Culture
French vs. English CVs: what actually changes.
Photo or no photo? One page or two? A side-by-side look at what differs between a French CV and a UK/US resume, and why it matters if you're applying across the Channel.
April 1, 2026 · 5 min
Applying for a job in Paris with a CV you wrote for London? You'll stand out, but not in the way you want. The conventions are genuinely different, and a few small misses read as "hasn't done their homework" to local recruiters.
Here's the short version, country by country.
Photo
France: Common, though increasingly optional. A small, professional headshot in the top-right is still the norm in many industries. Nobody will reject you for omitting one, but don't use a holiday selfie.
UK & US: Never. Including a photo is considered unprofessional in the UK and can open up anti-discrimination liability for the employer in the US. Skip it.
Length
France: One page for junior/mid roles. Two for senior. Anything longer raises eyebrows.
UK: Two pages is the norm, even for mid-level. One page is often too short in the UK.
US: One page for most roles, two for senior or academic. Four+ pages is standard for US academic CVs (a different animal entirely).
Sections
France: Experience professionnelle, Formation, Competences, Langues, Centres d'interet. The "Centres d'interet" (hobbies) section is genuinely read in France. Put thought into it.
UK & US: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills. Hobbies are optional and usually ignored.
Watch out
In France, "Formation" means Education, not training courses. Don't mistranslate.
Dates
France: septembre 2022, present or 09/2022, present
UK: Sept 2022, Present
US: September 2022, Present (months spelled out often)
Personal details
France: Address (even just city is fine), nationality, marital status, optional but not unusual. Date of birth sometimes included.
UK & US: City only, or even just "available remote / will relocate." Never include date of birth, marital status, or nationality, these open up discrimination risk.
Cover letter tone
France: Formal. "Madame, Monsieur," at the top. "Je vous prie d'agreer..." at the bottom. Yes, really.
UK & US: "Dear Hiring Manager" then two crisp paragraphs then "Best regards." Less ceremony.
NEWSLETTER
Get one tactical email a week.
Real frameworks from recruiters, no fluff. 3,400+ readers.
A French CV sent to a London recruiter with marital status listed looks unprofessional. A British CV sent to Paris with no photo looks cold. Small things, big signal.
The 80% shortcut
If you're applying to both markets, keep two versions, not one "universal" CV that tries to satisfy both. They will each satisfy neither.
FacileCV lets you duplicate a CV and auto-adjust the conventions: swaps dates, strips/adds photo, rewrites the summary in the target tone. Takes about 90 seconds. Free on every plan.
Want a real ATS score on your CV? FacileCV's ATS checker parses your PDF like a real ATS and shows you the gaps. Try it free
Keep reading
Strategy
Why You're Not Getting Interviews in 2026 (and How to Fix It)
Applying everywhere and hearing nothing? Here are the 7 real reasons you're not getting interviews in 2026, and the exact system to fix each one and start getting callbacks.
June 21, 2026 · 13 min
Strategy
How to Tailor Your CV to a Job Description in 2026 (Step by Step)
Tailoring your CV to each job description is the highest return habit in a job search. Here is the exact 2026 method, with keyword tips, examples and an AI shortcut.
June 20, 2026 · 13 min
ATS
ATS Score Checker 2026: How to Check and Improve Your CV Score
What is a good ATS score, how is it calculated, and how do you check yours? The 2026 guide to reading your ATS resume score and raising it before you apply.
June 19, 2026 · 12 min
Put it into practice
Want a real ATS score for your CV?
FacileCV analyzes your PDF like recruitment software and shows you what gets lost. The score is not a hiring guarantee.