A motivation letter will help you attract the employer and get the job you want. With this document, you can show your interest in the vacancy, emphasize your skills and experience, and demonstrate your motivation and willingness to work for the company. Let’s take a look at what should be in a motivation letter and how to write it correctly.
What is a motivation letter?
A motivation letter for a job is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job, internship, study, etc. In it, you express your interest in a particular position, emphasize your skills, experience, and motivation, and explain why you are the right person for the job. Often, a motivation letter is confused with a cover letter, and indeed they are interchangeable, but have some differences.
The difference between a motivation letter and a cover letter
| Criterion | Motivation letter | Cover letter |
| Objective | Express interest in a particular position or vacancy, explain your motivation | Present a resume to an employer, emphasize qualifications for a specific vacancy |
| Contents | Focuses on personal and professional motivations, goals and ambitions | Focused on skills, experience and achievements that meet the requirements of the job |
| Structure | Introduction, main body (explanation of motivation), conclusion | Introduction, main part (description of experience and skills), conclusion |
| Usage | When applying for study programs, grants, internships, sometimes when looking for a job | When submitting a resume for a vacancy |
| Focus on achievements | How achievements are related to professional or academic goals | How achievements meet the requirements of a particular vacancy |
| Adaptation to the vacancy | Usually adapted to the program or overall goal | Adapts to a specific vacancy |
| Tone | Often more personal, reflecting your ambitions and values | More professional and business-like, with an emphasis on meeting the requirements of the vacancy |
| Examples of use | Application for a master’s program, grant application, internship | Submitting a resume for a vacancy |
In general, both of these documents are aimed at making you stand out among other candidates (for a job, study, or grant), but in slightly different ways. While a cover letter should showcase your achievements, a motivation letter (as the name implies) should show your motivation to work for the company whose vacancy you are interested in. So how do you write the perfect motivation letter?
How to write a motivation letter?
- Research the company: Before writing a letter, familiarize yourself with the company, its mission, values, projects, and culture. This is to make your motivation letter more personalized and in line with the company’s values.
- Personalize the letter: Address the letter to a specific person if you know their name. This adds a personal touch to the letter and shows your interest.
- Introduction: Begin with a clear and concise introduction that states which position you are applying for and how you heard about it.
Example:
“Dear Victoria Ivanovna,
I am interested in the position of software developer in your company XYZ. I found it on your website and believe that my experience and skills perfectly match the requirements of this position.”
- Body: Use a few paragraphs to detail your experience, skills, and accomplishments that match the job requirements. Explain why you are interested in the position and how your goals align with the company’s goals.
Example.
“I have five years of experience in the IT field, particularly in developing and maintaining web applications. While working at ABC, I created an interactive project management platform that increased the team’s efficiency by 20%. I’m proficient in JavaScript, Python, and C#, and have experience with React and Django frameworks.
I am attracted to the opportunity to work at XYZ because of your reputation as an innovative company that implements modern technologies and approaches to software development. I am confident that my experience and skills will allow me to make a significant contribution to the development of your projects.”
- Conclusion: End the letter by thanking them for considering your application, expressing your availability for an interview, and providing contact information to reach you.
Example.
“Thank you for considering my application. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can be of service to your team. I can be reached at the phone number or email listed above.
Best regards,
Ivan Ivanov”
If you write a motivation letter for a job like this, you’ll be at the top of the list. After all, few people use such a document when applying for a job, but it affects the employer’s opinion of you. When a future manager sees that you are motivated and want to work in this particular company, he or she is more inclined to accept your candidacy.
Tips for writing the perfect motivation letter
- Be concise: Try to keep your motivation letter under one page. This greatly simplifies the work of the HR manager and makes them want to contact you for more information.
- Avoid clichés: Use your own style and avoid boilerplate phrases. When HR managers or employers look through hundreds of resumes (cover letters, motivation letters) and see the same phrases, they do not pay attention to such applications and often skip them. You need to stand out and be remembered so that the employer will pay attention to you.
- Check your letter for errors: Make sure your letter is free of grammatical and stylistic errors. Such shortcomings can cause a negative impression of you and prevent you from getting the job.
- Use specific examples: Confirm your skills and experience with specific achievements and results.
- Show enthusiasm: Show that you are really interested in this position and that you are motivated to work here. By the way, if you use a personalized fact, it can help you stand out.
Motivation letter example
Ivan Ivanenko
+ 38 (123) 456-7890
June 15, 2024
Victoria Ivanovna Sydorenko
Recruitment manager
LLC “TechSoft”
10, Innovatsionna str.
Kyiv, Ukraine
Dear Victoria Ivanovna,
I am interested in the software developer position I found on your website. I believe that my experience and skills meet the requirements of this position.
I have five years of experience in the IT field, particularly in developing and maintaining web applications. While working at ABC, I created an interactive project management platform that increased the team’s efficiency by 20%. I’m proficient in JavaScript, Python, and C#, and have experience with React and Django frameworks.
I am attracted to the opportunity to work for XYZ because of your company’s reputation. It has gained a reputation for excellence in software development and its name is already associated with quality and reliability. I am confident that my experience and skills will allow me to make a significant contribution to the development of your projects. Why am I the right person for this position? I am ready to develop and grow with the company and reach new heights. I fully meet your needs and am ready for challenges.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can be of service to your team. I can be reached at the phone number or email listed above.
Best regards,
Ivan Ivanenko
Conclusion
A cover letter can help you get the job you want. When writing a cover letter, you should not only identify your motivation and eligibility, but also make it personalized and interesting for the employer. If you want to get your dream job, take some time to create the perfect cover letter.
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