Last verified: 4 October 2026, based on the official pages cited at the bottom of the page.

The situation — your foreign CV does not get through French HR filters

You send out dozens of applications, zero replies. In practice, a multi-page, dense CV in the "American résumé" style is hard for a French recruiter to read: recruiters who receive a large number of CVs want to find the right information easily and quickly. If your CV buries them, it goes on the "later" pile — and "later" never comes.

But let's start with some good news: none of these formatting rules are legal requirements. The labour code does not define the CV, sending a CV is not even required to apply, and no law specifies how it must be written: so there are no mandatory legal mentions to include. One page or two, photo or not, section order: these are customs, not law.

What is regulated by law, on the other hand, is what the employer can ask you: only information directly related to the job, and never information of a discriminatory nature. The rest of this guide tells you, step by step, what is required by law, what is French custom, and what to change and in what order.

Step 1 — The format: one page, unless your background justifies two pages

"A CV must fit on a single page" is a common misconception. If you are a recent graduate or have little experience, one page is indeed preferable: it makes the recruiter's selection work easier. But if you are more experienced, with at least ten years' experience in various fields, a two-sided CV can be justified. The more responsibility the position involves, the more you need to show the breadth of your skills and the environments you have worked in.

In all cases:

• At the pre-selection stage, a recruiter always spends very little time reading; on two pages, they often form their opinion from the first. So put the important elements for the job — and your personal information (name, first name, address, phone number, etc.) — on the first page.
• Two pages does not mean you can go on at length: stay concise from start to finish.
• Tip: make sure your CV is easy to read — clear font, proper margins, well-spaced sections. France Travail suggests using bold and italics to highlight key elements, while keeping it simple; and if you use colour, print your CV in greyscale to check the contrast.

In practice, for a foreign profile entering the French job market: a clear one-page CV is better than a messy page and a half — but if you have a long career, don't butcher your CV just to fit a mold.

💡 Tip: if you choose a two-column format, keep it easy to read, with the important elements on the first page.

Step 2 — The header: what is useful, what is not

What you can include (official examples): "Name, first name, contact details (address, email, phone number(s)), age", your work history, your initial education, and possibly an ID photo. Contrary to popular belief, a full address and age are not forbidden on a CV: the restriction applies to the employer, not to you.

What the employer is not allowed to ask you for: information not directly related to the job, or of a discriminatory nature. Specifically, they must not ask questions about your personal situation: health status, family situation, union membership, sexual life, housing, hobbies. And it is forbidden to refuse to hire someone for discriminatory reasons — origin, sex, family situation, pregnancy, age, language spoken other than French, place of residence, religion, etc. If you are rejected for one of these reasons, you can take the case to the industrial tribunal (conseil de prud'hommes) to claim damages.

In practice, for a newcomer’s CV:

• Use a professional email (firstname.lastname…) and a reachable phone number (with the international code if your number is not French).
• The city is enough if you do not want to show your full address — but know that nothing forbids it.
• Age, nationality, family situation: it's up to you. It is not forbidden to write them, it is forbidden to be discriminated against for them. Tip: you can keep your private life discreet.

Photo: yes or no?

It is optional — Service-Public says "possibly an ID photo". If you include one: use a recent professional photo (neutral background, appropriate attire), not a selfie. If you prefer not to include one, that is a legitimate choice.

Step 3 — The profile / summary

At the very top of the document, next to your contact details, write a short summary that briefly presents your career goals or key skills — or both. This is the official recommendation from France Travail.

In practice, for a foreign profile, a summary that states your profession, your goal, and your main added value in a few lines helps the recruiter understand you right away. Avoid empty phrases like "Passionate about challenges and innovation": too much information kills the information, the aim is to be clear and concise.

Step 4 — Experience: order, bullet points, job titles

Order. The chronological CV is the most classic format: it lists your experience from the most recent to the oldest. It is not the only model: the skills-based CV highlights your know-how and transferable skills (it can be suitable for career changes, returning to work, or recent graduates), and the combined CV mixes both.

Bullet points. Tip: write short bullet points that start with an action verb ("Designed", "Implemented", "Automated") and, when possible, a quantified result. The main thing is that each piece of information helps assess your ability to do the job.

