What do CDI and CDD stand for in job listings?

CDI stands for Contrat à durée indéterminée, which means ‘open-ended contract’ in English. CDD stands for Contrat à durée déterminée, which translates to ‘fixed-term contract’.
They’re the two types of work contracts you will encounter in France. Each of them has a special legal definition and rules in the french Labour Code. For instance, CDI and CDDs have different rules regarding their duration, their purpose, how to end the contract, and stuff like that.

The CDI or open-ended contract is the norm. It includes a trial period of two to four months during which the employee and the employer can end the contract. Past this point, there are only three way to end the contract:

• You (the employee) resign
• The employer fires you
• You and your employer sign a mutual agreement

On the other hand, the CDD or fixed-term contract is an exceptional contract. CDDs are more closely monitored a regulated than CDIs because they are more susceptible to fraud and abusive behavior from employers. For instance, companies can receive fines if they use CDDs to substitues permanent workers. The only acceptable reasons for a company to use CDD contracts are:

• To replace an employee (during a sick leave or parental leave, for instance)
• For seasonal work (during fruit-picking or touristic seasons)
• To face a temporary increase of activity

CDDs have a maximum duration of 18 months (with some exceptions) and they can only be renewed twice within the same company.

Good to know if you’re working with a CDD: at the end of your contract, if the employer asks you to keep working without renewing your contract, then you have ground to claim a CDI. Also, fixed-term workers receive a bonus of 10% of their gross salary at the end of the contract, it’s called an ‘uncertainty bonus’.