Section actions
Duration: Draft — 2–3 h ; separate rereading
Cost: Free
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- Candidates who write their first CV for France
- Foreign profiles without local experience
- Those who have already sent CVs without reply and want to check the format
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- Phone with country code (+33 ...) and professional email address
- Link LinkedIn and, if relevant, portfolio/GitHub
- List of experiences and diplomas, from the latest to the oldest
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1Start with your contact details: name, phone number, email, city and LinkedIn profile. You do not need to include your full address. A photo is not compulsory in France; add one only if it is genuinely expected in your sector.
- 2Add a clear job title so the recruiter can immediately see the role you are applying for.
- 3List your experience from most recent to oldest. For each role, give the employer, dates and 2 to 4 concrete achievements. Action verbs and figures are more useful than a list of duties.
- 4List your education from most recent to oldest. For a foreign qualification, add a simple comparison such as Master (= Bac+5) to help the recruiter understand its level.
- 5Group your skills clearly: languages, tools and professional skills. Give a realistic language level rather than simply saying good level.
- 6Add a short interests section with specific examples such as running, volunteering, photography or a language club. These can provide a starting point for an interview conversation.
- 7Proofread carefully. A spelling mistake can reduce your chances, so ask someone to check your CV if possible.
Common mistakes
Section actions
- Make a resume too long. One page is often enough, only two pages for very experienced profiles.
- Leave mistakes in French. In France, it quickly lowers the candidacy.
- Describe tasks instead of results. Tell us what you've changed, improved or delivered.
- Add too much personal information. Age, family status and nationality are not useful here.
Official sources
Section actions
Show sources in this section
Important remark
Labour law has many nuances and evolves regularly. This information is general in nature. For specific situations (litigations, suspicions of irregular dismissal), contact the Labour Inspectorate, a trade union or a labour law lawyer.
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