Luxury houses recruit for boutique networks and regional headquarters spread across the world, and English is often the common working language. As a result, many candidates must one day send a CV in English, for a boutique in London, a headquarters in Singapore, an international graduate programme or simply an offer written in English in Paris. Translating a French CV word for word is not enough: the format, the expected sections, some customs and part of the vocabulary change. This article explains when to write your CV in English, which format to adopt, which retail and luxury vocabulary to use, which phrases to avoid, and offers before-and-after lines.
When to write your CV in English
Three situations call for a CV in English.
The offer is written in English. This is the clearest signal: even for a role based in France, an offer in English indicates that the recruiter, the manager or part of the process works in that language. Send your CV in the language of the offer.
The role is abroad. Boutique, regional headquarters, subsidiary: the local recruiter will read a CV in English, or in the country’s language if you master it.
The programme is international. Graduate programmes, VIE international volunteering, rotation programmes between countries: a CV in English is often requested, sometimes in addition to the French CV.
Outside these cases, send your CV in French and state your level of English clearly. A CV in English sent to a regional French boutique recruiting in French can seem off the mark.
If you prepare both versions, keep them strictly consistent: same dates, same job titles translated consistently, same figures. A recruiter who receives both will notice the slightest discrepancy.
Format and length
The format of a CV in English, in the United Kingdom as in most international subsidiaries, remains close to the French format, with a few differences.
One to two pages. One page for a junior profile or a sales advisor, two pages at most for a senior profile. Houses appreciate concision in every language.
No unnecessary personal information. The British public careers guidance service, the National Careers Service 🔗, advises against including your age, date of birth, marital status or nationality. A photo is generally not expected in English-speaking countries; in some markets, particularly in Asia, customs differ: find out about the target country.
A summary at the top. The “profile” or “personal statement”, a few lines below your name and contact details, sums up who you are and what you are aiming for. It plays the same role as the French “accroche”.
The order of sections. For an experienced profile, work experience comes first; for a student profile, education can come first. The National Careers Service describes this logic: show what is strongest first.
References. In the United Kingdom, a line “References available on request” is still common; it is not essential, but prepare the names of referees, as they may be requested.
Dates and formats. Write months in full or abbreviated (“Sep 2023 – Present”) rather than in numbers, to avoid confusion between date formats.
Luxury and retail vocabulary
Part of the luxury vocabulary is already English in French houses; another part translates with precise terms that are best known.
Job titles
| French | Common English in luxury houses | |---|---| | Conseiller de vente | Client advisor, sales associate | | Conseiller senior | Senior client advisor | | Responsable adjoint de boutique | Assistant store manager | | Directeur de boutique | Store manager, store director, boutique manager | | Directeur régional | Area manager, regional director | | Chef de produit | Product manager | | Merchandising planner | Merchandise planner, allocation analyst | | Visual merchandiser | Visual merchandiser | | Chargé CRM | CRM officer, CRM executive |
Gestures and concepts of the trade
- Clienteling, client book or client portfolio, private appointment, client outreach (follow-up contact).
- Sales target, target achievement, conversion rate, average transaction value or average basket, units per transaction.
- After-sales service, repairs, special orders.
- Tax-free shopping or VAT refund.
- Shrinkage, stock replenishment, sell-through, open-to-buy.
- Store opening and closing procedures, daily briefing, mystery shopping.
Action verbs
CVs in English start their bullets with an action verb in the past tense for past roles, in the present for the current role: managed, led, developed, trained, achieved, increased, organised, curated (for a product selection), hosted (for a client event).
Phrases to avoid
Some phrases, common in translated CVs, sound wrong or false in English.
| Avoid | Why | Instead | |---|---|---| | “Passionate about the luxury universe” | Literal translation, empty in every language | A sentence on your job and scope | | “VIP clients” | Clumsy vocabulary in a luxury house | “High-potential clients”, “loyal clientele” | | “Seller” | Not used for a house advisor | “Client advisor”, “sales associate” | | “Responsible of…” | Preposition error | “Responsible for…” or a verb: “Managed…” | | “Bilingual English” without detail | Not very credible | “English (fluent, daily use with international clients)” | | “Stage” | False friend | “Internship” | | “Licence” | False friend | “Bachelor’s degree” (with the French title) | | “Formation” as a section title | False friend | “Education” |
For French diplomas, keep the original title and add an equivalent in brackets: “BTS Management commercial opérationnel (two-year higher national diploma in retail management)”, “Master’s degree in Marketing, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL”.
Before-and-after lines
Sales advisor
- Before (literal translation): “Sale and advice to an international high-end clientele, VIP management.”
- After: “Advised and sold to an international clientele in English, Italian and French; developed a book of 150 active clients through regular outreach and private appointments.”
Assistant store manager
- Before: “In charge of the stocks and the plannings.”
- After: “Managed weekly staff schedules, stock receiving and inter-store transfers for a team of 12 client advisors; reduced unknown shrinkage over two inventories.”
Store director
- Before: “Responsible of the turnover of the boutique.”
- After: “Led a flagship team of 28 and full store P&L; grew revenue year on year while promoting five advisors internally.”
Beware of a classic false friend: in the United Kingdom “turnover” means revenue, but in HR vocabulary it also means staff turnover. “Revenue” or “sales” avoid any ambiguity.
Product manager
- Before: “Realisation of the collection plans with the studio.”
- After: “Built seasonal range plans with the design studio, covering pricing, materials and depth by market.”
Proofreading
A CV in English with mistakes is worse than a CV in French: it announces a level of language you do not have. A few precautions:
- Have it proofread by a native speaker or someone who works in English every day.
- Choose one variant and stick to it: British English (organised, centre) or American English (organized, center), depending on the target country.
- Check the false friends listed above.
- Read the summary and first bullets aloud: this is what the recruiter will read first, and what they will talk to you about at interview, perhaps in English.
- Check consistency with your declared level. If you state fluent English, the CV must be fluent. France Travail 🔗, the French public employment service, notes that level B2 of the European framework corresponds to what is commonly called “fluent” English.
For skills vocabulary, see our article on the skills to put on a luxury sales CV, and to quantify your results in both languages, the one on boutique sales indicators. The young graduate CV analysed on this site shows experience in London and languages presented with their proof, and that of the regional retail director an international career.
The LuxeCV editor lets you write your CV in English with the same sober layout as your French version, and produces a PDF that houses’ screening software can read, in English as in French. You can create your CV for free.
Sources
- National Careers Service (United Kingdom), How to write a CV 🔗.
- France Travail, How to assess your command of foreign languages? 🔗.
Frequently asked questions
Should you translate the names of schools and diplomas?
Keep the original name of the institution and diploma, then add a short English equivalent in brackets. The recruiter can then check the diploma while understanding its level.
Do you need a CV in English to apply to a French house?
Not necessarily. Send one if the offer is in English, if the role is abroad or if the process is international. Otherwise, a French CV with a clearly stated level of English is enough.
How do you state your level of English on a CV in English?
With a level (fluent, proficient, intermediate) or a European framework level, together with a use or a proof: a test score, a stay abroad, daily practice with clients.
Is the American format different from the British format?
The principles are similar: concision, action verbs, no unnecessary personal information. The differences mainly concern spelling, the name of the document (“resume” in the United States, “CV” in the United Kingdom) and a few layout customs.