Preparation of a motivation letter to the university. Explanation of controversial moments of the academic past. Text organization approaches

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How to write motivation letter: personal experience

Almost the main point of any package of documents that needs to be drawn up in order to receive a grant, enter an institute or for an internship is a motivation letter, or Statement of purpose. People with extensive experience in preparing documents told Theories and Practices about how to write a good motivation letter, and also shared personal examples.

Motivation letter to the residence

Olga Karyakina

artist, graphic designer, received a grant from the UNIDEE residence in 2011

While working on the letter, I adhered to the standard structure: introduction, main body, conclusion. It took me two days to write the letter. The introduction talked about the existing problem and the possibility of solving it with the help of the proposed project. Here I used the American standard for writing an essay, when the main idea is written at the end of the first paragraph. Then there are three short paragraphs that concretize and develop this idea. Also in the main part it is worth writing about why this project should be developed in this particular residence: what opportunities they have will give for the development of the project. The last paragraph is the conclusion, which usually summarizes all the ideas that have been described above. If I wrote for UNIDEE again, I would make the letter a little more specific - but not much, because we should not forget that in any case the project will change. It is convenient to take the language exam essay as the structure of a motivational letter.

There are sites that offer templates for such documents, but in practice it is not very convenient to work with them - it turns out to be completely dead text. The only help I needed was a discussion with a friend of mine who lives in America on how to formulate some thoughts in English, because the way we speak and how native speakers speak is very different. Although Russian English is quite suitable for non-English speaking countries.

Probably the only thing you should not write about in a motivation letter is that you are bad at interacting with people. And in general, you don’t have to be boring and write the whole truth. Grants are pure politics. And letters must be written diplomatically to get the desired result.

Motivation letter for an internship in a foreign company

Ekaterina Stetyukha

Fellow of the DAAD Journalisten International program, Master's student at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau:

“When I wrote this letter, I had little experience in such matters, and I made a lot of inquiries and collected information on how to do it right. Since the letter was originally German, then I found out from colleagues from Germany what clichés and speech expressions are appropriate in such a journalistic style genre as a motivational or cover letter. The work lasted a week, because I did not have the opportunity to set aside time for just one letter. I wrote down bright thoughts that came to mind in between times, and in a free moment I arranged them into a sentence or paragraph. My opinion: a good letter is not written quickly, it is better to take the time to think and edit. Subsequently, I began to write such texts much faster, while that letter is the most successful so far.

There are four paragraphs in total. In the first one, I told about myself and my education, in the second one, about my professional interests and international experience gained. The third paragraph was talking about the same thing, because everything did not fit in the second. And in conclusion, one sentence that participation in this educational program would help me a lot and expand my horizons. Classical approach: introduction, main part and conclusion. Maybe someone will come up with something more creative. I adhered to the traditional canons.

In your motivation letter, tell us about the strengths of your personality: let's say you are still a few years old, say 23, and you already have two diplomas and work experience, more participation in international projects and two languages. This is worth saying beautifully - such self-marketing.

Plus, it is worth justifying the need for your participation in the project - in particular, explaining why you should study abroad. If you already have Russian education, then you need to show the connection between your domestic diploma and a possible foreign one. After all, someone will invest in you. He has the right to know why - and what dividends education in a foreign land will bring you in the future.

In addition, international experience is important, albeit minimal. Sometimes this factor is decisive if you have to choose between several candidates. Foreign experience includes tourist trips too, they broaden the horizon. True, I would include this information in a very brief form in my resume. In a motivation letter, it is better to write about the seminars, courses and training programs that you have taken abroad. Such an experience is very valuable. To purchase it, you can pay for the curriculum yourself or apply for a grant or scholarship. For example, it is very easy to take courses in English or any other language at your own expense, and you can also receive financial support from foundations. If this is your first experience, then write so directly in your cover letter. Returning to your homeland after such a trip, you will definitely become a slightly different person, more open and flexible.
admission to the magistracy letters by points, following the standard samples for creating motivational letters. You need a brief presentation of yourself, your specialization, work experience, volunteering and other activism, as well as the rationale for your choice - this point is better to highlight at the end. It is very important to emphasize the relevance of your experience to the chosen specialty. For example, I wrote a letter for admission to the master's program in oriental studies - accordingly, I indicated knowledge of the oriental language and work in China - these are winning points. Also, the master's program I chose specializes in sociology and political science of the Asian region, so the mention of the fact that my diploma of higher education included such courses is not out of place.

