Short and simple cover letter: 10 templates ready to copy
Chris Massie
Jobshift
November 4, 2026 · 17 min read
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A short and simple cover letter fits in three paragraphs and about 150 to 200 words: one sentence that says which role you are applying for and why this company, one paragraph that links one or two concrete experiences to the role, then a closing that suggests an interview. It is the ideal format for student jobs, retail, food service, logistics, internships, work-study programs and most online applications.
The goal is not to write less to do less, but to maximize your chances with a letter the recruiter actually reads, without stock phrases or shortcuts that damage your credibility. Below you will find the structure, opening lines to start well, phrases to finish, and 10 short templates to adapt in a few minutes. The advice and sources come from France, where this format is widely used.
In short
- Format: half a page to three quarters of a page, three short paragraphs, about 150 to 200 words excluding contact details and sign-off.
- Structure: the company and the role (you), what you bring with one proof (me), the next step you suggest (us).
- First sentence: name the role and the company, then give one specific reason for applying. Avoid "Further to your advertisement published on…".
- One proof beats three adjectives: "I ran a checkout on my own every Saturday for a summer" says more than "reliable, dynamic and motivated".
- Short does not mean generic: at the very least, change the company name, the role and the example you chose for each application.
When to choose a short cover letter
French career guidance and employment bodies all give the same basic instruction: keep it short. Onisep (in French) recommends sticking to one page and three or four paragraphs, and France Travail (in French) advises short sentences and a "clear and direct" tone. The short and simple version goes one step further: it keeps the essentials and removes everything that repeats the resume.
It is especially suited to these situations:
- Roles with many applicants and fast hiring: retail, checkout, food service, hospitality, logistics, seasonal jobs. The recruiter mostly looks for your availability, your reliability and a first comparable experience.
- Online forms with a "message" or "cover letter" field limited in characters.
- Applications by email, where the text of the letter often becomes the body of the message.
- Internships, work-study programs and first jobs, when experience is still short: a brief, precise letter is better than a page full of generalities.
On the other hand, for an executive role, a competitive exam, a public sector job or an ad that explicitly asks for a "detailed letter", go for a full letter instead: our full cover letter templates are made for that.
The structure of a short letter in 3 paragraphs
The most widely used structure is the "you, me, us" triptych, also described by France Travail (in French). In a short letter, each part takes two to four sentences.
Paragraph 1: the role and the company (you)
Say which role you are applying for, where you saw the ad if that is useful, and why this company in particular. One specific reason is enough: a product you know, a store where you are a customer, a value shown on their website, a recent project.
Paragraph 2: what you bring (me)
Pick one or two skills asked for in the ad and prove them with a fact: an experience, a task, a figure you know (number of customers served, schedules kept, tools used). Do not tell your whole career story: that is what the resume is for.
Paragraph 3: the next step (us)
State your availability, suggest a conversation or an interview and finish with a plain sign-off. No need for three lines of thanks.
The skeleton to copy
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to join [company] as [role]. [Specific reason: what you know or appreciate about the company.]
[Concrete experience or situation] taught me to [skill asked for in the ad]. [Second short proof, ideally linked to the role.] I am available [dates, hours, type of contract].
I would be glad to discuss this with you in an interview. Yours faithfully,
[First name Last name]
To go deeper into the method paragraph by paragraph, read our guide how to write a convincing cover letter (in French).
How to start a cover letter: 6 opening lines
The first sentence often decides whether the rest gets read. It must contain the role and something specific to the company. Here are six ways to start, to adapt:
- The direct opening: "I am applying for the fixed-term sales assistant role in your [city] store, whose personalized advice on the shop floor I appreciate."
- The customer opening: "As a regular customer of your chain, I know your products and the welcome you give customers: that is what I want to offer in turn by joining your team."
- The skill opening: "Two summers on the checkout of a supermarket taught me to stay fast and smiling at peak times, a quality you are looking for in your cashier role."
- The plan opening: "Starting a two-year sales and customer relations diploma in September, I am looking for a work-study placement in sales, and your agency matches exactly the job I want to learn."
- The news opening: "The opening of your new restaurant in [city] made me want to apply as a crew member."
- The referral opening (only if it is true and agreed): "[First name Last name], who works in your logistics department, told me you need order pickers."
Avoid as an opening: "Further to your advertisement published on…" (the recruiter already knows), "I am taking the liberty of writing to you…", or a sentence that could be sent to any company. France Travail also recommends avoiding the conditional: write "I want to join" rather than "I would like to join".
10 short and simple cover letter templates
Each template has about 120 to 170 words of body text. Replace everything in square brackets, keep one solid proof, and add your contact details, subject line and date following the layout described below. The examples are deliberately neutral: never invent an experience you do not have.
1. Retail sales assistant
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to join your [brand] store in [city] as a sales assistant. I know your brand as a customer and I appreciate the quality of the advice on the shop floor.
