French Resume - Le CV Francais

When applying for a job in a French-speaking country, your rà ©sumà © needs to be in French, which is more than a matter of translation. Aside from the obvious  language differences, certain information that may not be required — or even permitted — on rà ©sumà ©s in your country is required in France. This article explains the basic requirements and formats of French rà ©sumà ©s and includes several examples to help you get started. The first thing you need to know is that the word  rà ©sumà ©Ã‚  is a  false cognate  in French and English.Un rà ©sumà ©Ã‚  means a summary, whereas a rà ©sumà © refers to  un CV  (curriculum vitae). Thus, when applying for a job with a French company, you need to provide  un CV, not  un rà ©sumà ©. You might be surprised to learn that a photograph as well as some potentially delicate personal information, such as age and marital status, are required on a French rà ©sumà ©. These can and will be used in the hiring process; if this bothers you, France may not be the best place for you to work. Categories, Requirements, and Details The information that generally needs to be included on a French rà ©sumà © is summarized here. As with any rà ©sumà ©, there is no one right order or style. There are infinite ways to format a French rà ©sumà © — it really just depends on what you want to emphasize and your personal preferences. Personal information  -  Situation personnelle et à ©tat civil Last name (in all caps) -  Nom de familleFirst name -  Prà ©nomAddress -  AdressePhone number, including international access code -  Numà ©ro de tà ©là ©phone* Work phone -  bureau* Home phone -  domicile* Mobile phone -  portableEmail -  adresse e-mailNationality -  Nationalità ©Age -  Ãƒâ€šgeMarital status, number, and age of children -  Situation de famille* Single -  cà ©libataire* Married -  marià ©(e)* Divorced -  divorcà ©(e)* Widowed -  veuf (veuve)Passport-sized, color photograph Objective  -  Project Professionnel  or  Objectif Short, precise description of your skills and/or short-term career goals (i.e., what youll bring to this job). Professional Experience  -  Expà ©rience professionnelle Thematic or backwards chronological listName of company, location, dates of employment, title, job description, responsibilities, and notable achievements Education  -  Formation Only the highest diplomas you have obtained.Name and location of school, dates, and degree earned (Language and Computer) Skills  -  Connaissances (linguistiques et informatiques)      Languages -  Langues Dont exaggerate your language skills; theyre very easy to verify.Qualifiers:* (Basic) knowledge -  Notions* Conversant -  Maà ®trise convenable, Bonnes connaissances* Proficient -  Lu, à ©crit, parlà ©* Fluent -  Courant* Bilingual -  Bilingue* Native language -  Langue maternelle   Ã‚   Computers -  Informatique Operating systemsSoftware programs Interests, Pastimes, Leisure Activities, Hobbies  -  Centres dintà ©rà ªt, Passe-temps, Loisirs, Actività ©s personnelles/extra-professionnelles Limit this section to three or four lines.Consider the value of what you choose to include: list things that make you sound interesting, that set you apart from the rest of the crowd.Be prepared to discuss these with the interviewer (e.g., How often do you play tennis? Whats the last book you read?) Types of French Rsums There are two main types of French rà ©sumà ©s, depending on what the potential employee wants to emphasize: Chronological rà ©sumà © (Le CV chronologique): Presents employment in reverse chronological order.Functional rà ©sumà © (Le CV fonctionnel): Emphasizes career path and achievements and groups them thematically, by field of experience or sector of activity. Rsum Writing Tips Always have a native speaker proofread the final version of your rà ©sumà ©. Typos and mistakes look unprofessional and cast doubt on your stated French ability.Keep rà ©sumà © brief, concise, and direct; one or two pages maximum.Spell out names of  US states  and  Canadian provinces, rather than using abbreviations like NY or BC.If applying for a job where fluency in another language is required, consider sending a rà ©sumà © in that language along with the French one.