In fact, you need to write a slightly pathetic message with an emphasis on how I dream of studying with you. Therefore, in my opinion, it is necessary, whenever possible, to return in your letter to the fact that all your accumulated experience will be invaluable and useful in this particular faculty that you have chosen.

I think that the emphasis should be on two points, as I do in my letter: these are academic achievements and work experience. Any participation in conferences, writing term papers, presenting a diploma is considered an achievement. Profitable and beautiful writing about it, it will give the impression that you are academically savvy. Professional experience is also important, as it proves that there are skills and independence.

No need to give a lot of descriptions and facts: mark your university, specialty, work and then write more about your activity and experience gained there and how it can be useful in the future. The most important thing in a motivation letter is confidence and a competent presentation of yourself.

Icons: Woman by Kristin Poncek from the Noun Project

This plan was drawn up taking into account the experience of writing motivational letters by Russian-speaking students who entered the first higher, master's and MBA programs in foreign universities in 2010-17. Materials of universities and interviews of representatives of admission committees of foreign universities were used.

I. Familiarize yourself with the requirements for a motivation letter

If the requirements are not listed on the program website, register online in the university's application submission system and look for a description of the requirements in this system. Pay attention to the required amount of words or printed characters and the questions that you should cover in your essay. Check how many motivational essays the university requires from you: most undergraduate and graduate programs will only require one letter of motivation from you, however there are exceptions, for example: the University of Edinburgh usually requires two essays for its master's programs.

An example of motivational essay questions for the MSc Management program of the University of East Anglia in 2013: “The volume of the motivational essay should be about 500 words. Describe the reason you chose the program, how it relates to your future career plans, your work experience, practice, volunteering, other experience related to the program, what you hope to gain by studying on the program.

II. Determine the structure of your motivation letter

What sections - paragraphs will be included in your essay, how these sections will be interconnected; don't forget to include an introduction and a conclusion. Think over and, perhaps, outline for yourself what you will write about in each of the sections of your motivational essay.

Below we have listed the most a simple structure for a motivational essay to university, successfully tested on motivational letters of more than 100 Russian-speaking students enrolled in foreign universities:

1. Introduction.
2. Career goals for admission to the program.
3. Career Plan: How the goals described above will be achieved.
4. Which of the qualities, skills and knowledge required for the described career plan do you have, and what do you need to develop?
5. How the program you are applying to will help you develop the relevant qualities, skills and knowledge and achieve the career goals outlined above.
6. How can you be interesting / useful to the university and fellow students.
7. Conclusion.

If you are not confident enough write to English language, It may be more convenient for you to write your motivational essay in Russian and then translate it into English.

III. Define your career goals and describe them

Most foreign universities include the question of the student's future career in the motivation letter. The older the student or the higher the level of his education, the more specific and thoughtful the description of his career plan should be. What industry attracts you the most and why? Are there companies you would like to work for and why? If you want to start your own business, please describe why you are choosing the entrepreneurial path and what area you will be working in.

Try to define your career goals for the next 2-4 years for undergraduate, 5-7 years for graduate and MBA. Goals should be:
- Not simple, but realistic;
- Professional goals should be correlated with life goals;
- Specific, demonstrating your understanding of the industry, area where you want to work;
- Aimed at improving not only your life and the contents of a bank account, but also the lives of people around you, your society, country and, possibly, the world as a whole.

