Motivational letter for internship abroad

☝️ The most important points in brief

• A compelling letter of motivation is a key component of your application for an internship abroad.
• The letter of motivation should clearly express your motivation, relevant experience, and suitability for the desired internship position.
• Make sure it has a logical structure and includes specific examples to convince the HR managers of your suitability.
• In English, the letter of motivation is usually called a "personal statement."

A letter of motivation is a cover letter that accompanies your application and is often required, especially for internships abroad. As the name suggests, the letter of motivation explains your motivation for applying for the internship in question. It can also show what experience you have and what is particularly important to you when looking for an internship.

Unlike a resume, a letter of motivation provides space for personal motivations and specific examples from your studies or previous internships. A structured layout and clear content are important if you want to convince the HR manager.

In your letter of motivation for an internship, you should refer to the job advertisement and highlight why it would be good for the clinic or company in question to choose you.

Differences between a letter of motivation and a regular application for an internship

To write an effective letter of motivation, you need to be aware of the differences between this type of cover letter and other application documents. These include, for example:

• Focus: A letter of motivation emphasizes your personal motivation and reasons. A regular application includes a resume and standard documents.
• Content: The letter of motivation focuses on specific examples and projects from your studies or internships to prove that you are suitable for the internship. The application, on the other hand, contains general information and references.
• Reference: A good letter of motivation refers directly to the job advertisement and the company. In a standard application, the reference is often more general.
• Style: The letter of motivation is more personal and individual. The application is formal and standardized.
• Goal: The letter of motivation should show that you are genuinely interested in the internship.

When writing a letter of motivation for an internship, it should have a clear structure. Start with an introduction in which you briefly introduce yourself and your motivation for the internship. After greeting the reader with a personal salutation, briefly mention your degree program and your university. In the main section, focus primarily on your relevant experience and skills.

Give specific examples that highlight how suitable you are for the internship. In addition to qualifications acquired during your studies, these can also include experiences from your school days or your private life.

End the letter of motivation with a strong conclusion that once again highlights the compelling reasons why those responsible should choose you. Don't forget to end the cover letter with a closing such as "Best regards" and your signature.

A compelling cover letter for an internship should be carefully structured and contain relevant information. It consists of three main parts: introduction, main section, and conclusion. In the introduction, you briefly introduce yourself and explain your motivation for the internship.

In the main section, you go into detail about your experience and skills that are relevant to the company. Use the conclusion to round off your application and leave a positive impression. Good examples and a clear structure will help you write a strong letter of motivation.

Before you start: Brainstorming for your internship cover letter

Perhaps one of the most helpful tips for writing a letter of motivation is to do a quick brainstorming session before you actually start writing.

First, think about why working as an intern at this particular company is the right choice for you. Define your goals and what you can contribute during your internship in the relevant field.

Then you can clearly explain why this internship is your first choice and why it is a good decision to choose a student like you.

A letter of motivation is always required if this is clearly stated in the job advertisement. This is usually the case for internships abroad.

However, even if a letter of motivation is not explicitly required or you are applying on your own initiative for an internship that has not been officially advertised, such a cover letter is often useful.

A well-written letter of motivation helps you make a good impression. In contrast to a very formal application, a letter of motivation gives you the opportunity to highlight your specific strengths and address the points that are important to you.

By setting yourself apart from other applicants with a personalized letter, you can secure an internship with international experience.

Every company and every internship is unique. Therefore, you should not simply copy a cover letter for any internship.

It is important that students tailor their letter to the individual requirements of an internship. Show why you want to do an internship at that particular clinic or company and how well your goals match the individual requirements of the internship position.

Individualized cover letters may be challenging to write, but they usually ensure that the interest in you as an intern is significantly greater than if you just submit standard documents.

A letter of motivation for an internship should be clear and concise. As a rule, it should not exceed one page, which corresponds to approximately 300 to 400 words.

Use simple sentences and avoid unnecessary details. Your goal is to quickly give the company a clear picture of your motivation and your positive qualities. Students should make sure that the questions and points that speak in their favor as interns are covered.

However, the letter should not be too long, because ultimately you should be able to answer the question of why you are the right candidate concisely, precisely, and convincingly. You want your letter of motivation to give you internship opportunities, not waste the company's or university's time.

You can certainly use samples and templates for guidance. This will help you create a short and concise structure for your topic. However, be sure to personalize your letter so that it is clear that you are genuinely interested in the internship position.

A letter of motivation serves to clearly show that you are the right person for the training program in question. Show interest in the subject area, but avoid repetition.

If your resume already states which school you graduated from and which university you are attending, you do not need to repeat this information in your letter of motivation.

It is much more interesting, for example, if you are involved in voluntary work in a specific area that is relevant to the internship. The letter of motivation may also include a letterhead, a friendly salutation, and your signature, but overall, the aim is to get to know you a little and answer a few questions about yourself in an individual way.