Here we will share with you some tips on writing a motivation letter.
While preparing your application profile, one of the essential tasks is to write a motivation letter to support your application for a job, University admission or internship. In order to achieve your goals, you should approach the matter responsibly. The letter of motivation is a crucial document in your application, so it must be tailored toward the particular program, job, scholarship, internship and ect., mentioning all important factors that differentiate you from the other candidates. You should clearly understand, in which way, you distinguish yourself from others with the same education and diploma.
To begin with, you have to make a list of the programs you are applying for, go into details about each of them and evaluate your professional compliance with the chosen programs. Prepare a list of deadlines and make sure you have enough time to collect all the necessary documents and write a motivation letter. You need at least 2-3 month.
Important, for each program you should write another motivation letter. Of course, you can leave the same basis of the letter, but you have to make it very specific for each program.
Start with a plan, take your time and write down all the necessary facts about your character trades, education, results of your professional and extracurricular activities and etc. Write down some of your main ideas, important points you would like to approach and then enrich their content. Providing a short preview of your letter, make your goal clear.
Ask yourself 10 questions:
- Why this program, university, internship is interesting and suitable for you?
- Which is your professional goal?
- How this program will help you to reach your targets?
- Which of the offered courses are particularly beneficial for you in purchasing your professional goals? Make sure you are well informed
- Why do you think you are the right person for the chosen program?
- What knowledge and skills gathered in your previous education will be useful?
- Have you already gain any relevant professional experience?
- Have you taken part in volunteer projects?
- What do you estimate your personality? (emphasize your strong points but be realistic)
- Why do you want to study/have internship/work in a chosen country?
Afterwards, think over the structure of your letter. The first impression always counts, it is important the way your letter looks, the way it is organized and structured in paragraphs, the font size and the length of the letter (usually 1 page). You can write several letters, then combine them or just choose the one. Present your letter in a professional format, style and grammar. Ask native speakers to check it for mistakes. Avoid all kind of platitudes, flowery phrases and flattery.
Quick tips:
- Don’t repeat your CV
- Make sure that you don’t mention new items in your motivation letter which are not mentioned in your CV
- Be as concrete as possible
- Don’t copy your motivation letter from others
- Make sure you use a “serious” e-mail address
- Formulate your letter positive and future-oriented
- Ask your friends, a teacher or someone who has already done such an application for advice.
Always believe in yourself!