Try to link your career and life goals. In the example below is a combination of career and life goals for a student from Moscow who entered the BSc Biomedical Science program at UCL London: “I have always been interested in the nature of living things. Illnesses that befell my family members and some friends taught me that health is one of the most important things in life. Yet, most people get sick throughout their lives, and I have always seen being able to help find a cure for illnesses as a good purpose in life.”

IV. What if there is no career plan yet?

Many undergraduate students, there is no clear understanding of what and where they will do after graduation. In this case, it is worth describing the area in which you see yourself and tell the admissions committee that by studying at their university, you hope to draw up a more detailed career plan.

Below is an example of a career path description by a student who did not choose an exact profession and enrolled in the BA Film Studies program at the University of Reading: “I have not yet decided what type of career path in cinematography I should choose. I hope this course would help me gain a clearer understanding of the activities involved in the filmmaking process, so that I could make an informed decision regarding my career."

V. Tell us about your qualities, knowledge and achievements

How and what to tell about yourself in a motivation letter confuses many applicants: we do not often write our own biographies. However, this task can be greatly facilitated if you start it using the following steps:

1. Determine what special qualities and knowledge are needed for success in the program you have chosen and in your future profession, and which of these qualities you have. Describe these qualities, giving examples from your studies, work and life.

2. Determine what human virtues that you have will help you succeed on your chosen path. Describe these virtues, citing examples from your academic, professional, social, athletic, etc. background. life.

3. If you have interesting hobbies or you have participated in activities that may be useful in your studies or help you become an interesting participant in the life of the university, briefly describe them.

4. Tell us about what qualities and knowledge are necessary for the successful progress of your career, Would you like to develop while on the program; often in questions of motivational essays, universities call these qualities "points of improvements".

5. Don't praise or belittle yourself., but describe yourself as objectively as possible, citing facts, relying on the opinions of others and, if possible, quoting them.

Study the brochures and website of your chosen university. Most often, the university openly announces what qualities students should have and what criteria they must meet.

Below is an example of a description of personal qualities by a student from Moscow, enrolled in the MBA program at Aston University Business School: “I enjoy the challenges and the learning experience I can gain from them. At university, I learned to value quality knowledge and efforts needed to acquire it. Throughout my career I learned how to be a results-oriented manager and motivate others. I believe, my most important quality in this respect is my ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. However, I believe that to implement my business ideas, I still need to learn more about organizations and entrepreneurship in global business.”

VI. Tell us why you are interested in this program and university

Remember that the person reviewing your application is likely to be an expert in the relevant subject area and it will be important for them to see proof of your sincere interest in and understanding of the subject. A motivation letter for a master's program should demonstrate a deeper understanding of the subject than an essay for admission to the first higher education. Motivational letter samples in English and Russian.

VII. Put the pieces together

Following the structure of the essay, compose the first version of your essay and refine it, making sure that all parts of your work are logically related to each other.

VIII. Check and edit the motivation letter

In a motivational letter, thoughts should be stated simply and clearly. This is easily achieved by limiting sentence length to 12-20 words. Avoid both overly familiar and overly formal tone. Write in a way that is easy to understand. Make sure every sentence contains important information, and is not a repetition of what has already been said or a waste of words.

Some essays start with catchy quotes, others contain jokes or essays have a non-standard structure. Sometimes this works, but it can also have the opposite effect. Members admission committee may not share your sense of humor and views, so be careful when trying to make your essay too offbeat.

Check grammar, spelling and punctuation. An essay written with errors creates a negative impression of the skills and effort put into admission.

You cannot rely entirely on the "Spell Check" function of your computer. Print the letter and read it carefully several times, trying to detect any errors or typos that have crept in.

Let people whose opinion you trust read your letter. Make sure that the text of your letter is understandable to readers.

Motivation letter binding document to obtain a visa when traveling to another country. This document, along with the rest, is submitted to the embassy of the country to which you are going to travel. The letter is drawn up in free form on A4 sheet addressed to the visa officer. As a sample motivation letter for a visa, you can use the option presented on the site.

