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Writing a strong CV for the French market
In France, the CV is meant to be concise and skills-focused. Several details common elsewhere are discouraged here - photo, age, nationality - in the name of non-discrimination in hiring. The table below details these conventions field by field.
Should you put a photo on a French CV?
It's optional, and increasingly discouraged. The photo adds nothing to the assessment of skills and opens the door to bias; many candidates remove it. If you do include one, make it strictly professional.
Should you state your age and nationality?
No. Age is not expected on a French CV, and nationality is not mentioned - unless the role has an explicit legal requirement (public service, regulated professions). Leaving them out is the norm, not an oversight.
Should the CV fit on one page?
Ideally yes, especially early and mid-career. The French recruiter expects a concise document: one well-built page beats two watered-down ones. Beyond fifteen years of experience, a second page is justified.
Should you mention your driving licence?
Only if it's useful for the role. For a sales rep, a travelling technician or a field job, a category B licence is an asset worth mentioning. For a desk job, it's superfluous.
How to maximise your chances of getting past the ATS filters?
Reuse the keywords from the job ad (titles, skills, tools), keep a simple single-column layout that the software can read, and name your sections clearly. A CV that is too graphic can be poorly read by automated screening systems.
How to structure the CV?
Reverse-chronological order, a clear job title at the top, tidy sections (experience, education, skills, languages). Highlight quantified achievements rather than lists of tasks: that's what sets an application apart in France.
Personal information: what the France market expects
| Information | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Discouraged | In France, the photo is optional and increasingly discouraged (anti-discrimination). |
| Date of birth / age | Discouraged | Age is not expected on a French CV (anti-discrimination). |
| Nationality | Discouraged | Nationality is not requested on a French CV, unless legally required for the role. |
| Work permit | Discouraged | Mention a residence permit only if the role explicitly requires it. |
| Driving licence | Depends on the role | A driving licence is useful if required for the role (sales, fieldwork…). |
These are market customs, never obligations: the editor always leaves every field up to you.