During [experience: summer job, internship, job], I welcomed and advised customers, stocked shelves and ran the checkout. I learned to stay available even at busy times and to guide each customer to the right product. I am available [dates], including Saturdays.
I would be happy to meet you to discuss it. Yours faithfully,
2. Fast food crew member (McDonald's, Burger King, KFC…)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am applying for the crew member role in your [city] restaurant. Teamwork and the pace of service motivate me.
[Experience or activity: previous job, team sport, volunteering] got me used to following precise instructions, working fast without neglecting quality and helping my teammates. I am available [days and time slots], including evenings and weekends, and I live [distance] from the restaurant.
I am available for an interview. Yours faithfully,
3. Cashier
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to join your [brand] store in [city] as a cashier.
During [experience], I rang up purchases, managed the cash float and answered customers' questions. I am comfortable with numbers, careful when giving change and I keep smiling at peak times. I can work [hours], including shifts outside standard hours.
I would be delighted to present my motivation in an interview. Yours faithfully,
4. Waiter or waitress
Dear Sir or Madam,
Your restaurant [name] in [city] is looking for a waiter or waitress: I am applying for the role.
During [experience: season, extra shifts, job], I took orders, served in the dining room and handled payments for [number you know] covers per service. I enjoy contact with customers and I can keep up the pace during the rush. I am available [dates], lunch and dinner.
I remain available for a trial shift or an interview. Yours faithfully,
5. Student job or seasonal job
Dear Sir or Madam,
As a [program] student in [city], I am looking for a [part-time / summer season] job and would like to join [company] as [role].
Organized, I already combine my studies with [activity: sport, volunteering, another job], which taught me to keep to schedules and honor my commitments. [One proof linked to the role, even outside work.] I am available [days, period], and I can commit until [date].
I would be happy to discuss it with you. Yours faithfully,
6. Order picker or logistics operative
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to join your [city] warehouse as an order picker.
During [experience], I picked orders with a barcode scanner, followed safety instructions and met pace targets. I am punctual, accurate and comfortable with physical work. [If you have it: I hold a forklift license (state the category).] I can work [morning / afternoon / night] shifts.
I am available for an interview. Yours faithfully,
7. Administrative assistant or receptionist
Dear Sir or Madam,
Your administrative assistant opening at [company] caught my full attention, in particular [specific task from the ad].
During [experience], I handled phone reception, filing and updating spreadsheets in [tool: Excel, Google Sheets, business software]. I am organized, discreet and I like things done on time. I am available from [date].
I would be delighted to meet you to discuss this role. Yours faithfully,
8. Work-study program
Dear Sir or Madam,
Admitted to [diploma] at [school] starting [date], I am looking for a work-study placement in [field] and would like to do it at [company], because [specific reason].
[Internship, project or experience] allowed me to [skill linked to the role]. My work-study schedule is [schedule: e.g. 3 days at the company, 2 days in training], and I am available from [date].
I would be happy to present my plan in an interview. Yours faithfully,
For a longer version, see our work-study cover letter examples (in French), and browse work-study job offers by occupation, city or company (for example in sales).
9. Internship
Dear Sir or Madam,
As a [program] student at [school], I am looking for a [length] internship starting [date] and would like to do it in the [department] team at [company].
[Project, course or experience] allowed me to develop [skill useful for the internship]. I now want to put it into practice on [task you imagine at the company]. An internship agreement will be issued by my school.
I would be delighted to discuss possible tasks with you. Yours faithfully,
If you are writing without a published offer, our guide on the cover letter for an internship request (in French) explains the approach.
10. Career change
Dear Sir or Madam,
After [X years] as [former occupation], I am changing careers to become [new occupation] and would like to join [company] as [role].
My experience gave me [transferable skill: customer relations, managing priorities, rigor], directly useful for [task of the role]. I completed this path with [training, certification or project], finished in [date].
I would be happy to explain my plan in an interview. Yours faithfully,
For a career change, the letter mostly has to explain why the change makes sense: our guide to the career change cover letter (in French) offers a full version.
Writing without a job ad? These templates also work for a speculative application, by replacing the reference to the ad with the need you have identified: see our speculative application letter examples (in French).
Save time: generate your short letter from the job ad
Adapting a template to each ad takes a few minutes, but when you apply a lot, those minutes add up. The Jobshift free cover letter generator produces a first version from the role and your profile, which you then reread and correct. Keep the habit of checking every fact and removing anything that does not sound like you.
How to end a short cover letter
The closing has to do two things: suggest a concrete next step and stay polite, without overdoing it. Three phrases that work:
- "I would be delighted to meet you to discuss this role. Yours faithfully,"
- "I remain available for an interview, in person or by phone. Yours faithfully,"
- In an email or for a small company: "I am available for a conversation at your convenience. Kind regards, [First name Last name]"
Avoid endings that weaken the letter: "Hoping my application will catch your attention", "Looking forward to what I hope will be a positive reply", or apologies such as "despite my lack of experience". End on what you offer, not on what you lack.