The purpose of the letter is to give a complete truthful picture of the author, to reveal his intentions regarding the upcoming trip, to convince him of the mandatory return to his homeland after the expiration of the visa.

Important: the presence of a letter does not guarantee the issuance of a visa, but it has serious weight in making a decision.

The structure of the letter to the embassy is not regulated by any documents, but you should still follow certain rules. It is better to write in the language of the country you are traveling to. In a generalized version, the structure of a motivation letter for a visa, as an example, will consist of the following parts:

• Header. This is a heading indicating the educational institution / organization where you are going, the name of the course or program, the length of stay.
• Biography. In this part, you need to write a short story about yourself. The following items must be included:
  • age;
  • Family status;
  • location;
  • education;
  • occupation.
• The purpose of the visit and the reasons for choosing the country / educational institution / organization, expectations from the trip.
  It is important to describe what kind of experience you are going to acquire and apply in the future.
• Return guarantee.
  Very important point, try to be as convincing as possible. It is good if the promises to return to their homeland are confirmed by concrete facts and documents. The following grounds are considered valid:
  • spouse;
  • parents;
  • high paying job;
  • own business;
  • real estate.
• Financial aspects.
  This part is optional. It is necessary if your income is not enough to pay for your stay in the country. In this case, it is necessary to indicate and document the sources of income that made it possible to collect the required amount for the trip. Perhaps you have found a sponsor, sold an apartment, cottage, car.
• Conclusion. The letter should end with a phrase expressing gratitude. Sign the letter and leave your contact details. You can also list the documents that you attach to the letter here.

Remember that a motivation letter is a document that will receive increased attention. The main requirements that he must meet are individuality and truthfulness. In order for your letter to meet these requirements, do not copy ready-made examples from the Internet, write on your own, do not embellish reality, do not invent anything, be consistent.

All information provided in the letter must be supported by documents, the logic of the narrative must be clear and simple: do not allow inconsistencies of facts within one letter.

Enough of unconvincing constructions like “I would be very happy to become a part of the company”, “it will be an honor for me”, “I really would love to” - running his eyes over these phrases, HR simply wipes away a tear and grabs a dictionary of synonyms. Variety, emotions, stories and jokes - write interesting. And you will have a great job.

Read below about why these letters hooked the employer. :)

// Start your letter enthusiastically

Sometimes an employer wants not just to see a list of skills that match the stated position, but true love and passion for their work and an incredible desire to work in a company. Agree, this is a much more catchy factor from a human point of view.

1. If actually loving trading statistics is wrong, then I don't want to be right. Seems, most of The team at Chartbeat is of the same opinion, so I think that's a good reason why I would be the perfect fit for your sales team.
2. Since the age of 10, I have been consulting my family and friends for free in matters of style and appearance, but for some time now I have come to the conclusion that it would be nice to get paid for it. That's why I was happy to find a job personal stylist in N..
3. For about three years I tried myself in different roles, taking part in the creation of startups in N., reviewing an endless number of articles and recommendations on the topic “how to find your calling”, and finally realized that it was time to admit to myself and tell my parents that I had actually have a job. I tend to think that in reality, I am best at writing quality content and selling it.
4. When I was a child, my lifelong dream was to be one of those street actors who act like living statues on the street. Luckily, my ambitions have expanded over time, but I still love entertaining people and performing in front of crowds, qualities that make me a truly indispensable manager.
5. After graduating from N. University in May last year, I got what I think was bad advice from my business consultant: "Take any job, you'll figure out the nuances later." And although I am convinced that I could acquire valuable skills and professional experience anywhere, I would still like to be sure that through my first job I will have the opportunity to further improve in my field as a specialist and move up the career ladder, as well as get experienced mentors.
6. The other day I took a test, according to the results of which it would be ideal for me to work in the field of maritime trade. I'm not sure I understand what that means at all, but this alignment made me think: it's just a dream to get a position through which I could combine my professional business skills with my passion for the ocean! This is how I found your job at N..

