Securing a job in France usually involves writing a cover letter. In this article, Mister Bilingue is here to help you write the best possible letter for the job!
You've come across the job offer of your dreams, but the recruiter is asking for a cover letter in addition to your CV... what now?
Some consider it a waste of time, others find it the most challenging thing of all, but one thing for sure is that talking about yourself is never easy and it can even be the reason we give up on an application altogether.
In France, however, whether it's a speculative application or an internship offer, knowing how to write a cover letter is still a great way to make sure that your application stands out in the pile and that you're ready for a future interview.
The Mister Bilingue team is here to offer a helping hand in writing the cover letter of your dreams! If it's a cover letter in English that you need to write, you can find more specific advice here.
Let's start by breaking down some of the main points we're going to cover together:
1- What should I do before writing my cover letter?
2- How should I format a cover letter?
3- What kind of information should I include in my cover letter?
Before writing your cover letter, you should stop to think about your overall application. Start by asking yourself some questions:
By answering these questions, you'll be able to:
Haven't started looking for a job yet? No problem, our team is here to explain everything you need to know about job hunting, too!
The first step is to think carefully about the company that you're applying to. Make sure that you understand its backstory, how the company works and what its need are.
Be careful, the goal here isn't to regurgitate an entire Wikipedia page: employers can spot those people who have simply copy and pasted generic information from a mile off! The best applicant will immerse themselves in the company's ethos and be as familiar with their image as the existing employees.
Don't hesitate to make contact with former or current employees at the company to get an idea about the working atmosphere. With a little luck, you will even find out crucial information like whether they have a foosball table or an espresso machine…
Equip yourself with as much information as possible and you will feel all the more confident when it comes to working out how your motivations line up with those of the company.
Being able to define and classify your own qualities and skills is a big help when it comes to applying for a job. Think about the skills and experiences that define you professionally and try to match them with the tasks involved in the position that you're applying for.
Are you looking for a position in marketing?
By making links between yourself and the position in question, you will be better placed to explain why you are a suitable candidate.
You can, of course, make use of your CV to provide answers to these questions, but try to develop that information further to avoid producing a letter that seems like a simple copy and paste job (we see you!).
Don't have a CV yet? Fix it quick! Take a look at another one of our handy articles to find out how to put together the perfect CV in a matter of minutes.
Finding out something about your interviewer can be a good way to begin preparing your cover letter. Make sure to find their email, contact details, and LinkedIn profile, etc. (remember: tread lightly, you don't want to come off as a stalker…).
By knowing what sort of person you're talking to, you will be better able to understand what is expected of you as a candidate. This mean that you'll have a better chance of piquing their interest and getting your hands on the holy grail: an interview.
Once you're clear on the alignment between your profile and the company, you're ready to start writing your letter. Don't worry, it's going to be great!
Let's start at the beginning: a cover letter is first and foremost a letter. Amazing, right?
If you were listening carefully in school, you'll know that a letter has a particular structure and layout and must include certain vital pieces of information.
Properly formatting your cover letter will make it an easier read for the recruiter while effectively communicating all the most information about you.
Regarding the format and layout, whether it's handwritten or typed, your cover letter should fit onto one page.
If you're writing it on the computer, use Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, just in case the recruiter doesn't have access to other fonts on the receiving end.
If you're writing your letter by hand, make sure that your handwriting is clearly legible and won't cause the recruiter a headache. If that's not the case, call in a favour with that calligrapher friend of yours… and if you don't have such a friend, just use a computer instead.
Finally, make sure that your letter breathes with a clear structure and easily distinguished paragraphs.
Here are the most important things to bear in mind:
At the top left of your letter:
At the top right of your letter:
If you're looking for sample cover letters, take a look here!
If you've been following our advice so far on getting your thoughts together before writing the letter, all that's left to do now is put pen to paper! Easy, right?
When it comes to writing a cover letter, there are three main areas to cover:
It goes without saying, you must first show that you understand the job and the direction of the company that you're applying to before going into detail on your skills and professional aspirations and explaining what you can bring them.
In this section, you need to show that you understand the needs and goals of the company. Make sure to explain what you think sets this company apart, how it occupies an important position within your field of interest or in what way it's relevant to your professional aspirations.
Don't be afraid of adding references or statistics where relevant to better communicate certain points. The goal isn't to flatter the company, but to show that you've done your homework on understanding their profile and needs.
This is the section where you should showcase your professional experience and skills, casting them in as positive a light as possible.
The goal here is to lay the groundwork for the next section and to support your overall application with concrete examples.
Make sure to highlight:
It's also possible to use recommendations from your previous employers to strengthen your application.
Last, but certainly not least: what can you bring to the company? If you're drawing a blank on this one, we're sending you right back to the first section of this article (you'll get there eventually, we believe in you!).
In this section, make sure to link your skills and aspirations to the needs and ambitions of the company. Demonstrate how this partnership could work well in both directions. Emphasize your strengths and what you can bring to the business, give them a reason to put their trust in you!
Some suggestions:
To recap, this is where you need to connect with the company and position yourself as a credible candidate for the position.
Want to go one step further? We suggest taking a look at this cover letter written by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci himself! We're happy to report that he found a job fairly quickly with his letter.
TO RECAP:
How do I write a cover letter in France?
Being familiar with your selling points, being concise, knowing how to talk about the company and how to link your profile to the role in question: these are the essential aspects of writing a good cover letter.
Congratulations, with a little help from Mister Bilingue, you've now got all the know-how you need to produce an excellent letter and take the next step: complete the interview!
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We hope that you've found this advice useful and wish you luck in your job search!
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