Opening Strong:

1. “Thanks for having me” — Merci de me recevoir — Warmer and more natural than just “thank you” when you walk in
2. “It’s great to finally meet you” — Ravi de vous rencontrer enfin — Shows enthusiasm and builds immediate rapport

Quick Rules:

• Accept the small talk — it’s not filler, it’s designed to relax you
• Think of the interview as a conversation, not an exam — you’re choosing them too
• Making the interviewer comfortable takes the focus off your own stress

The Professional Snapshot:

3. “I currently work at… as…” — Je travaille actuellement chez… en tant que… — Start with the present, not your university years
4. “I’m very interested in joining your company to…” — Je suis très intéressé à rejoindre votre entreprise pour… — Connect your motivation to the specific role

Quick Rules:

• Structure: current role → key achievement → why THIS position
• Never speak negatively about a current or former employer — focus on what you’re moving toward

Strengths, Weaknesses & Gaps:

5. “One of my key strengths is…” + specific example — L’un de mes points forts est… — Choose one strength and prove it with a real story
6. “I’ve been working on improving that by…” — Je travaille à m’améliorer en… — The weakness formula: real weakness + what you’re doing about it

Quick Rules:

• Don’t say “I’m a perfectionist” — English interviewers recognise rehearsed non-answers
• For career gaps, be honest but brief — show you stayed productive (courses, freelance, volunteering)

Your Questions & Closing:

7. “What does a typical day look like in this role?” — À quoi ressemble une journée type dans ce poste ? — Shows you’re thinking about day-to-day performance
8. “What do I need to do to work on the critical projects of the company?” — Que dois-je faire pour travailler sur les projets critiques de l’entreprise ? — Turns the tables, shows confidence, and gets you a roadmap to succeed

Quick Rules:

• Never say you have no questions — it signals lack of interest
• Avoid salary, holidays, and benefits in the first interview
• Send a thank-you email within 24 hours — reference something specific from the conversation