Tips to write a motivation letter: mistakes to avoid
If you're wondering how to write a motivation letter, the first thing to bear in mind is that the aim of
the document is to catch the reader's attention and convince them. To do this, you'll have to
explain —both on a personal and professional level— exactly why you're applying for this job,
scholarship, place on a course, etc. The point is to demonstrate you have a genuine interest, that
your journey is aligned with what they're looking for, and that you know how to convey as much.
Before you get down to writing, you need to be very clear about your reasons. Note down
everything you think should be included in your motivation letter. Consider key points such as
academic achievements, ambitions, goals and, above all, the reasons why you want to apply for the
specific course or job.
Once you've clarified that, it's time to begin. When it comes to drafting your motivation letter, we
recommend the following:
 Pay attention to the form, content, order of ideas and structure. Don't beat around the
bush or you will lose your reader's precious attention. So, make sure you include only the
necessary details and avoid elaborating on points that are irrelevant.
 Use a clear, legible font of a size between 10 - 12, with line spacing and margins of 2.5cm.
 Clear and concise wording is always a winner. Don't get bogged down in technicalities that
divert attention away from what matters. But do make the most of compelling techniques
such as storytelling.
 Watch out for tone. Make sure it’s in line with the place you're applying to and keep it
consistent from start to finish.
 Research the institution, course and its values. One you are clear on that, align your
objectives with those of the scholarship or job you're interested in.
 Make your motivation letter one of a kind —just as the opportunity you're applying for
is to you. To make the task easier, ask yourself a few questions such as: what would you do
if you got it? Why do you want to be at that specific organisation or institution? What can you
offer them?
 Craft a conclusion that grabs the reader's attention and makes your motivation letter
memorable. Exploit devices such as empathy and talk about how your life experience has
brought you here or how this opportunity would help you to fulfil a personal goal.
 Length matters: don't make it too brief, but don't write a lengthy essay either. One page
should suffice, although it depends what you're applying for. A length of around 400 to 600
words is ideal.
 Read it over several times, and even leave it overnight, if possible, to give yourself
perspective on what you've written. Another useful technique is to read it out loud. This will
help you to identify problems in the draft, spelling mistakes, inconsistencies and errors that
might do some damage.
Whether you're writing or proofreading, there are a few things that you need to avoid. Some of
the most common errors are:
 Writing long paragraphs: avoid long, drawn-out paragraphs as they make reading more
difficult and distract the reader's attention. Ideally, paragraphs should be no more than six
lines each.
 Using sentences with 'I': try not to use 'I' in sentences and avoid pompous descriptions of
your skills. It's also a bad idea to use negatively-framed sentences.
 Writing your letter using a template: don't copy an example letter word for word. One of
the fundamentals of a motivation letter is to be natural and original.