How Can You Master Interviews in France and Impress Any Recruiter?

If you’ve followed our earlier articles on Absolutely French Global Mobility Partner Support: The Hidden Key to Thriving Abroad and Absolutely Talented's The Future of Global Mobility: Why Every Company Needs an Expat Partner Inclusion Strategy, you already know that global mobility is not just about relocation, it’s about confidence, connection, and understanding how to express your value in a new culture. The same mindset applies when preparing for interviews in France, where success depends on mastering subtle cultural cues as much as professional expertise.

And if you want to go beyond theory, Absolutely French is hosting a hands-on workshop you won’t want to miss. On November 26, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Faraday, join Loulia Mikaïloff, founder of Identités Remarquables, for an interactive session designed especially for expats, spouses, and international talents preparing for job interviews in France. Conducted in English and French, this 1h30 session will help you prepare effectively for a French-style interview, understand key differences with international practices, and answer typical questions with confidence and authenticity. It’s a warm and practical space where learning meets sharing and connection, perfect for anyone looking to shine in their next interview.

👉 Click here to sign up for the workshop by Mikaïloff

Below are eight fresh, concrete levers to help you stand out and succeed in interviews in France.

1. Tell your intercultural story as a credibility asset

You’ve lived abroad. You’ve adapted. You’ve bridged cultures. Rather than seeing this as “extra” or “just personal”, frame it in your interview as a professional asset. For example: describe how you resolved a communication challenge across cultures, or how you brought international best practice into a local process. French recruiters increasingly value global mobility skills: adaptability, agility and intercultural intelligence. Make sure your story ends with a tangible result: what changed, what you learnt, what value you delivered.

2. Use bilingual fluency strategically in interviews, not just for show

Many French companies will appreciate if you show French language capability but perfection isn’t always required. What matters more is showing you’re comfortable trying, that you can switch between English and French if needed, and that you understand French business expressions. But don’t pretend fluency you don’t have: saying “I’m still improving” signals authenticity. Also, prepare in French one or two key answers (your elevator pitch, your “why this job/why here”) as this can make a strong impression.

3. Research the local sector jargon and adapt your vocabulary

Every industry has its own register. In France you’ll often encounter terms like gestion de projet, pilotage, animation d’équipe, référentiel, mesure/indicateur. Spend some time mapping how your global experience translates into French expressions. That way when you answer, you’ll resonate more strongly. For instance: instead of “I led the team”, you might say “J’ai piloté une équipe internationale de...”.

4. Position your flexibility and mobility as an asset

Expats and their partners often have a demonstrated ability to mobilise, relocate, and change context. In France many companies still value candidates who are not only settled but also ready to evolve. When asked “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, you can weave in “I’m excited by roles that may evolve internationally or require intercultural collaboration.” This links well with the wider mobility conversation you’re already working with.

👉 Did you know?: The talent squeeze is wider than France. ManpowerGroup’s 2025 Global Talent Shortage shows 74% of employers worldwide struggling to find the skills they need, reinforcing that internationally mobile profiles who can plug gaps across locations are valuable.

5. Network smartly for the French job market and mention it in the interview

In France, who you know and the way you engage professionally can influence more than just your CV. Before the interview, attend local meetups, join LinkedIn groups for expat partners in France, volunteer or engage in local projects. Then, in the interview, mention “Since arriving I’ve joined [network], I’ve been contributing to [project]”. This shows your integration, your proactivity and your local mindset.

6. Be ready with one “failure turned lesson” story

Rather than only listing successes, pick one example where you didn’t meet an objective (international context, adaptation challenge) and then show how you learnt from it, recalibrated your strategy and improved. In French interviews this kind of self reflection often counts more than boasting. Structure it clearly: context, challenge, what you did, and result or lesson.

7. Emphasise your awareness of French work culture nuances

Maybe lesser emphasised in past articles: interviewers in France tend to look for capacity to work in a team, respect for hierarchical and functional relationships, clarity of written and spoken expression, and commitment. Show that you understand this by weaving in how you engage with teams, how you report, and how you align with organisational objectives. For example: “In my last role I set up weekly checkpoints with my manager and cross functional teams to ensure transparency and alignment.” This kind of structure resonates.

👉 Did you know?: In France, recruiters explicitly assess human skills for managerial and team roles. Apec finds that two thirds of recruiters say soft skills like leadership and communication are hard to evaluate during hiring, which is why they multiply assessment steps. For manager hires they use reference checks 76 percent, panel interviews 71 percent, and soft skills tests 43 percent.

8. Leverage your partner or expat journey to show the soft infrastructure behind you

If you’re an expat partner or someone who has moved for a partner’s assignment, you have unique strengths. You've navigated relocation, integration, perhaps learned a new language, and built a network. Don’t shy from it. Use it to show you bring stability, resourcefulness, and a global mindset. You can say “My relocation journey taught me resilience and adaptability, I consider these as part of my professional toolkit.” This ties back to the strategic inclusion of partner experience we’ve discussed in our mobility strategy articles.

Final thoughts

Preparing for interviews in France as an expat or partner is about much more than knowing the right answers. It’s about translating your story, your mobility, your partner journey if relevant into the language and values French employers understand. It’s about showing that you’re not just integrating, you’re contributing with a global mindset and local relevance.