Writing a French CV: 5 mistakes every expat makes
You’re living in France or a French-speaking country and looking for a job. You have experience, solid skills, and plenty of motivation. Yet you’re not hearing back from anyone. The reason is simple: your CV contains classic mistakes that almost every expat makes when writing a French CV. The good news? They’re all easy to fix.
Here are the 5 most common mistakes expats make on their French CV.
1. Using the wrong CV format
Many expats use the format from their home country: a two-column American-style resume, a Europass (that standardised European CV template) which isn’t well received in France, or a three-page document.
In France, the standard CV is one page long — two at most for very experienced profiles — with a clean, easy-to-read layout. Recruiters receive dozens of applications every day: an overly busy or poorly structured CV goes straight in the bin. Avoid complex tables, loud colours, and cluttered designs. Simplicity is a strength!
2. Using “I” on your CV
In a French CV, you never write in the first person. Instead, use a noun-based structure — for example “Gestion d’une équipe de 10 personnes” (Management of a 10-person team) — or the infinitive — for example “Gérer et animer une équipe” (Managing and leading a team). Make it a habit from the very first line. Go through your CV carefully and remove every “Je”.
3. Leaving out your photo
In many English-speaking countries, adding a photo to your CV is generally avoided to prevent discrimination. In France, it’s common practice and generally well received, even if it’s not required. A professional, warm, well-framed photo can strengthen the credibility of your application.
That said, the photo should be recent, good quality, and taken in a professional setting — not a cropped holiday snap!
4. Forgetting to mention your French level
For non-francophone expats, your French level is crucial for recruiters. Many people forget to mention it clearly, or use vague phrases like “good level of French”. Use the official levels from the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.
If you have a certification such as the DELF, DALF, or TCF, make sure to include it. It’s a real asset that shows your commitment to learning the language and immediately reassures the recruiter about your actual level.
Not sure what your French level is? Take the free 5-minute test and get your bonus ebook!
5. Mistranslating your CV
French is full of mistranslations that can reveal a weak grasp of the language in your CV or cover letter. Job titles are often poorly translated: “Store manager” doesn’t become “manager de magasin” in French — the correct term in professional French vocabulary is “directeur de magasin”. “Project manager” becomes “chef de projet”.
Watch out for false friends: “Actuellement” doesn’t mean “actually” (which translates as “en fait”), it means “currently”. “Éventuellement” doesn’t mean “eventually” (which is “finalement”), it means “possibly”. And “sensible” in French doesn’t mean “sensible” (= reasonable) — it means “sensitive”.
These mistakes are very common among expats working in a French professional environment.
Also avoid automatic translation tools: they don’t understand professional register or the cultural nuances of French. A machine-translated CV often contains awkward phrasing, gender agreement errors, or words that are simply wrong in a professional context.
Always rewrite your CV yourself and have it proofread by a native speaker or a French teacher.
Fixing these 5 mistakes is already a huge step forward. But a great CV won’t get you far if your spoken or written French is still holding you back in everyday life. That’s where the real work happens!
Want to improve your professional French? At La French Zone, every course is 100% personalised for expats who want to integrate in France — at work and in everyday life.
