Formal calls and interviews
In the world of work you constantly have to phone people you do not know, leave messages and answer interview questions. The vocabulary stays simple, but the register rises sharply: you soften every request with the conditionnel de politesse and you address people with vous. This lesson gives you the fixed phrases that make you sound professional on the phone and in an interview.
| passer un appel | to make a call |
| joindre quelqu'un | to reach someone |
| patienter / rester en ligne | to hold / to stay on the line |
| laisser un message | to leave a message |
| rappeler quelqu'un | to call someone back |
| le poste / la ligne | the extension / the line |
| le standard | the switchboard |
| transférer un appel | to transfer a call |
| prendre un rendez-vous | to make an appointment |
| un entretien d'embauche | a job interview |
| le service des ressources humaines | the HR department |
| un poste à pourvoir | a vacancy / position to fill |
| le recruteur / la recruteuse | the recruiter |
| Je vous prie de m'excuser | Please accept my apologies |
Associez chaque formule téléphonique à son sens.
Match each phone-call phrase to its meaning.
Quelle ouverture est la plus polie lors d'un appel professionnel ?
Which opening is the most polite on a professional call?
Complétez avec le conditionnel de politesse de « pouvoir » (vous).
Complete with the polite conditional of 'pouvoir' (vous).
____ -vous me transférer au service des ressources humaines ?
To sound courteous on the phone, French replaces the blunt present tense with the conditionnel. Je veux parler à... (I want to speak to) becomes Je voudrais parler à... (I would like to speak to). The most useful verbs are je voudrais, pourriez-vous (could you) and auriez-vous (would you have). The conditional adds an invisible cushion: the request is exactly the same, but it no longer sounds like an order.
Écoutez et tapez la demande que vous entendez.
Listen and type the request you hear.
Traduisez en français, en gardant le registre poli.
Translate into French, keeping the polite register.
I would like to make an appointment.
Remettez les mots dans l'ordre pour rapporter la demande.
Put the words in order to report the request.
When you take or pass on a message, you report what someone asked, often with demander de + infinitive. Rappelez-moi (Call me back) becomes Il a demandé de le rappeler (He asked you to call him back). Notice the changes: the imperative disappears, you add de before the infinitive, and pronouns shift from moi/vous to le/lui. This is exactly how you relay a phone message.
Comment rapporter correctement « Rappelez-moi demain » dit par Monsieur Roux ?
How do you correctly report 'Rappelez-moi demain' said by Monsieur Roux?
Complétez la formule de clôture polie d'un entretien.
Complete the polite closing of an interview.
Je reste à votre ____ pour tout complément d'information.
Écoutez et tapez la formule polie.
Listen and type the polite phrase.
Traduisez en français.
Translate into French.
Could you put me through to the sales department?
Construisez une demande polie pour laisser un message.
Build a polite request to leave a message.
An interview reuses the same formal register, but in full sentences. You greet, thank the recruiter for the meeting, present your experience and end politely. Strong closing phrases like Je vous remercie de votre temps (Thank you for your time) and Je reste à votre disposition (I remain at your disposal) leave an excellent impression.
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