans le poste pour lequel vous postulez. It is good to say that you already have experience in the job position you are applying for. |
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Mon CV est simple et court. J'ai écrit mes compétences et mon dernier emploi. My CV is simple and short. I wrote my skills and last job. |
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Mon CV contient ma photo, mes coordonnées et mon historique professionnel. My CV has my photo, my contact details, and my work history. |
| ... |
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. _____ les offres d'emploi qui correspondent à votre profil.
(_____ job offers that match your profile.)2. _____ votre candidature avant de l'envoyer.
(_____ your application before sending it.)3. _____ rapidement pour augmenter vos chances d'être retenu.
(_____ quickly to increase your chances of being selected.)4. N'oubliez pas de _____ votre entretien avec motivation.
(Don't forget to _____ your interview with motivation.)Exercise 4: Looking for a Job
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Rechercher - Search
Présent
- je recherche
- tu recherches
- il/elle/on recherche
- nous recherchons
- vous recherchez
- ils/elles recherchent
Imprimer - Print
Impératif
- (tu) imprime
- (nous) imprimons
- (vous) imprimez
Postuler - Apply
Présent
- je postule
- tu postules
- il/elle/on postule
- nous postulons
- vous postulez
- ils/elles postulent
Imprimer - Print
Présent
- j'imprime
- tu imprimes
- il/elle/on imprime
- nous imprimons
- vous imprimez
- ils/elles impriment
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Rechercher to search Share Copied!
imperatif
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Recherche ! | You search |
| Recherchons | Let us search |
| Recherchez | You search |
Imprimer to print Share Copied!
imperatif
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Imprime | You print |
| Imprimons | Let's print |
| Imprimez | You print |
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Introduction to Job Searching in French
This lesson covers essential language skills for looking for a job and applying professionally in French at an A2 level. You will learn how to prepare a CV, send your application by email, and search for jobs online using practical dialogues and exercises.
Key Lesson Components
1. Preparing a Professional CV
Learn vocabulary and phrases related to discussing professional experience and writing a concise CV together. Sample expressions include:
- "J'ai travaillé trois ans comme assistant commercial." (I worked for three years as a sales assistant.)
- "Quelles compétences voulez-vous mettre en avant ?" (Which skills do you want to highlight?)
2. Sending a CV by Email
Practice polite and clear communication for sending your CV via email. Understand how to introduce yourself and specify the target job position. Useful phrases are:
- "Vous pouvez l'envoyer en pièce jointe par email." (You can send it as an attachment by email.)
- "Commencez par une courte présentation et précisez le poste visé." (Start with a short introduction and specify the position applied for.)
3. Searching for a Job on a Website
Explore how to navigate an online job portal, use search filters, and enter relevant information to find suitable job offers. Key vocabulary includes:
- "Tapez le métier que vous cherchez dans la barre de recherche." (Type the job you are looking for in the search bar.)
- "Vous pouvez choisir le type de contrat et la région." (You can choose the contract type and the region.)
Grammar Focus: Verb Conjugations in Imperative and Present Tense
This lesson includes targeted practice with verb forms useful for job searching commands and statements, such as:
- Rechercher: Recherchez les offres d'emploi...
- Imprimer: Imprimez votre candidature...
- Postuler: Postulez rapidement...
- Préparer: N'oubliez pas de préparer votre entretien...
These verbs are conjugated in the imperative to give instructions and in the present tense for descriptions of actions.
Mini Story: Putting It All Together
The short story practices these verbs in context to reinforce comprehension. You will see sentences like:
- "Aujourd'hui, je recherche des offres d'emploi en ligne."
- "Mon ami me dit : 'Imprime ta candidature et apporte-la à l'agence demain.'"
Differences Between English and French in Job Search Language
French job search expressions often use polite imperatives or formal phrasing more than English. For example, the imperative form "Recherchez" (Search!) is commonly used for instructions. Also, job titles and campaigns often require gender agreement, so be aware of masculine and feminine forms (e.g., le secrétaire vs. la secrétaire).
Some useful phrases with translation and notes:
- "Je postule à un poste." – "I am applying for a position." (Preposition à used here instead of English 'for')
- "Envoyez votre CV en pièce jointe." – "Send your CV as an attachment." (pièce jointe is the standard term for attachment)
- "Postulez rapidement pour augmenter vos chances." – "Apply quickly to increase your chances." (Imperative for direct instructions)
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