The motivation letter of a potential scholarship holder should interest the committee
Whether it is an application for a scholarship or an internship, the motivation letter is one of the first documents the committee reviewing your request will look at. In some cases, a motivation letter is also required when applying to specific faculties at a German university. Most often these are creative specialties or 'young' fields, such as 'European Studies' or 'Cultural Engineering'.
About formatting the motivation letter
Usually, organizations that require motivation letters among other documents post special forms or guidelines for preparing the document on their website. This greatly facilitates the task for applicants. If there is no information regarding the composition of the motivation letter, one should follow a standard scheme. More on that below.
In terms of length, the motivation letter should fit on one A4 page, maximum two. Remember that in Germany they like clear presentation of thoughts and specifics, so avoid general phrases like 'I love German culture and want to get to know it better.' It is also not recommended to repeat information that is already in your CV. It is better to talk about your education and professional experience relevant to the activities of the organization you are applying to.
First - about yourself and your interests
So, when applying to a German university, you should talk about your academic biography: where you studied, where and how long you interned, what topic you specialized in, and what exactly you plan to do during the upcoming studies. When applying for a completely new or creative specialty, it is recommended to focus on your interests, hobbies, and talk about what areas of life concern you the most.
When it comes to obtaining a scholarship, it is important to explain how your previous scientific, professional, or social activities were connected to the work of the foundation, and also to indicate how you will be useful to this organization in the future.
The most important thing for a student - motivation
After a brief introduction about yourself, there is a 'motivation block' in which you explain why you applied to a specific company, foundation, or university, and what justifies this. You need to show that you are familiar with the organization's activities and that you are interested in them.
For example, if you are submitting a scholarship application to a socio-political foundation, the organizers have the right to expect an active life position, interest in politics, and participation in the country's public life. In turn, employers providing internship positions expect applicants to have relevant knowledge and skills that can be used and developed during the internship at the company.
Also important is the question of where you plan to continue your activities: in Germany or in your home country. Most foundations prefer candidates who intend to return to their homeland after their studies and use the acquired knowledge and skills for the benefit of their society. In some formalized application forms for scholarships, there is even a special item regarding return to the home country.
Common mistakes when writing a motivation letter
The motivation letter is a priority for the committee reviewing the documents. With a large number of applications, it is possible that if they notice serious errors in the candidate's motivation letter, committee members will not even read their CV, let alone invite them for an interview. Attention should be paid to the following aspects.
The appearance of the letter is important. Good print quality, a signature, and no corrections are mandatory. The addresses of the sender and recipient should be written in full, without errors. If a specific person is named as a contact, the letter should be addressed to that person, including all degrees and titles.
The motivation letter should have a clear structure, paragraphs should be distinguished, and it is not recommended to use different fonts and colors in the text. Grammatical errors and typos are unlikely to make a positive impression on the committee; they will only indicate your illiteracy or carelessness.
Pay attention to style. When writing a motivation letter to a German organization, you should use not colloquial language, but the classical language of official institutions (Hochdeutsch).
A motivation letter should be written separately for each organization. It should not contain information that is not relevant to the specific case but was left in the letter 'from last time.' In this way, you will be able to demonstrate that you prepared your application specifically for this foundation, university, or company and are familiar with their activities.
Vague arguments, unclear wording, and the use of 'general phrases' are not welcome. Information about your advantages over other candidates should be presented clearly and visually.
Experts also advise mentioning your weaknesses, because we all have them, but only those that are unlikely to influence the decision in your favor.
Maria GRUDININA.
Deutsche Welle