The motivation letter is a tool typically used in academia and usually accompanies a request for admission to university or other sought-after educational institution.
Motivation letters are used less often in the professional sector in Quebec, but they can be a helpful tool to allow a candidate to distinguish themselves from other applicants when applying for a job. A motivation letter can also be very practical in the context of requesting an internship or cold-emailing a company with a CV.
Motivation letters must be concise and direct. They must also respond quickly to an important question: Why do you want to work with the company?
The motivation letter shouldn’t be confused with the presentation letter. A presentation letter should be a brief summary of your CV that will allow a potential recruiter to get a quick overview of your candidacy. The motivation letter, on the other hand, shows a recruiter or potential employer why you want to work at the specific company you’ve expressed interest in.
Writing your motivation letter for a specific job
Your motivation letter should fit on one page, so be concise and avoid providing unnecessary details. Try to write the letter in three sections: introduction, main body and conclusion.
Introduction
In the introduction of your motivation letter you should first introduce yourself and make it clear right away that you are very interested in the position being offered. Make sure to include the following information:
- What job you’re applying for
- Why you’re applying for this position specifically
- Why you want to work for the company
Main body
In this section, you can provide key details about your skills and explain why they would be valuable to the company. For example, you could mention the success you’ve had with other organizations and how your experience makes you the ideal candidate for the position being offered. Mention as well your desire to deliver results and to work hard for your next employer.
Conclusion
In the last paragraph of your motivation letter, thank the reader for their time and for the opportunity. Mention that you’re excited at the possibility of taking on the position offered with the company and that you look forward to meeting the person at their convenience.
Motivation letter: Some important tips
As you write your motivation letter, keep these tips in mind:
- Do your research! Show that you have a good understanding of the organization that you’re applying to work for. Try to mention a distinct element that will demonstrate to the recruiter that you know the company, which will prove your motivation in their eyes.
- Don’t try to do too much. Don’t oversell yourself in your motivation letter. Focus more on your motivations, less on your skills.
- Mention successes you’ve had and major projects you’ve worked on in the past.
- Talk a lot about the company you’re applying to. Are they a leader in their field? Does the company have any distinctive elements that make it stand out? Mention these aspects.
- Close your letter by letting the employer know you are available any time for an interview.
Example of a motivation letter
[Your name]
[Your email]
[Your phone number]
[Your address]
[Postal code, city, province]
[Name of the employer]
[Employer address]
[Postal code, city, province]
Motivation letter
Dear [name of reader],
After reading your job posting, I wanted to reach out to express my interest in the software programmer position available with [Name of company]. Attached is my CV with details about my training and experience.
I’ve been following the technology sector in [Name of city/country] for several years and am very familiar with [Name of company]. I would consider it a real opportunity to join your company, which is recognized as a leader in the field of software development.
As noted in my CV, I have a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Over the course of working several years with my previous employers, I’ve acquired all the necessary skills to undertake the position of software programmer at [Name of company]. Among other projects, in the past I’ve worked on several software projects including [Example 1] and [Example 2]. These experiences have provided me with extensive understanding of software engineering.
Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to review my CV. I’m very enthusiastic about the possibility of working with [Name of company].
I’m available to receive more information, or for an interview, at your convenience.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Phone and email]
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