For the most part, CV-building is standard - as long as you know the basics, you can apply for a job anywhere. That being said, certain things about the job-hunting process - such as how you search for a job, what your CV looks like, what you include in a cover letter, etc. - are country-specific. So, if you want to get hired in France, knowing the details of what a French CV should contain can make a huge difference and substantially improve your employability.
Here are 10+ CV tips that will help you land a job in France.
Submit your application in French
If the job ad is in French, it's a good idea to submit your application in French too (even if the position is bilingual). You might get disqualified if you send out an English CV to a French job opening. Not super confident about your French writing skills? Don't trust Google Translate with such an important task - ask a native speaker friend to proofread it instead.
Follow the French CV format
Your style should be formal and as concise as possible. The optimal CV length is one A4 page, so try to stick to that. Only go for two pages if you're a seasoned professional with tons of valuable experience. Additionally, opt for a 12pt font size and make sure your CV is spotless in terms of spelling and spacing mistakes.
Customize your personal info
The “Personal Information” section in a French CV is significantly more detailed than what you'd see in CVs in other European countries. It usually includes your nationality (especially if you're not French), physical address, age and birthday, marital status, and even a professional, passport-sized picture of you.
Keep in mind that in France your surname comes before your first name. You might also want to include your proficiency in French next to your nationality (if you speak the language, that is).
Resume summary/objective is optional
You don't have to worry too much about including a resume summary or objective if you're applying for a job in France. If you're struggling for space in your CV, then you can simply skip the summary/objective section and jump straight into your work experiences or educational background.
Prioritize education
In France, your education plays a major part in the hiring process. If you're a recent graduate or if your academic background is your strong point, you can even list your education (or Formation, in French) before your Work Experience. Give this section its due attention by listing all your academic qualifications from your Bachelor's Degree and onwards in reverse chronological order, and include their French equivalents too.
Filter out your work experience
Your work experience section doesn't have to overflow with information. Instead of listing any job you've ever worked, opt for the ones that are relevant to the position. In reverse chronological order, list out the period of each experience, your job title, and a list of your responsibilities and achievements. If your employee or company is not internationally known, feel free to add a short line that describes what they do and which industry they're in.
Include relevant internships & volunteer work
If you've done any internships or volunteer work that can add value to your CV, include them - especially if they are relevant to the job you're applying for. You can list the volunteering section right under your Work Experience.
Highlight language knowledge
You can either list any languages you speak as a separate section (i.e. “Languages”) or as part of the “Competencies” section (or Compétences spécifiques). That's up to you - just make sure to include them, as they're always an asset. And don't forget to specify your proficiency level while you're at it.
Hard skills over soft skills
In the “Skills” section of your CV, prioritize technical know-how over soft skills (e.g. interpersonal skills, communication skills, etc). In France, employers tend to value hard skills more than soft skills on a CV as it's hard to prove whether you have the soft skills or not. That said, you can always talk about your soft skills on your cover letter or during the job interview.
Include hobbies
Your hobbies are a great addition to your French CV (as long as you have the space, that is). If they're relevant to the position you're applying for, that's even better. For example, when applying for a job as a creative writer, your Dungeons & Dragons hobby might get you to stand out (as it's something that requires creativity).
Use a template
Creating a CV from a blank Word document is both hard and time-consuming. You have to spend hours tinkering with the formatting, structure, and so on, wasting all the precious time you could be using to look for your dream job. Want to skip ahead all that?
Simply use a CV template. All you need to do is pick a template you like, and all the formatting hassle is taken care of. You just need to fill in the contents and start applying for jobs!