Layout: the short letter on one page (or in an email)
On one page (PDF)
Use the classic layout, recommended in particular by France Travail (in French): your contact details top left, the recipient's on the right, the place and date, then a subject line with the role and the ad reference ("Subject: application for the sales assistant role, ref. 1234"). One readable font, a size around 11 or 12 points, well-spaced paragraphs. A short letter leaves white space: that is normal, do not pad the text to fill the page.
Export as PDF and name the file clearly: "Cover-letter-Firstname-Lastname-Sales-assistant.pdf". If you want a more visual letter matching your resume, our guide Canva cover letter explains how to keep a file readable by recruitment software.
In the body of an email
When you apply by email, the message itself can contain the short letter, with an explicit subject line and the resume attached. Remove the header with addresses and keep a simpler sign-off ("Kind regards"). The application email generator helps you write this message, and our article on the speculative application email gives examples of subject lines and follow-ups.
In an online form
If the field is limited in characters, keep the first sentence (role + company), a single proof and your availability. Paste the text into an editor before sending to check it is not cut off.
The mistakes that make a short letter useless
- The one-size-fits-all letter: if you can replace the company name without changing anything else, the recruiter will notice. France Travail advises personalizing each letter according to the reader and the role.
- Adjectives without proof: "dynamic, motivated, reliable" say nothing without an example. France Travail notes that recruiters read these words in a very large number of letters.
- Copying the resume: the letter links your profile to the role, it does not list your experiences one by one.
- Unnecessary personal information: family situation, religion, health… Under article L1221-6 of the French Labour Code (in French), information requested from a candidate must have a direct and necessary link with the job offered. You do not have to put it forward.
- Too short: a three-line letter without any example looks like a mass mailing. The right short format is still a real letter, with a proof.
- Mistakes: Onisep (in French) points out that a clumsy layout or spelling mistakes are all risks of being rejected. Read it aloud or have someone proofread it.
Checklist before sending
- [ ] The role and the company name are correct (and consistent with the subject of the email or the PDF).
- [ ] The first sentence says which role you are applying for and contains a reason specific to this company.
- [ ] The second paragraph contains at least one concrete proof linked to the ad.
- [ ] Your availability (dates, hours, work-study schedule) is stated.
- [ ] The letter has three paragraphs, with no unnecessary conditional sentence or empty phrase.
- [ ] The important keywords of the ad also appear in your resume: check it with the free ATS test, and if your resume is outdated, redo it with the free resume builder.
- [ ] You have logged the application (date, company, role, planned follow-up) in your job application tracker.
A short letter tailored to each job, in 1 swipe with Jobshift
A short and simple letter is good. A short letter tailored to each job, without starting from scratch every time, is better. That is what Jobshift does, the app that lets you apply to jobs by swiping.
- Swipe right on a job you like: Jobshift prepares the application for you.
- Resume and message tailored to each job, with the role's keywords, which you can still reread.
- Centralized tracking of all your applications, so you know who to follow up with and when.
Your short letter generated in 10 s, tailored to the job. Create your profile in a few minutes and start applying to jobs that match you. Try Jobshift for free
Related articles
- Cover letter templates to personalize
- How to write a convincing cover letter (in French)
- Canva cover letter: free templates and an ATS-friendly alternative
- Work-study cover letter: examples (in French)
FAQ
How long should a short and simple cover letter be?
Plan on three short paragraphs, about 150 to 200 words excluding contact details and sign-off, on half a page to three quarters of a page. That is enough to say which role you are applying for, give one concrete proof and suggest an interview.
How do you start a cover letter simply?
Start with a sentence that names the role and the company, followed by a specific reason for applying: "I would like to join your Lyon store as a sales assistant, because I appreciate the advice you offer on the shop floor." Avoid "Further to your advertisement published on…" and "I am taking the liberty of writing to you".
Is a short cover letter less effective?
No, as long as it contains a reason for applying specific to the company and at least one proof linked to the role. Onisep and France Travail both recommend keeping it short and using short sentences. A short letter becomes ineffective when it is generic or reduced to a few lines with no example.
Which sign-off should end a short cover letter?
For a PDF letter: "Yours faithfully," followed by your name. In an email or for a small company, "Kind regards" is enough. Precede the sign-off with a sentence suggesting an interview.
Can you use the same template for all your applications?
You can keep the same structure, but not the same text. At the very least, adapt the company name, the role, the reason for applying and the example you chose. France Travail advises personalizing each letter according to the reader and the role.
Do you need a cover letter for a student job?
It is not always required, but a short letter helps you stand out, especially without experience. State your exact availability, one proof of reliability (studies, sport, volunteering, first job) and how long you can commit.