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How can define a motivation letter? Do you consider it to be the same as a cover letter? Does it have any peculiar standards of formatting and composition? A cover letter is needed only in case of job applications, while a letter ofmotivation is typically required for university enrollment as well as acceptance to particular educational programs or even volunteer organization projects. It is also important to know how to write a good motivation letter for a fresh graduate or a student without particular career achievements who has to demonstrate that he or she is genuinely interested in a certain position.
The name of the letter makes the main aim of writing absolutely clear. You are expected to provide a description of the factors that motivate you to apply for a particular position or activity. In case of writing a motivation letter for a student program, it is necessary to give explanations of your reasons why participation in it is important for you. If you want to apply for some volunteering activities in a non-for-profit organization, it is essential to provide the needed details related to your volunteering experience, if any, and your interest in meaningful activities and helping others.
It is a common mistake to mistake cover letters for
letters of motivation. It is natural as both of the letters have an aim to make a reader believe that there is no other candidate or applicant who would be better for a certain position. However, one of the differences is that limitations related to cover letters are stricter.
How to Make a Motivation Letter Successful?
Typically, even having theoretical knowledge of how to write a good motivation letter, students do not find it easy to keep to recognized standards of internship letter writing or motivation letter writing. It is challenging to select the details that have to be included into the letter and excluded fro it to make it effective. Note that a perfect letter of motivation is supposed to address the following issues:
- professional plans and goals
- career objectives: both short-term and long-term
- desired position after graduation
- plans as for the contribution to political, social, technological, and cultural development of the community, area, state, city, or region after graduation
- plans as for the place to live and work after you get a degree
- benefits of the selected study courses for you in terms of the career goals
- specific reasons why the committee should opt for your application among hundreds of other ones
Factually, a good motivation letter should always contain accurate details about how a new position you are applying for will benefit from your acquired knowledge, internship practice, experience, abilities and skills. Moreover, we recommend evaluating your own weak and strong points, skills, and expertise from your own point of view. For instance, it is reasonable to assess your leadership skills, willingness to work in a team, ability to cope with tight deadlines and work under pressure, and so on.
What Are the Main Constituent Parts of a Motivation Letter?
All types of motivation letter writing imply covering the following fundamental aspects:
- Your first name and your last name along with the contact details: telephone number, email.
- The name of the company you want to work for and the name of the position you want.
- Valid reasons why you want to apply: it will be appropriate to mention your personal qualities here and explain why they will be beneficial for the development of this particular company.
How to Turn Your Motivation Letter into an Outstanding Piece of Writing?
Your constant focus while writing a motivation letter should be on the coherence of the content, correct language, and importance of mentioning your qualifications and intentions in terms of your application. Try to avoid flowery phrases and vague explanations. The dominant voice of the letter should be active.
- No specific terms. No clichés. You should sound persuasive and creative at the same time. Even if you believe that a certain cliché will be the most appropriate way to express your thought, it is highly recommended to consider the aspects of ‘how’ and ‘why’ and opt for evidence and examples that overdo the flat phrases everybody is tired of.
- No plagiarism. Using certain facts and details from the previous researches or your own papers, you cannot take word-for-word parts of the texts. Moreover, never copy paste pars of the program in your letters.
- No copied forms. Have a look at some bright samples of the letters but do not base your own on the ideas taken from there. Blind copying will do no good and will never produce a good impression.
Make your tone as positive as possible as there should be no focus on any negative aspects. Even if you want to tell about challenges or problems you had to overcome, it is better to point out not the hardships themselves, but the way you coped with them. Even if you mention your weaknesses, do not emphasize them. The main purpose of your motivation is to sell what you can do and how advantageous you are as a candidate. Most probably, they will ask you about your weak points when you are invited to the interview, but for now concentrate on the future. Present your previous qualifications, but also emphasize the prospects you want to have. You may lack experience in a particular area, but it will be right to tell not about this but about your eagerness to learn.
Read a lot about how to write a good motivation letter, but also remember that the most important principle of writing is to be honest. Exaggerations are not welcome. They are looking for the most qualified candidate, but they need to know about your actual abilities and skills. You will still remain competitive if you tell the truth about what you can do instead of lying.
Have a Look at the Following Valuable Tips
It is not necessary to tell a lot. It will be much more beneficial just to point out your achievements and experience in the professional and academic spheres. You should realize the scope of work committees have in the seasons of admissions. Having thousands of applications daily, they want to see detailed information presented in a concise form. It sounds as a paradox, but it is true. They skim through the lines, and you should be able to present the main aspects without any vagueness or wordiness. Choose the achievements that are the noticeable and relevant.
- Professionalism and personality combined
There is a certain similarity between a personal statement and a motivation letter. You have to cover the most practical details and keep the text coherent and concise. No boasting! No tedious flow of repetitions! Good luck!