How to Write a French CV

French CV vs. Anglo-Saxon Résumé: The Key Differences

Before you start writing, it helps to understand what makes a French CV structurally different from a British or American résumé:

For a deeper comparison, see our article on French CV vs. English CV: the differences.

Section 1: The Header (État Civil)

Your CV begins with your personal information, typically in the top left or top centre of the page. Include:

• Full name (large, bold — this is the title of your document)
• Job title you are targeting (e.g., Développeur Full Stack or Responsable Marketing Digital)
• Address (city is enough for Paris candidates — full address for smaller cities)
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn URL
• Date of birth or age (e.g., 28 ans)
• Nationality (e.g., Britannique)
• Driving licence if relevant (Permis B)

A professional photo is placed in the top right corner. Use a neutral background, business attire, and a natural expression. Avoid selfies or casual photos.

Section 2: Professional Experience (Expérience Professionnelle)

List your positions in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role, include:

• Job title in bold
• Company name and city
• Dates (month/year format, e.g., Janvier 2021 – Mars 2023)
• 3–5 bullet points describing your key responsibilities and achievements

Use action verbs at the start of each bullet point. French CV verbs are typically in the infinitive or past participle form, not the first person. Examples: Géré une équipe de 5 personnes (Managed a team of 5 people), Développé une stratégie digitale (Developed a digital strategy), Augmenté le chiffre d’affaires de 15 % (Increased revenue by 15%).

Quantify your achievements wherever possible. French recruiters respond well to concrete numbers, percentages, and scale.

Section 3: Education (Formation)

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order. Include:

• Degree or qualification name
• Institution name
• City and country
• Year of completion

French employers place significant weight on educational credentials. If you attended a prestigious university, it is fine to mention it prominently. If your degree is from outside France, add a brief description in brackets so the recruiter understands the level: e.g., Bachelor’s degree in Economics (équivalent Licence).

Grandes écoles graduates (HEC, Sciences Po, Polytechnique, etc.) typically list their school in a prominent position — this carries enormous weight in French professional culture.

Section 4: Skills (Compétences)

This section is usually kept brief on a French CV — a short column or a few lines. Include:

• Languages: Always use the CECR scale. Example: Anglais — bilingue (C2), Espagnol — courant (B2), Français — courant (B2). If you have a DELF or DALF certificate, mention it here.
• Technical skills: Software, tools, programming languages relevant to your field
• Other certifications: TOEIC, TOEFL, driving licence, professional certifications

Section 5: Interests (Centres d’Intérêt)

Unlike in the UK or US, listing personal interests on a French CV is normal and even expected — especially for junior candidates. French recruiters use this section to assess your personality and cultural fit.

Be specific rather than generic. Instead of musique, write guitare classique, pratique depuis 10 ans. Instead of sport, write trail running, participation à plusieurs courses de 20 km. Avoid anything politically controversial.

Format and Presentation

Visual presentation matters on a French CV. A clean, well-structured layout signals professionalism and attention to detail. Key rules:

• Use a standard readable font: Calibri, Garamond, or Gill Sans. Avoid decorative fonts.
• Keep margins at around 1.5–2 cm
• Use consistent formatting: same bold usage, same date format throughout
• Save and send as PDF unless the job posting specifies otherwise
• File name format: CV_Prénom_NOM.pdf

Avoid extravagant colours or graphics unless you are in a creative field. A subtle colour accent (dark blue, grey) in headings is acceptable and can help structure the page visually.