Is a lettre de motivation still needed with a French CV?

Often, yes. Many French employers still expect a "lettre de motivation", especially for graduate schemes, the public sector, smaller companies and roles where motivation matters. Some large employers and online portals now make it optional or replace it with a few questions.

Follow the advert:

• If it asks for "CV + lettre de motivation", send both.
• If the form has only a CV upload, you can add a short message in the email or form if allowed.
• For unsolicited applications, a letter is usually expected.

A good French cover letter is about one page, formal and specific: why this company, why this role, and what you bring. A common structure is "vous" (what you know about the company), "moi" (your relevant experience) and "nous" (what you could achieve together), ending with a request for an interview and a formal closing such as "Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées." ResumeBuilder.ae lets you write a matching cover letter in the builder.