If you need to write a CV in French it is better to create it from scratch and not just translate the version you have in your native language. CV rules and guidelines differ from country to country, and the rules in France are probably not the same as in your home country. This article outlines what a French CV should look like.
General advice first: try to keep the CV one page long, two at most. Be factual, do not exaggerate when describing your skills and previous experiences.
A French CV should contain:
A photo
In France most CVs contain a passport-sized, head and shoulders photograph of the applicant. It should be looking professionally: dress smartly for the photo and don’t go overboard with make-up.
Your personal details
Name, address, phone number, email address, a LinkedIn profile if you have one. Surname comes before first name. Age, nationality and marital status are also usually included, which might be surprising for people from some other European countries or the US.
A CV summary
Write a few lines about yourself and your career goals, and what value you would bring to the company.
Education
Education is the most important section in a French resume to which employers pay the most attention. Provide your educational history in reverse chronological order. Include your industry training and certificates there. Your formal education history should contain school names, qualifications, dates and grades.
If you struggle to translate your degree to French, these are the French equivalents:
- High School Diploma = Baccalauréat (BAC)
- Associate’s Degree = DEUG – General or DUT, BTS – Technical (BAC + 2)
- Bachelor’s Degree (3 years) = License (BAC + 3)
- Bachelor’s Degree (4 years) = Maîtrise (BAC + 4)
- Masters Degree or MBA = Masters or DEA, DESS (BAC + 5/6)
- Doctorate PhD, LLD or JD = Doctorat (BAC + 8)
Work experience
List your previous jobs starting from last. You may also include internships and volunteering if they are relevant to the position you are seeking. Jobs should have company name and industry, dates and your responsibilities there.
Skills
In linguistic skills section specify your mother tongue and mention other languages you know with your proficiency level in them.
In the technical skills section list operating systems and programs that you know how to work with and that may be relevant to the job.
Hobbies
This is not the required section, but it may make your CV stand out among others and display your personality. Preferably use the hobbies that are relevant to the job and be ready to talk about them in the job interview.
Resume.io
Resume.io is an online resume builder that will help you create a professional and convincing CV quickly and easily. It supports several languages including French. Resume.io site also provides a lot of resume examples for all kinds of jobs and positions.