The French CV guide — by a French resume tool
How to write a French CV: the 2026 format guide
A French CV is a one-page, fact-dense document: a header with your name and target job title, professional experience in reverse chronology, education with Bac+X levels, skills, and languages on the CEFR scale. It is not a translated resume — and this guide, written from France, covers every convention with official sources.
The French CV format, section by section
En-tête
Name, the exact job title you target, city, phone (+33 format from abroad), professional email. Photo optional — see the photo guide. No age or marital status needed in 2026.
Expérience professionnelle
Reverse chronological. Each role: title, company, city, MM/YYYY dates, then 2-4 bullets of quantified facts (« +32 % de CA en 18 mois »), not responsibilities.
Formation
Degrees in reverse order with the French equivalence: Bachelor's = Licence / Bac+3, Master's = Master / Bac+5. After a few years of experience this section moves below and shrinks.
Compétences
Hard skills and tools, grouped by category, scannable in seconds. No skill bars — they carry no information.
Langues
Every language on the CEFR scale (A1-C2) with certificates if any (DELF, DALF, TOEIC). « Fluent » is not a level in France.
Centres d'intérêt (optional)
One line, only if genuinely distinctive — it often feeds interview conversation.
Golden rules: one page (two for senior profiles), MM/YYYY dates, a PDF export whose text parses cleanly — applicant tracking systems used in France (Workday, Taleo, SmartRecruiters, Lever) rank what they can read. No « references available upon request », no Europass for private-sector applications, no skill bars.
Go deeper: every French CV question, answered
CV vs resume: what actually changes when you apply in France
French CVs are not translated US resumes. Length, photo, tone, education-first: the real differences, explained by a French resume tool.
Photo on a French CV: what the law says, what recruiters expect
Do you need a photo on a French CV? What French law actually says, when a photo helps, and when to skip it — with official sources.
The French cover letter (lettre de motivation), explained for English speakers
How to write a French lettre de motivation: the Vous-Moi-Nous structure, exact closing formulas, and a full example you can adapt.
French or English? Choosing the language of your CV for France
Should your CV for a French company be in French or English? The rule recruiters use, plus how to handle bilingual applications cleanly.
A French CV template that actually follows French conventions
A French CV template that follows real French conventions: one page, correct section names, recruiter-approved layout. Free to use.
Translating your resume to French: the vocabulary that has no direct equivalent
English-French CV vocabulary: degrees (Bac+X, Licence, Master), job titles, honors, sections — and the mistranslations that hurt applications.
The student CV in France: stage, alternance and the first job
How to write a French CV for an internship or first job: stage, alternance, education-first layout, and what French recruiters expect from students.
The tech CV for France: where English works and what still differs
Applying to French startups or tech companies? English is often fine — here is the CV format, where to apply, and what actually differs.
Applying to French jobs from abroad: the CV details that unlock replies
How to apply for jobs in France from abroad: work authorization on your CV, talent visa basics, and how to reassure French recruiters.
The 10 French CV mistakes English speakers make (and their fixes)
The mistakes that get expat CVs set aside in France: 2-page resumes, machine translation, missing CEFR levels, Europass, and more.
Language levels on a French CV: the CEFR scale recruiters actually read
How to list languages on a French CV: CEFR levels, DELF/DALF/TCF certificates, and why « fluent French » means nothing to French recruiters.
Jobs in France for English speakers: where they are and how to get them
Where English speakers actually find jobs in France: the boards that work, the sectors that hire, and how to adapt your application.
French CV: quick answers
What does a French CV look like?
One page, a header with your name and target job title, then four sections in order: Expérience professionnelle (reverse chronological), Formation (with Bac+X degree levels), Compétences, and Langues with CEFR levels (A1-C2). A photo is common but never required.
How is a French CV different from a US resume?
Main differences: strict one-page discipline, French section names, degrees expressed as Bac+2/3/5, CEFR language levels instead of « fluent », no references line, and a target job title instead of an objective statement.
Is a photo required on a French CV?
No. French anti-discrimination law (Article L1132-1 of the labour code) means an employer cannot require one. Photos remain common practice — include one only if it is professional quality.
Should I apply in French or English?
Follow the language of the job ad. French ad → French application ; English ad (common in tech and international companies) → English application. Never mix languages in one document.
How long should a French CV be?
One page for most profiles. Two pages are tolerated for senior candidates — recent roles detailed, older ones compressed.