A Guide to Writing a Resume or Curriculum Vitae in French
Here is everything you need to know to write a killer French resume (aka Curriculum Vitae) which will catch any recruiter’s eye.
On this page
1. What you should know about the French CV2. Informations personnelles (Personal information)3. Projet Professionnel (Introduction)4. Formation (Educational experience)5. Expérience Professionnelle (Work Experience)6. Compétences (Skills)7. Centres d’intérêt (Hobbies)So, you want to get a job or internship in a French-speaking country. How exciting! However, before you find yourself in front of the recruiters, you will need to send an eye-catching resume to convince them you are the right fit for the job. Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as popping your trusted resume into Google Translate.
The French resume – also known as Curriculum Vitae or CV – may be different than the one you use in your home country. No worries, though! Here is how to write an impressive French CV that will show off your skills and help you land your dream job.
See also: How to Ace a Job Interview in French
1. What you should know about the French CV
Your resume will be the first impression your French recruiter will have of you. In many cases, they will go through many applicants before reaching yours. Make sure your CV is clear, short (one A4 page is best or two at most) and to the point.
It is never wise to oversell yourself. Not only is information easy to verify nowadays, but French resumes are very factual. If you want to include a description, stick to the infinitive form rather than “I….” Your CV isn’t the right place to highlight your personal achievements (like those “amazing people skills”): wait until the interview to shine.
Here are some other tips in making your French CV:
- Since the school you may have attended and the jobs you have had in the past probably have different titles, make sure that you know their French equivalent.
- When writing CV in French, spell out all the culturally specific abbreviations your reader may not be familiar with, such as organization names or US state codes.
- Finally, even if your level of French is excellent, always have a native French speaker proofread your CV before sending it. You never know which mistake, typo, or cultural misunderstanding may have escaped you.
2. Informations personnelles (Personal information)
Surprise! French CVs often carry more personal details than you may be used to. Some candidates still include their age, marital status or a photo, but none of it is required: French employers may not discriminate on age, family situation or appearance, and a growing number of recruiters prefer CVs without a photo. If you do add a picture, make it a professional, passport-style headshot rather than a holiday snap.
Don’t forget to include your contact information. If you are currently living abroad, remember to include your country code with your phone number(s). Professional profiles (such as LinkedIn) or websites are also acceptable.
Here is what to include in this section (nationality, age and family situation are optional):
Pro tip: Capitalize your last name!
- Adresseaddress
- Numéro de téléphonephone number
- Bureauwork number
- Domicilehome number
- Portablecellphone number
- Adresse e-mailemail address
- Nationaliténationality
- Âgeage
- Situation de famille (or situation familiale)marital status
- Marié(e)married
- Veuf (veuve)widower (widow)
- Divorcé(e)divorced
- Célibatairesingle
3. Projet Professionnel (Introduction)
This short section acts as the “title” to your CV. In a few words, what is your goal in sending your resume?
If you are applying for a specific job, it should be straightforward. Succinctly let the reader know what you will bring to the company and why you are the best applicant for this post.
To present your goals in clear, formal French, use these French essay phrases and connectors for formal writing.
It can be a bit vaguer and relate to your long-term career goals if you are not tailoring your application for a particular job.
4. Formation (Educational experience)
Include all your relevant diplomas, certifications, and education in this section, especially if you graduated recently and do not have a long professional experience. Include the name of the school, its location, the dates during which you attended, the diploma you earned, and your grade.
Since every country has its own academic and grading system, don’t hesitate to include the French equivalent so the recruiter can appreciate your hard work! The comparisons below are approximate descriptions, not automatic legal equivalences; use your original diploma title and any ENIC-NARIC comparability statement when relevant.
- High School DiplomaBaccalauréat (BAC)
- Associate’s DegreeBTS or DUT (BAC + 2)
- Bachelor’s Degree (3 years)Licence (BAC + 3)
- Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)Maîtrise (BAC + 4, older system; now Master 1)
- Master’s Degree or MBAMaster (BAC + 5); older titles: DEA, DESS
- Doctorate (PhD)Doctorat (BAC + 8)
You can also include any awards as well as any professional training programs or courses you may have undertaken. Don’t hesitate if they are relevant to the fields in which you are applying.
5. Expérience Professionnelle (Work Experience)
You can choose to include your entire professional history if you haven’t been working long in your field. If you are an experienced professional, stick to the previous positions that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Reverse chronological order – starting with your most recent position – is the way to go.
Include the company’s name and location, the date during which you worked in this position, your title, and a brief description of your responsibilities. If you haven’t worked yet, you can also include past volunteer work, internship, or military service.
6. Compétences (Skills)
This is the perfect section to include the skills that could be relevant to the jobs you are applying for. There are usually two main categories.
- Computer skills include the operating systems and software programs you are familiar with.
- Linguistic skills are the place to talk about your dazzling abilities in French.
If it is relevant to your job, you can also include if you have your driving license.
- Compétences techniquestechnological aptitudes
- Systèmes d’exploitationoperating systems
- Langages de Programmationprogramming languages
- Logicielssoftware
Always include your proficiency level and be honest about it. It is often very easy to verify! Include your results for any recognised language tests, such as the DELF/DALF or TOEIC.
If you are familiar with it, you can use the Common Reference Levels issued by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Otherwise, a simple description is enough.
- (Basic) knowledgeNotions
- ConversantMaîtrise convenable, Bonnes connaissances
- ProficientBonne maîtrise
- FluentCourant
- BilingualBilingue
- Native languageLangue maternelle
7. Centres d’intérêt (Hobbies)
If you want to stand out from the crowd, here is your chance to shine. If your hobbies include pastimes that may help you in your job search, go for it.
However, be aware that the interviewer may bring the subject up during the interview, so don’t fake your interest in the matter. Keep this section short and sweet: one or two lines are enough.
Your CV will usually go out with a cover letter or email, so check how to lay out a formal letter in French.
Hope this article helped you make your French CV!
