The world of work
What do we call the money you earn each month for your job?
Salary/Wages
What document lists your experience and skills for a job application?
A CV/A résumé
Make it polite: "Send me the contract." → "____ you send me the contract, please?"
could would
What do we call the drawing seen from above showing a room's layout?
a floor plan
Which Swiss-French architect said "a house is a machine for living in"?
Le Corbusier
A designer who works for themselves, project by project, not for one company, is a…?
Freelancer
What do we call the letter you send WITH your CV to explain why you want the job?
a cover letter
Formal email opening to someone you don't know by name: "____ Sir or Madam,"
Dear
Justify a choice with would: "I chose oak because it ____ (feel) warmer."
would feel
Which German school (1919–1933) shaped architecture and interior design?
the Bauhaus
What's the English for "contrat à durée indéterminée"?
A permanent/open-ended contract
In an interview, what's a good question to ask the recruiter at the end to show interest?
What does a typical project look like here?" / any relevant question about the role
You're closing a first email to a potential client you've never met. Which is more appropriate: "Cheers," / "Best regards," / "Yours sincerely,"?
Best regards — « Cheers » is too casual
« Yours sincerely » is correct but very formal/British-letter style, slightly stiff (rigid) for a first email.
"Best regards" is the professional-but-approachable norm
What's the English word for how people move through a space?
circulation/flow
What Japanese aesthetic finds beauty in imperfection and natural ageing?
wabi-sabi
In a freelance contract, what do we call the money the client pays upfront before the work starts?
a deposit/an advance
Name one thing you shouldn't put on a British/American CV (unlike a French one)
a photo / your age / your marital status
Soften a refusal to a client: "I can't do that." → "I'm ____ that won't be possible."
afraid
Passive: "The space ____ (inspire) by Japanese design." (past)
was inspired
What do we call design that can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities?
universal/inclusive
What's the term for the total value of work you deliver on a project, defined in the contract to avoid doing extra unpaid work? (two words)
the project scope/scope of work
What do we call the short spoken summary of who you are and what you offer, often given at the start of an interview? (two words, informal)
an elevator pitch
Rephrase this bluntly-worded note diplomatically: "Your budget is too low." → "I'm afraid the budget ____…"
might be a little tight / may not cover everything / could be challenging for this scope
What's the technical term for furniture, fittings and equipment in an interior project?
FF&E
Which Danish concept of cosy, warm well-being has influenced interior design worldwide?
hygge