The French cover letter (lettre de motivation), explained for English speakers
A French cover letter — lettre de motivation — is a one-page, formally structured letter following the « Vous, Moi, Nous » pattern: why this company (Vous), what you bring (Moi), what you would build together (Nous). It ends with a fixed politeness formula that English has no equivalent for.
The Vous-Moi-Nous structure
VOUS (3-4 lines): show you know THIS company — a recent product launch, their market position, a value that resonates. Generic openings (« I am writing to apply for… ») are the fastest way to the reject pile.
MOI (5-7 lines): two or three concrete reasons you fit, each backed by a fact or number from your experience. This is not a repeat of the CV — pick the two experiences that map to the offer and explain the match.
NOUS (3-4 lines): project into the role — what you would tackle first, how your background serves their current challenge. Then request the interview explicitly.
The closing formula (do not improvise it)
French business letters end with a codified politeness sentence. A safe, modern choice: « Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées. » A slightly lighter, widely accepted alternative: « Je vous remercie de l'attention portée à ma candidature et me tiens à votre disposition pour un entretien. Cordialement. »
Keep the letter under one page, address a named person when the offer gives one (« Madame Martin »), and match the language of the job ad — a French ad gets a French letter, always.
Practical note: French public employment services push candidates to personalise every letter, and French recruiters notice template letters immediately. One tailored letter beats ten generic ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cover letter still read in France?
Less than before — several French recruiting surveys show a minority of recruiters give it real weight. But many French employers still require it, especially in traditional sectors and the public sector, and a weak or machine-translated letter can disqualify an otherwise strong application.
Can I write the lettre de motivation in English?
Only if the job ad is in English. If the ad is in French and your written French is not strong, keep the letter short and simple rather than machine-translating a long one — errors of register are obvious to native readers.
How long should a lettre de motivation be?
One page maximum — around 250 to 350 words. Three to four paragraphs following Vous-Moi-Nous, plus the politeness formula.