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.
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.
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