Motivation letter example: structure + 6 essential elements
A motivation letter differs from a cover letter. Here you'll read the 6 elements every good motivation letter contains - with concrete example sentences you can adapt.
The terms 'motivation letter' and 'cover letter' are often used interchangeably - in the Netherlands they're nearly the same. The motivation letter puts more emphasis on the 'why': why this field, why this company, why now. The 6 elements below together form a strong motivation letter. No filler words, no clichés - only what works.
1. Salutation with name
Invest 2 minutes to find the right name. LinkedIn, company website, phone the reception. 'Dear Ms. Jansen' always works better than 'Dear sir/madam'. Recruiters immediately feel whether you put in effort. No name to be found? 'Dear sir or madam' (no slash) stays acceptable.
2. Opening sentence that gives context
First sentence = which role + where found + one word about your background. Example: 'Via the Capgemini Netherlands website I saw the vacancy for Junior Consultant - as a recent graduate Industrial Engineer (TU Delft, cum laude) this perfectly matches my ambition.' Direct, clear, no fluff.
3. Why this company (paragraph 1)
Show you've researched the company. Recent acquisition, product launch, client case, or value that attracts you. Max 3 sentences. Example: 'Your recent expansion into the German market fits where I want to build my career - combination of strategy consulting and international work in one role.'
4. Why this field (paragraph 2)
This element sets the motivation letter apart from a cover letter. Briefly tell why this field appeals to you - not vague, but with a concrete trigger: a course at school, an internship, a project, a person who inspired you. Example: 'During my internship at Deloitte I worked on a process optimization that delivered 18% efficiency gains - that's when I realized I want to help organizations work faster and smarter.'
5. Concrete achievements with numbers (paragraph 3)
2-3 achievements from study, internships, projects or work directly relevant. Not a list, but woven into sentences. Example: 'During my graduation project at Philips I developed a KPI dashboard that reduced planning time from 6 hours to 90 minutes per week - an approach I'd love to bring to you.' Numbers make everything concrete.
6. Closing with initiative
No passive closing. Propose a conversation, give availability, or offer a brief case. Example: 'I'd love to share more in a personal conversation - available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call me at +31 6 12 34 56 78 or email to schedule a time.' Then: 'Kind regards,' + name.
Next step: write your own
With these 6 elements you have the blueprint. Adapt each paragraph to your situation and the specific vacancy. Keep it under 350 words, 1 page, and always let 1 other person read before sending. Our AI generator can do 80% of the thinking for you - free with every €2 CV download.
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