Job titles. Use clear job titles and precise keywords to describe your roles — this also helps your CV get found in candidate databases and job search engines. If your experience uses very English-sounding terms (Growth Hacker, Customer Success Manager), translate or explain them so the job is immediately understood.

Experience abroad: specify the city and country, and if the company is not well known in France, add a short explanatory note in parentheses. And be accurate: false information on your CV can lead to dismissal for misconduct, and the employer has the right to verify your degrees.

Step 5 — Education: adapt to the French system

Briefly present your education and degrees, from the most recent to the oldest; the further back your studies are, the more concise you should be, as your professional experience is what matters most. From left to right: the date, the school, and a clear title — avoid internal acronyms that are hard to understand, give a name the recruiter can read.

Tip: for a foreign degree, give the original name and, in parentheses, the usual French equivalent ("equivalent Master", "equivalent Licence"). If the employer wants to check, they have the right: a clearly presented and verifiable degree is reassuring.

Step 6 — Skills, languages, other

Technical skills. List your key skills grouped by category. Tip: write your level in words ("advanced", "intermediate") rather than using a graphic scale.

Languages. You can create a "Foreign languages" section and mention your certificates there (e.g. TOEFL, TOEIC). Tip: if you are a foreign candidate, state your level of French honestly and list your official test results with the score — do not overestimate it.

Interests / Other. Optional, but this is where you can highlight hobbies that match the personality expected for the job. Tip: be specific — volunteering, a team sport — rather than "Reading, travel, sports".

Step 7 — Pitfalls specific to foreign candidates

🚨 Writing as you would at home.

No rule requires a specific format, but a clear and concise CV makes the recruiter's job easier. Don't list everything: select what is directly relevant to the job.

🚨 Overestimating your level of French.

"French: fluent" when your application email contains basic mistakes → the recruiter will notice from the very first sentence. Be honest, and update your CV as your skills improve.

🚨 Passport or visa photo.

A photo cropped from an official document is obvious. In practice, a recent and professional photo changes the overall impression. Reminder: the photo is still optional.

🚨 Poorly translated job titles.

"A clear job title" is the official recommendation: "Software Engineer" → "Ingénieur(e) logiciel" or "Développeur(se)", "Marketing Manager" → "Responsable marketing". Precise keywords also help your CV get found in recruiters' online searches.

🚨 Being intimidated by strange "tests".

Be aware that during recruitment, the employer does not have total freedom: evaluation methods and techniques must be relevant, and the use of astrology, graphology, or numerology is prohibited, except with relevant justifications.

🚨 Forgotten or copy-pasted cover letter (lettre de motivation).

The cover letter completes the CV: it explains the reasons for your application. It must be personalised — analyse the job offer and respond to it point by point, and create each letter from a blank page. Structure it in three parts: "you" (the company and its needs), "me" (your profile, with examples), "us" (what you would build with the company). It should fit on a single page, with a readable font like Times New Roman or Arial 12 point. Avoid the conditional, proofread and have someone else proofread: an application with mistakes in the letter is quickly rejected, even if it matches the job. In practice, know that a recruiter spends about 30 seconds reading a letter: get to the point in the first few lines.

🚨 Showing or hiding your administrative status.

The information on a CV is freely provided by the candidate: you choose whether to mention it or not, and where. What matters legally: you cannot be refused a job for a discriminatory reason, such as your origin or your name. However, if you are a non-European foreign student, your employer must declare you to the prefecture (préfecture) at least 2 working days before the start date of employment; if the prefect does not reply within 2 working days after receiving this declaration, your work permit (autorisation de travail) is considered verified. Tip: you can save these details for the interview and use the CV to showcase your skills.

Official resources

• Curriculum vitae (CV) — Applying for a job offer (Service-Public)
• Applying for a job offer: authorised recruitment methods (Service-Public)
• How to write an effective and impactful CV (France Travail)
• A 2-page CV: good or bad idea? (France Travail)
• "10 tips for writing your cover letter (lettre de motivation)" (France Travail)

And what about Pionra?

Pionra doesn't write your CV for you. It's the place where newcomers share information: how it really went, in which city, and how long it took.

Have you just completed this process? Share your experience in a comment or in a note — that's what will help those who come after you the most.