Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
vendre du CV à la chaine
English translation:
treating us like numbers
Added to glossary by
Karen Tucker (X)
Apr 7, 2006 20:18
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
vendre du CV à la chaine
French to English
Bus/Financial
Human Resources
testimonial in IT field
This is from an interview with a young employee about how he likes working for an IT services company. It's a testimonial that will appear on the company's website.
Et l'ambiance à X?
Au début j’avais un peu peur, venant du secteur public, le privé était pour moi un peu diabolisé, j’appréhendais de tomber chez un « marchant d’esclaves ». Après 10 jours à X j’avais compris que chez X les gens s’entraident beaucoup et que vendre du CV à la chaine ce n’était pas le style de la maison.
Thanks,
Karen
Et l'ambiance à X?
Au début j’avais un peu peur, venant du secteur public, le privé était pour moi un peu diabolisé, j’appréhendais de tomber chez un « marchant d’esclaves ». Après 10 jours à X j’avais compris que chez X les gens s’entraident beaucoup et que vendre du CV à la chaine ce n’était pas le style de la maison.
Thanks,
Karen
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
14 hrs
Selected
NFG: and that selling our services willy nilly/treating us like numbers
Irene's answer is absolutely correct in terms of the meaning of the sentence. I would only dispute her rendering in English that would probably be too hermetic for most readers - also it's a website so perhaps another turn of phrase might be more appropriate
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Note added at 16 hrs (2006-04-08 13:15:06 GMT)
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To Irene : I sort of like battery hens but I think it is more about not sending people off to jobs without trying to fit the person to the job...
treating them like cyphers
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Note added at 16 hrs (2006-04-08 13:15:06 GMT)
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To Irene : I sort of like battery hens but I think it is more about not sending people off to jobs without trying to fit the person to the job...
treating them like cyphers
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I really appreciate all the brainstorming, research and great ideas. And thanks so much, Irene, for all your effort. I think "treating us like numbers" comes closest to the assembly line idea of "a la chaine." I like "battery hens", too, (though it's the first time I've heard the term) but I'm not sure it would be as universally understood."
18 mins
to sell Cvs non-stop
was not the ethos of the company
1 hr
I meant more to the company than just my resume (CV)
I understood or it became clear that the staff really helped each other and that I meant more to the company than just my resume (CV)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
chaplin
: you understand far more than me!i thought it was a company involved in headhunting!
11 hrs
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| disagree |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: sorry Rita but wrong interpretation - see Irene's response
12 hrs
|
13 hrs
bulk-selling CVs
I think this person is saying that the consultancy company he works for offers high-quality and personalised services to its clients.
I also think he might refer to a recent EU Directive on Services (Bolkestein) to liberalise service markets (among which IT consultancy). Obviously, the French oppose it quite strongly, claiming that it would produce a "cowboy market", where companies would just be interested in "selling CVs" at a low cost but in large quantities, without paying attention to quality.
I have included some links that might help.
“We really listen to what our clients want and we don’t believe in selling CVs to our clients”
http://www.ets-technical-sales.co.uk
"Le projet renforcerait aussi le mode régie : la SSII se contente de vendre des CV, en n’ayant qu’une vague idée du projet à réaliser"
http://www.e-torpedo.net/breve.php3?id_breve=50
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Note added at 13 hrs (2006-04-08 09:41:50 GMT)
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Perhaps I should specify that here, IMO, "CVs" is to be interpreted as manpower, in this case IT consultants sent to clients by this company.
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Note added at 15 hrs (2006-04-08 12:09:52 GMT)
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Following CMJ's comment, I thought about another solution that would do away with the word "CV" - although it is actually connected with the HR field and you might want to keep that concept.
Seeing it from the worker’s point of view, why not try a bolder metaphor? How about “treating consultants like battery hens” (i.e. the company is more interested in providing services in large quantities than in assuring quality and it pays its consultants very little for their work)?
I also think he might refer to a recent EU Directive on Services (Bolkestein) to liberalise service markets (among which IT consultancy). Obviously, the French oppose it quite strongly, claiming that it would produce a "cowboy market", where companies would just be interested in "selling CVs" at a low cost but in large quantities, without paying attention to quality.
I have included some links that might help.
“We really listen to what our clients want and we don’t believe in selling CVs to our clients”
http://www.ets-technical-sales.co.uk
"Le projet renforcerait aussi le mode régie : la SSII se contente de vendre des CV, en n’ayant qu’une vague idée du projet à réaliser"
http://www.e-torpedo.net/breve.php3?id_breve=50
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Note added at 13 hrs (2006-04-08 09:41:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I should specify that here, IMO, "CVs" is to be interpreted as manpower, in this case IT consultants sent to clients by this company.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2006-04-08 12:09:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Following CMJ's comment, I thought about another solution that would do away with the word "CV" - although it is actually connected with the HR field and you might want to keep that concept.
Seeing it from the worker’s point of view, why not try a bolder metaphor? How about “treating consultants like battery hens” (i.e. the company is more interested in providing services in large quantities than in assuring quality and it pays its consultants very little for their work)?
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: your definition is spot on but I'm not so sure about your translation
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, CMJ. I see your point. I have in fact come across "selling CVs" in some HR text but I understand that there could be a "smoother" and clearer option.
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Discussion