Tips for a successful application

Contents

In this video, discover our tips for an effective CV and cover letter.

Cover letter

Writing a convincing covering letter

The cover letter is not a classic academic exercise. It is a personalised presentation of your background, your objectives and your motivation for joining INSEEC.

The background: structure and authenticity

A catchy introduction that makes you want to read the rest
A personal statement: academic, professional and extra-curricular experience
A clear explanation of your career plan, whether already defined or still under development
A concrete link with INSEEC: why this school, this programme, and how it can help you achieve your goals. Show us your motivation and what drives you!

Don’t take the easy way out with a ready-made cover letter found on the internet or produced in 3 seconds by an LLM… Take the time to write it, it must represent you, and it’s essential that you put some of yourself into it!

The jury wants to understand who you are, the path you have built for yourself and why you chose INSEEC.

Form: rigour and legibility

A well-structured and comprehensive document: contact details, subject, well-spaced and justified paragraphs
Particular attention must of course be paid to spelling, grammar and syntax.
A fluid yet professional style that is always polite (but not obsequious).
Not many candidates think about it, but a nicely formatted covering letter can be an interesting differentiator. Particularly for those aiming for a career in communications, fashion or luxury goods. The nec plus ultra is when the form of the CV and the covering letter are in harmony.

Your covering letter should reflect your seriousness and, as the name suggests, your motivation!

CV

Building a clear, effective CV

The CV is one of the key documents for your interview. It will be carefully examined by the interview panel.

Essential information

Marital status and contact details: surname, first name, age, address, contact details
Academic background: from the baccalauréat onwards, give details of diplomas and courses taken
Professional experience :
– Internships, work placements, student jobs or one-off assignments
– Even experience that is not directly related to your training is relevant if it enhances your independence, rigour, resourcefulness or interpersonal skills.
Interests, travel, hobbies: they help us to learn more about you and to get to know you better. There’s no shame in listing hobbies that are out of the ordinary or that may seem less prestigious than others, as long as you talk about them with passion. A love of manga and being able to talk for hours about Japanese culture is more interesting to a jury than yet another “travel/sports hall” cliché.
The presence or absence of the photo is divisive: it’s up to you to decide.

Style and consistency of CV

Use action verbs or nouns, but be consistent throughout the layout
Keep the presentation clear and consistent: same margins, legible typefaces, clearly identified headings with a clear chronology, etc.
Don’t lie: be factual. Honest experience is better than a fictitious line.

A good CV is a useful aid during the interview: it should reflect your career path, but also prompt questions.

Attention

Mistakes to avoid in an application

An impersonal or generic letter
Spelling mistakes or confusing structure
An overloaded or disorganised CV
Adding false or exaggerated information

So

In short: a dossier that reflects your image

Your application is the first reflection of your commitment. It must show that you are ready to join a demanding, professional and internationally-oriented school like INSEEC.

Take care with the content : express your motivations, your background and your project.
Take care with the form : be clear, structured and error-free
Be consistent: between your letter, your CV and your project.

INSEEC offers courses from Bac to Bac+5 in management, marketing, finance, luxury, digital and sport. With 8 campuses in France and numerous international partnerships, INSEEC is a school that adapts to each individual’s ambitions.