Letter of Motivation Guide: Format, Examples & Writing Tips

What Is a Letter of Motivation?

A letter of motivation, which is frequently called a motivation letter, is an official or formal letter, which applicants might have to prepare when they apply for a job or any academic program. The letter helps to show the admission authority or human resource manager why you are an ideal candidate for the job role or education course.  

These letters are usually submitted with your resume or CV; thus you need to use the correct letter of motivation format to frame them according to the requirements of the employer or admission officer. Therefore, below is the step-by-step guide that depicts how to write letter of motivation in a precise way.

Learn How to Write Letter of Motivation?

Connect with Our Experts.

How to Write a Letter of Motivation?

Having come across the above information, you should have understood what a letter of motivation is, so let’s now learn how you can write this letter according to your own way.

Step-by-Step Guide

Writing a compelling motivation letter is as vital as finding a perfect course for yourself. However, you can find the best education program through the course finder, but what about writing a motivation letter? Whether you want to write a letter of motivation for masters degree or a job vacancy, below is the step-by-step guide that informs the correct ways of writing the letter. Check them out.

• Address the Letter Aptly – Starting your letter is the most important part, so make sure you include necessary details such as personal information like name, phone number and email address. Further, instead of including a generic sentence, start with a personalised greeting to create a connection.

• Focus on Program Requirements – Your motivation letter should include key details that can show the admission officer how you will meet their requirements. Thus, understand what kind of candidates they require and then show how your strengths can align with their criteria.

• Align with Organisation’s Objectives – You should do a thorough research about the university program or organisation to know what their values are, then include the details that align with their values. However, don’t try to include random keywords to show that you can align with their values.

• Express Your Ambitions – The motivational letter should convey your ambitions and goals, but only as much as you have achieved. It helps the admission committees to know about your goals. Moreover, make sure you write a realistic aspiration, which can be achieved through a dedicated plan.

Tips for Structuring Your Letter

Now that you have understood the essence of writing a motivation letter, let's see how to structure the letter. It is vital because if employers see a messy motivational letter, they will simply reject it.

Moreover, individuals can use a college finder to see which university is right for them, and then they can prepare a motivation letter according to the specific college requirements to structure it in better way. Therefore, you need to structure the letter in a precise way to keep the reader engaged.

• Start with Introduction – Start the letter with an effective introduction. For this, write your name on the top, then write a professional title that suits the position. Further, include your email address and phone number so that they can contact you.

• Body – The body of a motivational letter is crucial because it is the place where you promote your skills. This section determines your entire motivation letter, which is why you need to consider two key things while framing the body: the contents and the structure of the paragraph. In this, you should include essential skills, achievements and your passion.

• Conclusion – Once you complete the content part, you should write a concluding statement that sums up the entire content precisely. Additionally, here you can mention your career goal and how your objectives align with the company’s or the university’s mission.

Why a Letter of Motivation Important?

By now, you have learned about what is letter of motivation and how to structure it correctly. But do you know why it is so important? The answer is because it enables candidates to showcase their passion, personality and reasons for pursuing a specific opportunity.

In addition, it offers a platform where candidates can elaborate on skills, experiences and qualifications to convince the employer or admission authority that they are perfect for the role. Below are some points that show why a motivation letter is vital.

1.  It personalises the application and enables you to explain unique reasons to join an organisation or specific program.

2.  It reflects your personality by showing your motivations, aspirations and passions in a way that a resume cannot entirely capture.

3. It highlights your qualifications and connects them with specific program or role requirements.

4. Lastly, it is vital because it directly enhances the opportunity of success by affecting the decisions of human resource managers or admission committees.

Need Guidance to Write Appealing Letter of Motivation?

Learn with Experts

Letter of Motivation Sample

Now that you know about the letter of motivation format, its importance and structure, let’s see a few samples of them for different programs. The motivation letter needs to be framed differently according to the position or course you are applying to. Therefore, see the below samples to write letters according to different programs.

For Undergraduate Program

Here is the first letter of motivation sample, which is drafted to apply for an undergraduate program.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email]

[Date]

[University Address]

Subject: Application for [Course Name]

Dear Madam/ Sir

I came across the information about the Bachelor of Commerce on your official university website. I would like to take a moment to show my interest in applying for enrolment in this Bachelor's course.

I completed my high school education in 2024, from the [School/ University Name] in Indian. My qualification is primarily aimed at accounting and economics. I took the most advanced level courses which were available in these subjects in school so that I could ensure that I am prepared to be able to study at this university. I have worked hard in the past two years to make the maximum use of my knowledge and expand my skills in finance.

My interest in commerce began two years ago when I saw my senior giving a speech on the importance of taxation. From that day, I decided to be a finance officer and learn about how the tax system and the finance system operate. I started by understanding the key concepts of accounting and creating a balance sheet for my personal use to budget my monthly expenses. Moreover, soon I started learning about the economic concepts regarding demand and supply and how they operate the entire market and economy.

I have also taken an active part in seminars and debate competitions to show my knowledge regarding economic concepts. I have also won several awards in debate competitions for representing my school in various economic summits. I feel pursuing my course from this university will help me to expand my knowledge and work to my maximum potential.

