The tech CV for France: where English works and what still differs
French tech is the one sector where an English CV is often acceptable: many startups and scale-ups operate in English and post their ads in English. What still differs from a US application: one-page discipline, CEFR language levels, French degree equivalents, and stating your work authorization if you are non-EU.
What French tech recruiters actually screen
Stack first: languages, frameworks and infrastructure, named explicitly and honestly — French tech interviews probe claimed skills quickly. A « Compétences » block organised by category (backend, data, cloud, tooling) beats a long alphabetical list.
Impact over titles: « API redesign cutting p95 latency 40 % » reads the same in Paris as in San Francisco. Quantified bullets transfer perfectly — this is the least « French » part of the exercise.
The French twist remains on format: keep it to one page, use MM/YYYY dates, give your degree's Bac+X equivalent (a BSc is Bac+3, an MSc is Bac+5 — school reputation matters less in tech than elsewhere in France), and state French/English levels in CEFR terms. « Français : B1 » is fine in much of French tech; pretending fluency is not.
Where the English-speaking tech jobs are
The ad language is your filter: companies posting in English interview in English. Welcome to the Jungle (the dominant French tech job board) lets you filter, and dedicated boards list English-speaking roles in France.
Non-EU candidates: France's « Talent Passport » (passeport talent) visa track covers qualified tech employees, founders and researchers, and the French Tech Visa builds on it for startup hires — mention your eligibility or current permit on the CV to defuse the sponsorship question early.
Salary expectations are public enough to research: French tech salaries run well below US levels (a Paris senior developer typically earns in the range documented by APEC and specialised barometers) — calibrate before the interview, negotiation margins are thinner than in the US.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need French to work in French tech?
For many startup and scale-up roles, no — English is the working language. Team rituals and administration still touch French, and B1-level French dramatically widens your options outside the startup bubble.
Should I put GitHub and side projects on a French tech CV?
Yes — same as anywhere. Link GitHub, a portfolio or a deployed project near your header. French tech recruiters check them.
Is LeetCode-style interviewing common in France?
Less systematic than in US Big Tech. French processes typically mix a technical exchange, a practical exercise or take-home, and team fit conversations. Prepare to explain your past choices in depth.