A French CV is usually one page for juniors and up to two for experienced profiles, with a job title at the top, a short profile (accroche), Expérience professionnelle, Formation, Compétences, Langues and Centres d'intérêt. A photo, age and marital status are optional and increasingly left out. Write it in French for French-language ads, and send it with a lettre de motivation if requested.
French recruiters expect a CV that is concise and targeted at the job. A long English-style resume translated word for word looks out of place, and literal translations of diplomas confuse readers.
French CV section headings
| English | French | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| Contact details | Coordonnées | Name, phone, email, city, LinkedIn |
| CV title | Titre du CV | The job you want: "Développeuse web" |
| Profile | Profil / Accroche | 2–3 lines |
| Work experience | Expérience professionnelle | Dates, role, company, results |
| Education | Formation | Diploma, school, year |
| Skills | Compétences | Technical and soft skills |
| Languages | Langues | Level with CEFR (B2, C1) |
| Interests | Centres d'intérêt | Short and specific |
| Driving licence | Permis | "Permis B" when relevant to the job |
French CV example
CV en français (fictional)
[Prénom Nom] — Chargée de communication
[Ville] · [téléphone] · [e-mail] · [LinkedIn]
PROFIL: Chargée de communication avec 4 ans d'expérience en agence. J'ai lancé la newsletter d'un client qui est passée de 3 000 à 12 000 abonnés en un an.
EXPÉRIENCE PROFESSIONNELLE: 2022 – aujourd'hui · Chargée de communication, [Agence], [Ville] · Gestion de 5 comptes clients, réseaux sociaux et relations presse.
FORMATION: 2021 · Master Communication, [Université]
COMPÉTENCES: Canva, Adobe InDesign, Meta Business Suite, rédaction
LANGUES: Français (C1), anglais (langue maternelle), espagnol (B1)
CENTRES D'INTÉRÊT: Photographie urbaine, bénévolat dans une association de quartier
Photo and personal details on a French CV
| Item | Usual practice in France |
|---|---|
| Photo | Optional; many candidates now leave it out |
| Age and date of birth | Optional; not required |
| Marital status, nationality | Leave out unless relevant, such as a work permit question |
| Address | City is enough |
| Work permit | Mention it if you are not an EU citizen and hold the right to work |
How to describe foreign diplomas on a French CV
Write the original diploma name and add a short equivalent in brackets, for example "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Bac+3)". "Bac+3" or "Bac+5" tells French recruiters the number of years after secondary school. Only write a French equivalence if it is accurate.
The lettre de motivation
Many French job ads ask for a CV and a lettre de motivation (cover letter): one page, addressed to the recruiter, explaining why this company and this role. Even when it is optional, a short targeted message helps.
Mistakes on French CVs
- Sending a two- or three-page CV as a junior.
- Translating job titles literally instead of using the French term the company uses.
- Writing "French: fluent" without a level; use B2, C1 or a test such as DELF/DALF.
- Leaving out the job title at the top.
- What is a CV called in French?
- Le CV (curriculum vitae).
- Do French CVs need a photo?
- No, it is optional.
- How long should a French CV be?
- One page for students and juniors, up to two pages for experienced candidates.
- Should I write my CV in French?
- Yes for French-language job ads; English is fine for international companies that advertise in English.
ArcPixel is also available in French: see our French guide to the phrase d'accroche CV. For other countries, see CV format by country.
