How to Write a CV in France: Format, Length and What French Recruiters Expect

If you have come from the UK, US, or another English-speaking country and are now applying for jobs in France, the first thing to know is this: what passes for a strong CV at home may not land well with a French recruiter. The conventions are different in ways that matter.

Length: shorter than you think

French CVs are almost always one page for graduates and candidates with fewer than ten years of experience. Two pages are acceptable for senior profiles with a long career history. Three pages is unusual and generally signals poor editing. If you are used to US resumes or UK CVs that run to two pages as a default, you will need to cut.

The French CV is dense and structured. It is not a narrative document. There is no personal statement at the top and no cover story woven through the bullet points. The lettre de motivation handles that work separately.

Photo: optional but common

In the UK and US, including a photo on your CV is strongly discouraged because of anti-discrimination norms. In France, it remains common practice, though it is not required. Many French candidates include a small professional headshot in the top corner. If you choose to include one, it should be a clean, neutral photo. If you prefer not to, that is entirely acceptable. French recruiters will not read its absence as unusual.

Personal information

French CVs traditionally include the candidate's full name, email address, phone number, LinkedIn URL, and city of residence. You do not need to include your age, nationality, or marital status, though some older templates still show these fields. Date of birth in particular is not expected. Focus on the basics: contact details and location.

Structure and section order

The standard French CV follows a consistent structure that recruiters navigate quickly.

• Expériences professionnelles in reverse chronological order, with job title, company name, dates, and three to five bullet points per role
• Formation (education), also in reverse chronological order. French employers pay close attention to the Grandes Ecoles and university prestige tier, so list your institution clearly
• Compétences (skills): a short section listing technical and language skills
• Langues (languages): list each language with a level indicator (B2, C1, bilingue, langue maternelle)
• Centres d'intérêt (interests): a brief optional section at the bottom. French recruiters often glance at this, so do not leave it entirely generic

The lettre de motivation

In France, the cover letter is not optional. French job applications are almost always submitted as a CV plus a lettre de motivation. The letter is expected to explain why you are applying to this specific company, what you bring to this specific role, and how your background fits. A generic letter will be noticed and will work against you. Write one that is specific to the company and the posting.

ATS in France

Large French companies, multinationals based in France, and major public-sector employers use ATS software to filter applications. The same rules apply as elsewhere: standard formatting, no graphics or tables, clear section headings, and language that mirrors the job description. Smaller French companies and SMEs often review applications manually, but applying ATS discipline costs nothing and protects you.

Common mistakes expats make

• Submitting a two-page CV when one would do. Cut ruthlessly.
• Writing a personal statement at the top. French CVs do not use them.
• Skipping the lettre de motivation. This is a significant signal of unfamiliarity with French norms.
• Using a highly designed template with columns, icons, and graphics. These look cluttered by French standards and often break ATS parsing.
• Not listing language levels. French recruiters want to see a precise level for each language, not just "good English."