When a company in France posts a job advert in English, recruiters want to see your experience, technical skills and measurable outcomes in clear English on A4 paper—while also checking your French proficiency, location and education credentials. This guide covers how to structure an English CV for employers in France.
| Field | Recommended approach | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Page format | ISO A4, 1 to 2 pages | US Letter margins that clip when printed on A4 |
| French & English levels | Explicit CEFR level (e.g., English C1, French B2) | Vague labels like 'good' or unverified fluency claims |
| Degrees | Original degree title plus brief parenthetical context | Replacing foreign degrees with protected French titles |
Keep A4 page geometry and clear chronological dates
Even when applying in English, format your CV on ISO A4 paper rather than US Letter so printed copies and PDF previews match European page proportions. List roles in reverse-chronological order with MM/yyyy or month-and-year dates and concrete bullet points.
State French and English language proficiency explicitly
International teams in France almost always check how comfortably you operate in both English and French. State your CEFR level (A2, B2, C1, C2) for each language accurately, and list formal certificates (such as DELF, DALF, TCF, TOEFL or IELTS) only when you have completed them.
Check your PDF text layer and portal fields before sending
Export your CV as an A4 PDF, test the extracted text in your browser, and check every field in the employer's online application form before submitting.