Ep 4
Plot of Bref.04 J'ai passé un entretien d'embauche.
The main character has been looking for a job for a while. One night, feeling desperate, he sends out 250 identical job applications to companies near his home. Only one company calls him back—but he doesn’t even remember applying there. To sound professional, he replies, “It would be a true honor to join your team.” Then he quickly googles the company to figure out what they actually do.
Before the interview, he prepares: he prints out his CV (with kayaking listed as a hobby, even though he’s never done it), puts on his “formal occasions” suit, and heads to the company. Sitting next to another candidate, he gets suspicious because the guy looks too well-groomed.
During the interview, he notices the director’s ridiculous tie and wonders if the guy actually asked for it in a store. This thought makes him laugh, and the director mistakes it as a compliment.
When asked if he speaks English, he nervously says “yes.” Then, asked about his biggest flaw, he considers the truth (obsessive, socially awkward, liar) but instead answers, “I’m a perfectionist.”
Finally, the director asks about his kayaking experience. He panics, tries to bluff his way through, and points out that kayak is a palindrome. The director awkwardly ends the interview with “We’ll call you.”
He hears the undertone "Go F*** yourself”
Bref. He went to a job interview.
Top 10 Interesting Phrases from Bref.04 J'ai passé un entretien d'embauche.
1. “Bref, ça faisait un moment que je cherchais du boulot.”
• Literal: “In short, I had been looking for a job for a while.”
2. “Un soir, j’ai craqué, j’ai envoyé 250 mails copiés-collés.”
• Literal: “One night, I snapped and sent 250 copy-pasted emails.”
3. “Quitte à chercher, autant que ce soit tout près.”
• Literal: “If I have to look for a job, might as well be nearby.”
4. “C’était soit une maladie vénérienne, soit une branche de l’ONU.”
• Literal: “It was either an STD, a branch of the UN, or a company renting printers.”
5. “J’avais mis le costume que je mets aux mariages, aux enterrements et aux entretiens d’embauche.”
• Literal: “I wore the suit I use for weddings, funerals, and job interviews.”
6. “Je me suis demandé s’il avait vraiment demandé une cravate Dingo en magasin.”
• Literal: “I wondered if he actually asked for a Goofy tie in a store.”
7. “Il m’a demandé de me speaking English.”
• Literal: “He asked me to speak English.”
8. “J’ai répondu ‘Yes.’”
• Literal: “I answered, ‘Yes.’”
9. “Vous aimez le kayak ?”
• Literal: “Do you like kayaking?”
10. “J’ai entendu ‘pas de nouvelles, bonne nouvelle.’”
• Literal: “I heard ‘no news is good news.’” (But in reality, it meant no news = no job.)
About This Series
This blog is part of the Bref Commentary Series, where we break down episodes of the iconic French TV show Bref. Each post includes summaries, key phrases, and cultural insights to help you understand real, everyday French.
💬 Need help with a phrase? Drop a comment, and I’ll transcribe it for you!
💡 Language Learning Tip
Struggling with Bref? Read the summary here, then rewatch the episode without subtitles. You won’t catch everything at first, but over time, your brain will adapt. Master Bref, and you’ll understand everyday French with ease.
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