Is French resume required for seeking IT job in Montreal？

[Jenny5]

Hi everyone, I am a newcomer of Canada and now I have settled in Montreal. However I just speak English and my mothertone. I only have a veeeeeery basic knowledge of French. I don't think I can work in a French environment even get an interview in French.
I am a junior programmer in my home country. I wonder if it is required to send bilingual(French & English) resume when seeking IT jobs in Montreal?

Thanks guys!

[Makram_Adnan]

No, it's not a requirement and I would advise against sending a French cv if you don't speak French to avoid confusion. The job posting will say if the position requires any level of bilingualism, so if it says they're looking for someone fluent in French you don't apply.

[Francois_Paradis]

Hi Jenny,

The fact that you do not speak French will generally limit the number of companies you can work for in Montreal and the kind of jobs you can hold. The good news in your case is that the IT sector may be an exception to this rule: your programming knowledge and skills may ovwerride your linguistic deficiencies. I would nonetheless advise you to send out resumés in French only as a way to screen potential employers and filter out the ones unlikely to hire you. Of course, when looking at a job posting, do not bother applying if it is specifically mentioned that mastery of the French language is a requirement. That being said, you may want to keep a French version of your resumé on file in the event you are asked to submit one along with the English original. I may be able to help you with the former since I am a professional translator

Regards,

François

[Maylen_Cytryn]

Hey Jenny!

I am born and raised in Montreal as an anglophone. There are many companies in Montreal that are run by English speakers and so the work environment tends to be English. I would say that if you don't speak French, you shouldn't bother with a French CV. Big companies are usually accustomed to having to switch back and forth between languages. If you are applying to smaller companies, you can usually tell by their website which language they work in. An English website usually means an English work environment!
All of this to say that each company is Montreal will have their unique way of working with language. Just like you look to work for a company that fits with your values and career goals, in Montreal you also look for a company that fits with your language abilities and preference.

Hope that was helpful!
Maylen

[Bao_Dai]

Just check out this vacancy.

Quality Test Developer

No mention of French, though other ads say it's an "asset."

Bonne chance!