I hope my aspirations to work in finance and my economic background have been able to shown my capabilities and passion to start my graduation degree at [University name]. I am looking forward to your reply and starting my studies at your college. Kind Regards

[Your Name]

For Master’s Program

Now, read the below sample to write a strong letter of motivation for masters to impress the admission committees.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email]

[Date]

[University Address]

Subject: Application for [Course Name]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am applying for the position in Master's in Information Systems course, offered at [Institution Name]. I desire to expand my knowledge in information systems by enrolling in this programme. It will help me divert my focus to the wide-scale use of this system in pharmacies and hospitals by being a clinical workflow advisor. I have read the course curriculum available on your website and found that the subject covers all the knowledge which suits my career objectives.

I have specialised knowledge in Pharmaceutical Market Study and I have also provided decision support to large pharmaceutical organisations. My role was to help the organisations with their management and marketing objectives. Further, I used to update surveys to understand the consumer behaviour and help with technical details for quality management. Moreover, during this role, I completed my diploma in applied statistics.

My previous knowledge about this course makes me an ideal candidate to enrol in International Information Systems courses, as it will lead to professional growth. The healthcare system is changing rapidly and transforming into a digital network. This remodelling inspires me to work on these skills through expanding my knowledge in subjects like advanced service management and data warehousing so that I can achieve my professional ambitions.

With all my experiences, I am now searching for an opportunity that will boost my career. The subject in this program aligns perfectly with my professional targets. I am sure that the skills and knowledge learned from my experience would make me an appropriate candidate for this program.

Thank you for considering my request Regards

[Your Name]

For Scholarship Application

The motivation letter for a scholarship application should include reasons to apply and your suitability for the grant. Below is a letter of motivation sample that shows how you can write a motivation letter to apply for a scholarship.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email]

[Date]

[Scholarship Name]

[Organization Address]

Subject: Application for [Scholarship Name]

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is [your name], and I am a second-year student at [university name]. I am currently pursuing a 4-year Bachelor's degree, and I desire to follow up with a Master’s degree after completing my graduation.

During high school, I got the opportunity to work at a chemical plant in the research and development field. I understand the construction procedure and have explored the importance of their functions. Additionally, I participated in volunteer work with an NGO to implement and design advanced technologies in water supply operations.

I am interested in learning about technologies and innovative machinery that will enhance productivity in firms.  I have taken several classes regarding Engineering with chemical sciences to discover how design and structure can work together.  

As an engineer, I desire to create a cost-effective, accessible, durable and productive operational system that will inform about technical errors in advance. However, I will need your financial assistance to continue my degree at the university. I hope you will consider my skills and help me with my studies by offering a monetary grant.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Also Read- Irregular Verbs

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A motivation letter plays a significant role in making your first impression. Thus, it is required that you avoid common mistakes while writing your letter of motivation. It is crucial because even a minor error can lead to rejection. Therefore, read the information below and know the common mistakes, you should avoid while preparing your motivation letter.

• Following Generic Templates – One of the most common mistakes is to use pre-written templates that fail to reflect your specific requirements and unique situation for the opportunity. 

• Focusing on Your Weak Areas – Another mistake is giving too much importance to your weak areas, which can lead to negative results. Additionally, you should avoid adding too much personal information as it can make the motivation letter informal.

• Ignoring Key Requirements – Not addressing key requirements is also a major mistake many applicants make, which shows that they do not properly understand the opportunity. Thus, it is recommended that you look at the opportunity carefully and include all the details that are required to grasp the chance.

Final Tips for a Strong Letter of Motivation

Writing a compelling and engaging motivation letter is vital to boost the chances of getting into the university or job you are applying for. But do you know how you can make your letter compelling? If not, then below are some tips that show how to write letter of motivation, which is persuasive.

• Strong Introduction – Firstly, start with an appealing introduction that can grab the reader’s attention by including details about your achievements and how you came to know about this opportunity. In addition, you can also take the help of study abroad consultants to know how to frame an engaging introduction.

• Conciseness and Clear – Secondly, you should keep the letter brief and aim to complete it within one page. Additionally, ensure that you include impactful and required information, instead of including every detail. Also, make sure to write clear statements to avoid misunderstanding and jargon.

• Highlighting Strengths – Lastly, you should include your strengths to make the letter more attractive, for this focus on showcasing your achievements that reflect why you are suitable for this role. Moreover, instead of following samples, personalise the details to make it more relevant and authentic.  

Conclusion

Summing up, a letter of motivation is crucial to enhance your chances of grasping an opportunity, which can include work in Australia or study in UK. Therefore, this blog includes details about how to write a motivational letter that aligns with your career goals.

However, if you are still struggling to draft a motivation letter for yourself, then connect with our experts at Gradding.com. Their tailored guidance will help you create a personalised motivational letter to impress the admission committees or hiring managers.   

FAQ’s:-

Ques1. How long should a motivational letter be?

Ans. Ideally, a letter of motivation should be one page long. Additionally, you should include precise information focused on the requirements for the job or opportunity for which you are preparing the letter.

Ques2. What should a good motivation letter contain?

Ans. A strong letter of motivation should precisely express reasons for applying. Moreover, highlight key skills and proficiencies in the required field and demonstrate your interest in this opportunity. Further, it should be organised perfectly to meet the specific needs of the organisation.

Ques3. How is a letter of motivation (LOM) different from a statement of purpose (SOP)?

Ans. A statement of purpose differs from a letter of motivation due to its focus and scope. SOP includes details about professional and academic backgrounds, whereas LOM is a concise letter and shows an applicant’s passion or motivation for a specific opportunity.

Ques.4 Can I use the same letter of motivation for multiple universities?

Ans. No, it is not an appropriate idea to utilise the same letter of motivation for different universities. Whilst you can use the same structure and content, each letter should be tailored according to the particular university and program you want to apply to.