CV vs resume: what actually changes when you apply in France
A French CV is a one-page, fact-dense document with French section names, your education level stated the French way (Bac+3, Bac+5), and CEFR language levels. It is not a translated American resume: the length rule, the personal details header, the tone and the section order all differ.
The 9 differences that get applications rejected
1. Length: one page is the standard French CV for most profiles; two pages are tolerated for senior candidates. The American two-to-three-page resume reads as unfocused to French recruiters.
2. Header: a French CV opens with your name, job title, city, phone and email. Marital status, age and full address used to be common; the modern practice is to leave them out.
3. Photo: common in France, never legally required — French anti-discrimination law prevents employers from demanding one (see our dedicated photo guide).
4. Section names: French recruiters scan for « Expérience professionnelle », « Formation », « Compétences » and « Langues ». English section names on a CV aimed at a French-speaking recruiter signal a copy-pasted application.
5. Education notation: France ranks degrees in years after the baccalauréat — Bac+2, Bac+3 (Licence), Bac+5 (Master). Stating « BSc » alone forces the recruiter to translate; give the French equivalent.
6. Language levels: « fluent » means nothing in France. Use the CEFR scale (A1 to C2), and name certificates (DELF, DALF, TCF, TOEIC).
7. References: « References available upon request » is an American convention. French CVs do not list references; they are asked for later if needed.
8. Tone: French CVs are factual and compact. The personal-branding summary paragraph common on US resumes is kept to one or two lines here, if present at all.
9. Objective vs title: instead of an « objective statement », French CVs put the TARGET JOB TITLE under the name — ideally the exact title of the offer.
Same person, two documents
The fastest way to internalise the difference: take one experience bullet. US resume style: « Dynamic sales professional who spearheaded a transformative growth initiative ». French CV style: « Développement d'un portefeuille de 45 comptes B2B — +32 % de CA en 18 mois ». Facts, numbers, no adjectives.
If you are converting an existing resume, do not translate it line by line. Restructure it: cut to one page, rename the sections, convert your degrees to Bac+X, add CEFR levels, remove references and the long summary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send my American resume to a French company?
If the job ad is in English (common in tech and international firms), an English CV is acceptable — but still adapt it: one page, CEFR language levels, French degree equivalents. If the ad is in French, apply in French.
Do the words CV and resume mean different things in France?
In France everyone says « CV » (curriculum vitae) for the standard one-page application document. The word « résumé » in French means « summary » and is never used for the document itself.
Should I keep my LinkedIn in English?
LinkedIn handles multiple language profiles — keep English as primary if your market is international, and add a French version if you target French-speaking recruiters.