French CV (CV Français): The Complete Guide
A French CV is concise, structured and often includes a photo and an accroche. Here are the conventions French recruiters expect.
The French CV at a glance
A French CV (curriculum vitæ) is usually one page, well structured and written in French for French companies. Where an American resume sells results and a German Lebenslauf records everything, the French CV balances the two: it presents your parcours clearly, with an accroche (headline) at the top, and often a photo.
The structure French recruiters expect
- État civil / contact — name, address, phone, email (and photo if used).
- Titre du CV / accroche — a 2–5 line professional positioning statement.
- Expériences professionnelles — reverse chronological, with company, dates, role and results.
- Formation — degrees and institutions, most recent first.
- Compétences — skills, tools and languages.
- Centres d'intérêt — interests and extracurriculars (still valued in France).
Optional: certifications, projets, bénévolat, langues with CEFR levels.
The accroche: your French headline
The accroche sits directly under your name and acts as a mini-summary:
Ingénieur logiciel senior (6 ans d'expérience) spécialisé React et Node.js. Réduction de 40 % des temps de chargement et direction d'une équipe de 5 personnes. Recherche un poste à Toulouse.
It is your single best chance to make a French recruiter keep reading. Keep it specific and quantified.
Photo and personal details
- Photo: optional; a professional headshot is acceptable. Do not use selfies.
- Personal details: date of birth and nationality are traditionally included but are increasingly optional under French law.
- Address: city is usually enough; a full address is no longer required.
- Interests: unlike the US, French CVs often keep a short "centres d'intérêt" section.
Dates, language and phrasing
- Format dates as MM/YYYY or
janv. 2020 – déc. 2022. - Write in French for French companies, and check accents carefully.
- Use French job titles from the posting where possible.
- Prefer the passé composé for past roles and the présent for your current one.
- Avoid anglicisms that have a French equivalent.
ATS in France
French recruiters increasingly use ATS software, so the same principles apply: single column, standard headings, keywords from the posting, and a text-based PDF. Our French CV builder applies the French section order and headings automatically.
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Choose the French CV format, fill in your profile once and download a clean PDF in French.
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