// Start with an expression of interest from the company

If you already love this brand, and even want to work there, this is an ideal option for the company, because you are familiar with its product and are ready to sell it yourself!

But with flattery it is better not to overdo it ever.

1. Many candidates try to get into startup projects because they can expect free food, bean bags, and no dress code. And although for me, as an employee accustomed to standard office conditions, this looks tempting, nevertheless, what attracted me most of all was the opportunity to work in a close-knit international team.
2. My golden retriever Rudy was the first to find this job as an operations assistant at your company (he actually dreams of walking me to work every day). But as I learned more and more about N., about your politics and about how revolutionary you are trying to change the standard SMS chat, I, in turn, could not help but dream of becoming a part of your team from now on.
3. When I was seven, I wanted to be a GEICO gecko when I grew up. In the end, I came to the conclusion that this was not an option, but you can imagine my excitement when, upon discovering a vacancy for a manager on the site corporate events, I saw the logo of my favorite company next to it!
4. When I visited the Jane Austen Film Festival for the first time a month ago, I knew I didn't want to leave. And I decided that I would not leave - so I immediately began to look at the vacancies of your company ...
5. If I were able to simplify the process of finding an apartment to rent in N. for just one person, then I might consider that the nightmare that I myself experienced during my recent attempts to find housing was actually not in vain. And where else could I do it, if not in N., serving customers daily? Frankly, I don’t see anything that would suit me so perfectly, in principle.
6. I literally grew up as a couple with the zoo N., which was located in the backyard, and therefore I know firsthand how you managed to become one of most popular places For family vacation in N.. For 20 years I have been following your success as a visitor in awe, and now I want to delight guests in the same way that you once delighted me when I was a child.
7. It was only an hour before my first big dinner party when I suddenly realized that I forgot to buy white wine. In a panic, I searched through Google for grocery delivery sites, and that's when I first came across N .. Since then, I have been your regular customer and I can't help thinking that I could help you reach even more clients - as incapable of planning as I am - through social networks and communities.
8. Although I enjoy working as a marketing manager at N., however, when I stumbled upon a vacancy for a PR director at N., I stopped and thought. I have closely followed N. for many years and have always been impressed by the way the company treats its customers, employees and the business community in general.

And we also remind you that

// Start by describing personal qualities and accomplishments

This is also very important, we would even call it one of the most honest ways to attract the attention of a recruiter - truth, abilities, achievements.

1. My last boss once told me that with my way of talking on the phone, I could even report a hostage situation. I have always been able to communicate with different people- both light and heavy on the rise - and I think that this skill could serve me well if I took on the duties of an office manager in N ..
2. Among my colleagues, I am known for my ability to put pieces together, no matter how many. That's why I feel like I can handle the job of customer service manager at N with ease.
3. In December of last year, I took the place of my competitor - one salesman in our company - and I occupy it to this day. But that's over, so now I'm ready for the next push, which means it's time to try myself as a sales manager at N.
4. After spending three years as a manager internal communications in a company with 2,000 employees, I learned how to plan quarterly reports and memos almost in my sleep. So what do I want to do next? Well, let's say I can bring my experience in planning communication strategies in consulting companies.
5. And although you will not find indications in my resume that I once worked as an online community manager, however, for the past three years I have been creating platforms for people to communicate based on my blog and N.
6. If you're looking for someone who can readily follow orders and won't rock the boat, then I'm probably not the right person. But if you need someone who can dig deep into the data, analyze what specifically works (and what doesn't), and challenge the status quo, then I think we can find a common language.
7. From the very first day I worked at N. (oh yes, they actually give out free ice cream!) I was set on a career path. I had my first internship with a professional football team while still in college. When I finished it, I got a full-time job, and after six months I was assigned to a position in another department. I thought that I would not discover anything new for myself. However, as I grew professionally, I finally realized ... that this is not at all the case. Shock, right?
8. You might be interested to know what the veteran accountant in culinary startup N. that I am definitely the one you need.
9. For the past 10 years, I've built my career around one simple principle: work smarter. I monitor inefficient work patterns, correct them, and thereby increase the productivity of everyone around me. As a result, I received three promotions in my company and now I am confident that I can handle the duties of an analyst N..

