Chapitre 11 - Recruitment & The Workplace
CV, lettre de motivation et entretien d'embauche - se présenter avec assurance en anglais professionnel.
New Context - Read Without a Dictionary
Un document inédit sur une culture d'entreprise. Mobilise ce que tu as appris pour en comprendre l'essentiel.
The "Dream Team": Inside Netflix's Hiring Philosophy
Netflix has built one of the most talked-about company cultures in the world, described in its own public "Culture Memo." At its centre is a simple idea: "we aim only to have high performers at Netflix - people who are great at what they do, and even better at working together."
Unlike many companies, Netflix compares itself to a professional sports team rather than a family. "Families are about unconditional love," the memo explains. "Professional sports teams, on the other hand, focus on performance and picking the right person for every position."
"We ask managers to apply what we call the 'keeper test' - asking, 'if X wanted to leave, would I fight to keep them?' Or 'knowing everything I know today, would I hire X again?'"
- Netflix Culture Memo
This might sound intense, but Netflix insists it isn't meant to create fear. Managers are encouraged to speak regularly with their teams about what's going well and what isn't, "to avoid surprises." The memo also stresses that managers evaluate employees "on their whole record, rather than focusing on the mistakes or bets that didn't pay off."
Netflix also gives employees unusual freedom. Its vacation policy is famously just two words: "Take vacation." Its expenses policy is five words: "Act in Netflix's best interests." The company calls this its "(almost) no rules rule," designed to give responsible employees the freedom to use their own judgment.
Whether or not every company could, or should, copy Netflix's approach, the memo offers a striking example of how a business can put its hiring philosophy in writing for everyone to see.
Words: ~260 · Level: B1/B2 · Topic: Recruitment & Workplace Culture
Quick Comprehension Check
1. According to the document, why does Netflix compare itself to a sports team rather than a family?
| Critère | A2 | B1 | B2 | Mon niveau |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compréhension d'une analogie | Réponse hors sujet ou absente ; la comparaison famille / équipe sportive n'est pas expliquée. | L'idée générale (la performance compte) est perçue, mais la distinction famille / équipe n'est pas clairement expliquée. | La comparaison est expliquée avec précision : la famille repose sur l'amour inconditionnel, l'équipe sportive sur la performance et le bon choix de personne pour chaque poste. |
A2
B1
B2
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2. In your own words, explain what the "keeper test" is and why Netflix uses it.
| Critère | A2 | B1 | B2 | Mon niveau |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explication d'un outil managérial | Réponse en style télégraphique ou simple recopiage de la citation, sans reformulation. | Reformulation partielle : le « keeper test » est mentionné, mais sa finalité (garder la meilleure personne à chaque poste) n'est pas expliquée. | Reformulation personnelle et précise : elle explique le test (« est-ce que je me battrais pour le garder ? ») et sa finalité, s'assurer que chaque poste est occupé par la personne la plus adaptée. |
A2
B1
B2
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Professional Writing Task
Simulation E4 - Production écrite en contexte professionnel.
You work as an HR assistant at Loop. Your manager, Claire Dubois, is currently recruiting a new team member and has asked you to research how leading companies write cover letter guidance and describe their hiring philosophy, using the Indeed guide and the Netflix Culture Memo above.
Claire Dubois has asked you to produce one of the following professional documents.
Temps conseillé
Choisis ton format
Following your request, I have researched how leading companies think about hiring. Netflix, for example, looks for people who are great at what they do and even better at working together, comparing its teams to a sports team rather than a family.
I would recommend that Loop write down its own hiring values clearly, the way Indeed suggests candidates should write clear, tailored cover letters. This would help us attract candidates who truly share our culture.
Best regards,
[Your name]
Key Skills: The ideal candidate is someone whose creativity is matched by strong organisational skills, and who has a proven track record of delivering projects on time. Experience with retail or event design, which is not required but is a plus, would be an advantage.
Cultural Fit: Like Netflix, we value people who are great at what they do and even better at working together. We are looking for a candidate who is curious, open to feedback, and genuinely passionate about visual storytelling.
How Did You Do?
Évalue ta production écrite à l'aide de la grille critériée ci-dessous. Elle vient compléter les grilles déjà remplies après chaque question de l'étape 1. Sois honnête - c'est ce qui te permet de progresser.
Grille d'évaluation - Tâche professionnelle
| Critère | A2 Insuffisant | B1 Satisfaisant | B2 Maîtrisé | Mon niveau |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adéquation à la tâche | Le document ne répond pas à la consigne. | La plupart des éléments sont présents. | Tous les éléments demandés sont présents et développés. | A2 B1 B2 |
| Structure & cohésion | Texte peu structuré, pas de mise en forme. | Structure cohérente, mise en forme partielle. | Texte bien organisé, format professionnel respecté. | A2 B1 B2 |
| Lexique | Vocabulaire limité, peu de termes du chapitre. | Vocabulaire suffisant, quelques termes utilisés. | Lexique riche (track record, candidate, tailor…). | A2 B1 B2 |
| Grammaire | Relative clauses absentes ou mal formées. | Relative clauses présentes, quelques erreurs. | Relative clauses variées et bien maîtrisées (who/which/that/whose). | A2 B1 B2 |
| Registre professionnel | Registre inadapté, pas de formules de politesse. | Registre globalement correct mais inégal. | Registre formel et professionnel tout au long du texte. | A2 B1 B2 |
Mon bilan général du chapitre
Ce bilan agrège automatiquement les 2 grilles de compréhension (étape 1) et les 5 critères de la tâche professionnelle (ci-dessus) - 7 critères au total.
Ce que je dois travailler en priorité :