How to Write a Motivation Letter: Practical Tips, Structure, and Examples for Success

Dec 18, 2024 8 min reading

A motivation letter – you know the drill. You come across a job ad with the requirement “Send us a motivation letter,” and your first thought is: “Do they really need this? And what on earth should I write in it?” If you’ve ever Googled phrases like “What is a motivation letter?”, “How should a motivation letter look?”, or “How to write a motivation letter for a job?”, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

The Difference Between a Cover Letter and a Motivation Letter

These terms are often confusing and easily interchangeable. A cover letter is a brief introduction – just a few lines serving as a polite opening, often in the text field of an online application. In my opinion, it’s courteous to write a few sentences to give your application some polish. A simple formulation will suffice:

“Dear [Recipient],
I was intrigued by your job ad for the position of [Job Title], and I would like to apply. Please find my CV attached.
Best regards, [Your Name].”

A motivation letter, on the other hand, goes deeper. It’s your chance to show what drew you to the position, why you’re excited to work for this company, and how you can contribute. It allows the recruiter to better understand your motivation and approach to the role.
👉 Tip: If you see “cover letter” in the job ad, I recommend writing a motivation letter instead. You never know if the author is confused about terminology.

What Is a Motivation Letter?

A motivation letter is not just “something you put on your resume.” It’s your chance to show what attracted you to the advertised position. Recruiters will probably be interested in: Why do you want to be part of this company? What makes this job meaningful to you? What values do you share with the company? What attracted you to their activities or company culture? Plus, answering these questions will actually prepare you well for a possible job interview.

Don’t just stick to general answers – being specific is absolutely key. Don’t forget to mention the mutual benefit: what you will bring to the company and what this job can bring to you.

What Should a Motivation Letter Contain?

Motivation and CV Supplement: Don’t copy information from your CV – this isn’t a rerun! A motivation letter complements the facts in your CV with context and your personal perspective. Why are you switching fields? How do your skills fit this role? What intrigued you about the company culture? This is your chance to explain why you’re the ideal candidate.
Tailored and Original: Still Googling templates? Forget it. A tailored motivation letter is like a custom-made suit – it fits perfectly and highlights your authenticity. While templates can help with structure, the most important parts are the genuine, truthful, and personal insights about you – something no template can provide. Recruiters tire of reading the same tired phrases; they appreciate originality, uniqueness, and above all, informational value.
Values and Company Culture: A motivation letter isn’t just about your skills; it’s also about who you are. It shows how you resonate with the company’s values and whether you’re a culture fit. For example, if the company is informal and your letter is full of convoluted phrases and literary expressions, it might suggest you’re not the best match for their culture. Recruiters look for both skills and individuals who naturally fit into the team.

And one more thing – outline your vision. If you’re a marketer, for instance, why not mention how you’d like to help the brand grow?

👉 Tip: Have a general framework for your motivation letter and adapt it for each company. This will save you time on structure while ensuring the content remains unique and tailored to your target audience. Recruiters will appreciate seeing that you went the extra mile.

Motivation Letter Writing in Practice

A motivation letter is your personal sales pitch – but instead of a product, you’re selling yourself! Before you start writing, try answering these questions:

Why do you want this position?

What attracts you to it? Think about what draws you to this role. Is it the opportunity to work on specific projects, take on more responsibility, or advance your career? Avoid generic answers like “Because I need a job.” Be specific: “I love working with data, and this role offers exactly what I enjoy – identifying trends and transforming them into strategy.”

Why do you want to work for this company?

Here’s your chance to show that you’ve done your homework. Where to start? These are great sources:

Social media: Check their LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook, where they often share insights into their company culture.
Review platforms: Sites like Glassdoor, Welcome to the Jungle, or Cocuma can give you an insider’s view and highlight the company’s values.
The company’s website: Pay close attention to sections like “About Us” or “Careers.”

👉 Tip: Mention something that shows you’ve taken a genuine interest in the company. For example: “Your project XYZ demonstrates how much you value sustainability, which is an approach I deeply admire.”

What are your strengths?

Delve deeper into your strengths, but pick only those most relevant to the position and explain how you’ll apply them in the new role.

👉 Tip: Instead of listing them, use specific examples. For instance: “While working on project XYZ, I led a team of five and increased efficiency by 30%. I’d love to bring this experience to your company.”

Practical Tips for an Engaging Motivation Letter

Start Strongly: Avoid “I would like to apply for the position…” Be creative and grab attention from the first sentence! For example: “Your mission inspired me so much that I couldn’t miss the opportunity to become part of it.”
Personalize: Use the recruiter’s name if you know it. If not, “Hello XYZ Team” still sounds better than the impersonal “Dear Sir/Madam.”
Be Specific: Describe how you can help the company and what you’d bring. Have experience with a similar project? Share it!

Structure and Length

No one has time to read novels. Aim for ¾ to 1 A4 page. Divide it into clear paragraphs for better readability. Start with an introduction explaining why you’re writing and what position you’re interested in. Follow with a detailed main section explaining your motivation and wrap up with a closing paragraph inviting further contact.

Is a Motivation Letter Still Necessary Today?

A motivation letter isn’t always a requirement. If the job ad doesn’t specifically ask for it, it’s possible no one will even read it.

When Does It Make Sense to Write One?

When it’s explicitly requested: If the ad says “Send us a motivation letter,” definitely write one. Failing to do so might be seen as a lack of attention or interest – and you don’t want that.

To explain something specific: Sometimes your CV needs context. A motivation letter is the perfect place to clarify, for example:

Career changes: Emphasize your qualifications for the new role, even if you’re coming from another field.
Employment gaps: Show how you used this time meaningfully, whether for education, personal matters, or gaining new experiences through travel.
Unfinished education or certifications: Explain why and what you learned from the experience.
Frequent job changes: Use this opportunity to show how these experiences have enriched your professional development.
Unusual projects or roles: Highlight the key skills and insights gained.

From personal experience:

A motivation letter is a unique opportunity to showcase who you are and bring yourself closer to the role you’re after. It’s a space to emphasize your strengths, present your values, and demonstrate that you understand the company’s philosophy and focus.

Don’t underestimate its power – a well-crafted motivation letter allows you to stand out, be specific, and offer recruiters a clear idea of how you can contribute. It’s a way to differentiate yourself from other candidates and leave an impression that could lead to the next step – an invitation to an interview.

Sloneek will do HR.  You focus on the people.

How can AI help you?

Artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, can be a great helper when writing a cover letter – if you know how to work with it. The key to success is to give it the right input, i.e. prompts. But be careful, AI will not completely replace you – the most important thing, your motivation and personal approach, you have to provide.

If you only ask AI to “Write me a cover letter”, the result will be an AI cover letter – i.e. a general one, without a personal approach and detailed information about you, your experience, contribution and motivation, it will not work, the most important thing will be missing – you. AI is only an assistant who can offer you a framework, structure and style. But the final text must be yours, personal and reflect your experience, reasons and motivation.

A cover letter is a unique opportunity to show who you are and get closer to the position you are applying for. It can be a place where you emphasize your strengths, present your values and demonstrate that you understand the philosophy and focus of the company.

Don’t underestimate its power – a well-written cover letter allows you to stand out from the crowd, be specific, and give recruiters a clear idea of how you can contribute. It’s another way to differentiate yourself from other candidates and make the impression that will determine the next step – an interview.