Professional interview: what are the requirements?

Introduced in 2014 and included in the French Labor Code, the professional interview is an obligation for employers, occurring every two years. This interview is not a performance evaluation but rather an opportunity to discuss how the employee’s career path can be enhanced.

Thus, this interview benefits both the company and the employee: it promotes the personal development of the employee and helps address the company's skill needs.

Who Is Subject to the Professional Interview?

The professional interview applies to all employees in all companies and industries and must be organized at least every two years. There are no exceptions based on contract type or working hours; every employee is entitled to this interview.

Additionally, the company is required to organize a professional interview when an employee returns from certain types of leave, including:

• Maternity leave
• Parental leave
• Adoption leave
• Caregiver leave
• Sabbatical leave
• Voluntary secured mobility period
• Partial activity after maternity or adoption leave
• Sick leave lasting more than 6 months
• Union mandate

How to Organize a Professional Interview?

The interview must take place during working hours and is considered working time.

During the interview, the employer must inform the employee about the possibility of accessing free career development counseling services (CEP). These advisors help employees assess their current situation and professional skills, and can assist in achieving their career goals.

The content of the interview is determined either by a collective agreement or by the employer, depending on the company’s strategic goals.

The law does not specify exact modalities of organization; the interview can take place either on-site or via video conference.

What Topics Should Be Covered?

The interview must include the following topics:

• Validation of professional experience (VAE)
• Activation and funding of the employee’s personal training account (CPF) by the employer
• Availability of career development counseling services (CEP)

The professional interview also aims to discuss the employee's professional development, track training and certification actions, monitor salary or career progression, and assess the employee’s employability.

This interview is also where the employee’s future and role within the company are discussed. The employee shares their career project with the employer during this exchange.

After the interview, a written report must be created, and a copy provided to the employee.

Note: Every six years, a professional interview summarizing the employee's career history must be conducted. This ensures the employee has benefited from previous interviews, salary or career progression, and has completed at least one non-mandatory training course (i.e., a training that is not required for the employee to perform their role in line with legal, regulatory, or international agreements).

Expert Advice: Your Skills Operator (OPCO) can assist you in organizing these interviews. Many OPCOs have dedicated spaces for professional interviews and provide interview templates on their websites. 

Sanctions for Non-Compliance

If employers fail to comply with this obligation, they may face penalties.

This non-compliance could be considered a breach of the employment contract, entitling the employee to compensation in case of legal action, as their employability has not been maintained.

Specifically, for companies with 50 or more employees, failure to meet this obligation leads to a corrective payment of €3,000 to the CPF of each affected employee.
This payment must be made directly to the employee’s CPF; otherwise, the employer will be required to pay double to the public treasury.

Do Not Confuse with the Annual Performance Evaluation Interview
The professional interview should not be confused with the annual performance evaluation interview, which focuses on reviewing the employee’s completed tasks, challenges faced, and setting new objectives for the upcoming period.