// Start creative and humorous

Who doesn't love getting nice and funny emails? Better than the same type of tediousness. Just check your sense of humor a little - sometimes it gets really sad rather.

1. I was interested in a freelance writing job. But before I list all the reasons why I chose her, I would like to tell you a little about myself: until the age of five, I did not grow my hair, so everyone who saw me lying in a stroller was sure that I was a boy (and my name is N., I think this will lead you to the appropriate thoughts). I Hope I Earn Your Attention (from N.)
2. Have you ever experienced that your mom calls you five times a day about how your job search is going, and at the end only snorts suspiciously when you claim that no progress is being made. This is how I live now. But I hope that in the near future I will be given a full-time manager social networks. By the way, good news: I can be more useful to you than a mother who requires you to account for your actions. Let me tell you more.
3. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to try myself as a marketing manager at N.! I gladly agree! Ok, well, I know that you haven't given me such an opportunity yet. Well in that case, here are a few ideas I could suggest if that were the case.
4. You've finally screwed up. You listed all the pros and cons. You talked to your coach, your hairdresser, every barista you know. Well, in the end, why don't you make a decision already? After all, when you ask someone's advice, it's not the quantity that is more important to you, but the quality. If you constantly have to face the need to make serious decisions, you need either a lawyer, or an auditor, or a good kick in the ass. In other words, you need to consult with N /the person who wrote this letter/.
5. At first I thought that the filing of an extract on credit card turns out to be a clear indication of how much I love online shopping, but then I decided that it would be best to write this letter and list all the reasons why I could take N.'s case to the next level.
6. I never thought that life could change so dramatically if you accidentally drop your iPhone from a second floor window (it's a funny story by the way, ask me about it). But thanks to this, I discovered N. - and found my dream job as a junior employee of the company.
7. If we were playing Two Truths, One Lie, I would say: I exceeded my sales quota by at least 20% every quarter this year, I once won a speed pie eating contest, and I also have there's a great job at N. The latter is of course a lie.

How to achieve such an effect? Here are 5 cool life hacks for you.

1. Human factor

Write like a friend. That is, a friend to whom you want to tell about what a really cool candidate you are. Maybe he doesn't know about this story. And does not know why you want to get into the company. It is not necessary to imagine Vasya with whom you sat at the same desk and then grew up together - let it be just a person on the other side of the screen who does not want to read the same letters (like you), tired of work (like you), wants to be a little happier and more successful (like you).

2. Knowledge of the company, positions

We've probably talked about this a hundred times already, but still. If you want to immediately declare yourself as a professional and a person who is not superficial about finding a job and a specific position in a company, then doing some research is a must.

3. Details

Because they decide and make your "image" a little more complete and human. Your story about your mother / strange boss / interesting situation in which you met the company (it's generally cool, if it's on topic!) Will be credited to you. But do not write a huge letter or talk about your life experiences - do not push the person away. Everyone has their own problems.

4. Simplicity

Note that none of the letters contained abstruse words or long sentences with a lot of turns - they are completely unreadable. Especially if HR has already opened the 58th letter - he looks at its structure, at the first lines, opens the resume. And it was here that he made his first impression. If you were able to form it with the subject line, greeting and first sentences, you have already been noticed.

5. Aesthetics

Trust me, it's just as important. You just need everything to look neat (stupid word, but!). If the letter itself has a different font size, color, strange mail, a signature, a resume is attached under the name %#$%@^&!, then it somehow becomes clear that not so much a person seems to need all this.