Podcast Summary
ehoui! — Episode 57: "Au boulot !"
Host: Virginie Cutulic
Date: November 29, 2021

Episode Overview

In this episode, Virginie Cutulic explores practical and everyday French vocabulary related to work (“le boulot”) and employment. She breaks down terminology, nuances, and cultural insights into the French workplace, focusing on both formal and informal language. The discussion includes vocabulary for looking for a job, unemployment, writing a CV, and issues around job applications in France. The episode is designed for intermediate French learners wanting to understand real-world usage and subtle cultural differences.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. French Vocabulary for Work (01:10–05:18)

• Virginie distinguishes between common and slang terms for work:

  • Travail: Standard word for "work/job".
  • Boulot: Everyday slang, widely used ("J'ai un bon boulot").
  • Poste: Refers more to position or job function ("J'ai un bon poste").
  • Taf (T.A.F.): Colloquial, very familiar ("J'ai un bon taf", "J'ai beaucoup taffé cette semaine").
    • Notable note: It can be used as a verb ("taffer").
  • Job: Used for temporary or informal work, especially student or summer jobs, and less for serious employment.

  "Le mot job, ce n’est pas comme en anglais. On utilise ce mot quand ce n’est pas un travail vraiment sérieux." (03:11)

2. Being Unemployed and Benefits in France (05:20–12:45)

• Sans emploi: Not having a job.

• Toucher du chômage: Receiving unemployment benefits.

  • Virginie contrasts France’s social safety net with countries like the U.S. and Mexico, where such support is rare or absent.
  • Être foutu: Slang for being in trouble while unemployed (not gross, but very familiar).
  • Dans la merde: More vulgar for being in a bad situation.

  "En France, vous savez que c’est un système plus social, qui a donc des avantages et des inconvénients." (07:20)

• Virginie emphasizes that to receive unemployment benefits, one must have worked long enough; it’s not automatic.

  • Pôle Emploi: The French public institution that assists with job search and benefits; present throughout cities.

• Discussion of people who might take advantage of the system, and her personal experience as a teacher always being able to find work, albeit not highly paid.

  • Gagner des milles et des cents: Expression meaning to earn a lot. Used mostly in the negative: "Je ne gagne pas des milles et des cents."

  "L’avantage d’être prof, c’est qu’on ne gagne pas des milles et des cents. Mais en tout cas, moi je n’ai jamais… souffert du chômage." (10:08)

3. Pôle Emploi and Professional Retraining (12:46–15:23)

• Pôle emploi does more than just distribute benefits; it can help pay for retraining or vocational courses, especially useful for career changers.

  "Au pôle emploi, ce qui est bien, c’est qu’ils peuvent aider à payer des formations." (13:54)

4. The French Job Application Process (15:24–23:18)

• CV (Curriculum Vitae): The essential French resume; never called "résumé" in French.

  • Standard: One page, A4 size. Photo not mandatory but often preferred.
  • Lettre de motivation: Required cover letter.
  • Personal status (marital, children) not required.

  "On ne dit pas résumé... Pour nous, le résumé en anglais, c’est le CV." (16:44)

• Discussion of racism and discrimination in hiring:

  • Studies show bias against candidates with Arabic or African names, or who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods ("quartiers chauds").
  • Short-lived experiment with CV anonyme (anonymous resumes) to combat discrimination — ultimately not widely adopted.

  "Il y a eu des études qui ont montré qu’un employeur français va plus facilement choisir la personne qui n’est pas d’origine arabe ni d’origine africaine..." (18:54) "Pourquoi pas proposer des CV anonymes… Ça n’a pas eu beaucoup de succès." (21:36)

• Banlieue: Suburb, often stigmatized, but not all are dangerous ("quartiers chauds" or "crénios" for dangerous neighborhoods).

  • Virginie stresses not to stigmatize suburbs, as some are expensive and safe.
  • Notable vocabulary:
    • "Quartier chaud": Dangerous neighborhood.
    • "Crénios": Familiar slang for "safe" (not dangerous).

5. The Hiring Process: Embauche and Entretien d'embauche (23:19–25:32)

• Embaucher: To hire/employ.

• Entretien d'embauche: Job interview. Not to be confused with "interview", which refers to media interviews with actors, singers, etc.

  "Quand un employeur va être intéressé par un CV… il va donc proposer un entretien d'embauche." (23:42)

• For technical or higher responsibility jobs, there may be several interviews.

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "On peut aussi utiliser ce mot [taf] comme un verbe, le verbe taffer. Par exemple, je suis très fatiguée, j’ai beaucoup taffé cette semaine." (02:17)
• "Foutu, c’est-à-dire qu'on est dans la merde. Voilà. Je le dis de manière naturelle, mais c’est ça." (06:27)
• "En France, le gouvernement va nous payer pendant qu’on cherche du travail." (07:15)
• "Il faut avoir une certaine ancienneté pour toucher du chômage." (09:13)
• "[Dans le CV] Ce qui n’est pas obligatoire, c’est le statut marital." (17:50)
• "Moi c’est quelque chose qui m’insupporte au plus haut point, le racisme." (18:58)
• "Quartier chaud en français, ça signifie… un quartier qui est dangereux." (20:44)
• "On est revenu au système CV classique avec le nom, le prénom. La photo n’est pas obligatoire." (22:08)
• "Embaucher, embaucher ça signifie employer quelqu’un." (23:27)
• "Pour trouver un emploi, on va dire un entretien d’embauche, d’accord?" (23:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:10 – Introduction to vocabulary: travail, boulot, taf, job
• 05:20 – Discussing unemployment and benefits (“chômage”)
• 07:45 – Comparison of unemployment/social systems (France vs. US/Mexico)
• 10:08 – “Gagner des milles et des cents”; being a teacher
• 12:46 – Role of Pôle Emploi and retraining
• 15:24 – Job applications: CV, cover letter, information to include/omit
• 18:54 – Discrimination, racism, and CV anonymes in French hiring
• 20:44 – “Quartier chaud”, “banlieue”, and address-based discrimination
• 23:19 – The hiring process: embaucher, entretien d'embauche

Language & Tone

Virginie uses a conversational, approachable style with practical explanations and real-world examples. She sprinkles in informal expressions, personal anecdotes, and cultural commentary, making the episode lively and relatable for learners. She directly addresses the listener, encouraging curiosity and active learning.

Summary:
Episode 57 of ehoui! offers listeners a deep dive into French job-related vocabulary, the job hunt process, and cultural nuances—balancing practical language tips with authentic French perspectives on employment, social safety nets, and workplace discrimination. The engaging tone and precise examples make it an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to sound (and act) more like a real French speaker.