Country guides / France
French CV Format Guide 2026
The French CV is a dense, elegant single page accompanied by a formal lettre de motivation. A photo remains common in traditional sectors; headings are in French and 'Centres d'intérêt' at the end is expected.
The rules at a glance
Length
1 page under ~10 yrs experience; 2 max
Photo
Common but optional: 3.5×4.5 cm if included
Personal details
Age/DOB often shown; nationality optional
Dates
03/2020 – à ce jour
Language
French, unless applying to an international firm
Companion
A lettre de motivation is expected with applications
✓ Do
- Keep it to one page; concision is respected
- Use French section headings for French companies
- Include Centres d'intérêt; the French care about the person
- State language levels precisely (CEFR: B2, C1…)
- Pair it with a tailored lettre de motivation
✕ Don't
- Photo for international/finance roles; the Anglo format is the norm there
- Spilling to two pages as a junior candidate
- Anglicisms in a French-language CV
- Listing referees; it's not done in France
- Humor or informality; the register is formal
💡 The Code du travail forbids employers from requiring a photo, but many traditional recruiters still expect one. Match the sector: local/traditional → photo; international/finance → none.
Quick answers
- How long should a France cv be?
- 1 page under ~10 yrs experience; 2 max
- Should it include a photo?
- Common but optional: 3.5×4.5 cm if included
- Can I build one for free?
- Yes. The GlobeResume builder applies every rule on this page automatically, previews your cv live, and exports to PDF and Word. It runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Build my France CV free
No sign-up. The builder pre-loads every France convention from this guide.