If you want to gain work experience abroad you will have to submit a “spontaneous application” in English. Today, Mobi Trainee helps students to craft their cover letter and application in English. This step is essential to a successful experience. Follow our practical recommendations to help you write a cover letter.
Some advice before formatting the letter
Students submit unsolicited applications when searching for internships abroad. It is therefore necessary for them to prepare a cover letter and a CV in English.
Nowadays, an experience abroad increases the marketability of students and becomes an asset on their CV. This is especially true for experiences in English-speaking countries.
When the student has poor English skills, it is important to specify that their experience abroad will enable them to improve their level. This will show their motivation and perseverance to learn.
The student’s experience will be taken into account more than their diplomas. It is therefore necessary to highlight it as well as the professional and voluntary experience.
A piece of advice: there is not necessarily equivalence between French and English diplomas. Students should make an effort to change the title of their diplomas to the English equivalent. This will be more understandable to recruiters.
If the student has no practical experience, they should show what they can bring to the company and their motivation.
After applying these practical tips, students can move and write the cover letter.
The format of the cover letter
Writing a cover letter means putting yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. The letter must therefore be clear and to the point.
The cover letter will be the first assessment of the student’s English level. If the student does not have a good level of English, they should use short, simple sentences. These simple sentences will enable them to understand what they are writing and thus, at the interview, they will be able to defend themselves easily.
To translate the cover letter, they should be helped by a teacher or a classmate who has a better level of English. Let’s be clear, asking a teacher or a friend to translate does not mean leaving the work to them ! It is important that the student understands the turns of phrase in order to become familiar with the language and the idioms. This will give them the best chance to succeed.
It is important not to repeat the same information on the CV or else the student’s application will appear uninteresting.
The letter should be organized
- Heading (contact details)
- Opening sentence (why the student is applying)
- Opening paragraph (your current situation)
- Body of the letter (your experience / motivation)
- Last paragraph (Goal of the student and why the company should take them)
- Complementary and signature line
Here are some examples of cover letters in English.
The letter should be sent by e-mail, with the name of the director or recruitment officer of the company. It is important to have this information, as it shows the student’s interest in the company. Nowadays, many applications are submitted through online platforms on the company’s website.
Students will finally be ready to apply abroad after reading this article. Then they just have to take a big step and submit their application. Good luck!
If you find this step difficult, you can use the services of Mobi Trainee.
For further information :
- Internship mobility for your students
- Which destination should you choose to do your Erasmus+?
- What are the consequences on the Erasmus+ programme ?
- Your Erasmus trip to Ireland
- How to write a successful CV ?
- Comment réussir son stage à l’étranger ?
- Scandinavian countries are in vogue for Erasmus placements
- Opportunity for a permanent contract at the end of an internship
