How to Write a Good Motivation Letter for an Internship (With examples)

What is a Motivation Letter?

When applying for a job or school program, you are asked to submit a formal letter of motivation, or what is sometimes referred to as a letter of inspiration. A letter of motivation is formal communication and is used to attempt to convince the hiring manager or admissions officer that you are suitable to meet one or several of the identified needs of the organization.

A letter of motivation will generally accompany the submission of your CV or resume. A cover letter will identify the relevance of your experience and qualification to the role that you are seeking, while a letter of motivation will provide insight into your interests, personality, and motivation in seeking to claim a job with that firm.

Why are Internship Motivation Letters Important?

Internships are usually the first jobs and hiring managers will know that candidates are usually entry-level with no identifiable work experience. For this reason, a motivation letter may be helpful. You have the opportunity to:

• Show interest in the profession or business
• Highlight academic experience, achievements relevant to the internship, and skills transferable to the company.
• Explain career goals and how the internship will help achieve them.
• Be different and differentiate yourself from other applicants with similar academic qualifications.

A good motivation letter may, at times, tip the balance in your direction, accompanied by a good resumé and letters of recommendation. If you are not sure where to start, it is always helpful to read a motivation letter for internship sample to get a sense of the tone and structure required by recruiters.

What to Include in a Motivation Letter

The following components are necessary for your letter to be powerful and effective:

1. Personal Introduction

Start off with a simple introduction of yourself. State where you are at in your current academic level, the internship position you are applying for, and where you learned about the ad. This frames everything and provides context for your application.

2. Educational Background

Describe your academic background in brief. Discuss your major, degree program, experience, accomplishments, and any relevant courses for the internship.

3. Relevant Skills and Experience

Even if you have no work experience in the field, you can emphasize experiences such as volunteer work, internships, courses, or activities that allow you to develop similar skills.

4. Motivation and Business Interest

Explain why you are specifically interested in this firm. Specifically, identify a specific organization's initiative, principle, or project that you think is significant. That is, you have accomplished.

5. Your Goals and Contribution

Explain your internship expectations and how they align with your career goals in the long term. Explain how you believe you can contribute to the team as well.

How to Structure a Motivation Letter

Once your key elements have been identified, you need to put them into a clear, professional format. Key components include goals, motivations, academic qualifications, experience, skills gained, and oneself.

Here's how to do that step-by-step:

1. The salutation and header

Add a warm greeting, your contact information, and the recipient's data. Use the hiring manager's name if you know it.

2. Introduction Paragraph

In the first paragraph, introduce yourself briefly, state the internship position you are applying for, and where you discovered the opportunity. Indicate your current academic status and declare your interest clearly and enthusiastically. For clarity's sake, it's helpful to look at a motivation letter for internship sample to better understand how to present your own experience effectively.

Here's an example of what your introduction might look like:

Example:

Dear Dr. Octavio,

I am Jane Doe, and I want to take a moment to say how much I would love to be a member of Columbia University's Ph.D program. Robotics program. I have never dreamt of anything other than being a robotics engineer and helping advance the field, and I believe that a Ph.D. in Robotics from here will place me leaps and bounds above my aspirations. This motivation letter internship example provides a glimpse into how personal aspirations can align with a program’s mission.

3. Body 

This is the final part of your motivational letter where you can market yourself. It's also the area where all of your writing will lie, so it determines your entire motivational letter. While writing the body of your motivational letter, you should aim at two things: the structure of your paragraphs and the contents of your paragraphs.

Structure

Two structures are often used when writing a motivation letter. The first essay is composed of three paragraphs: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. If you prefer a narrative approach, this is the ideal format to connect your experience with the internship. The second is a more comprehensive seven-paragraph structure, dividing your letter into shorter parts. If you would rather list your qualifications in an orderly, accurate, and readable format, this is a great option. It highlights one accomplishment, talent, or goal in every paragraph.

Contents

Write a summary of your accomplishments, skills that could be helpful, and your general interest in the position you are applying for in the body of your letter of motivation. Now is the time to be as detailed and explicit as you can. Provide concrete instances of how your experience, drive, or ability motivated you to apply for this position, and connect these to the attributes the organization is looking for in a candidate.

You can rephrase these impactful lines to help you write the body of your motivation letter:

• My interest in [field] started [experience].
• The reason I wish to [join this organization] is [motivation].
• I've spent [amount of time] working for [company or industry]. It was the best option for me as [reason].
• I remember the moment I [experienced], and it made me realize I [made contact with a particular field].
• I identify with [organization or] program for [reason].
• What I offer that my colleagues cannot is [something you are thankful for].

Let us quickly look at a motivation letter internship example that brings these elements together in a real-world context.

Example:

My interest in digital marketing was cultivated while I was an intern at XYZ Inc. Having worked for a small startup, I was able to get surface-level experience across all digital marketing channels. I would now like to dive deeper and acquire sophisticated expertise by joining the Buffalo College Marketing program.

4. Conclusion

It's time to finish and submit your motivational letter once you've finished the body. In this section, reiterate your main points and make the reader remember your potential as the most suitable applicant for the program or company you intend to join. After that, provide an overview of your career goals and how they relate to the activities and company mission.

In the end, thank the reader for their time and end your motivational letter.

Example:

I am ready to be a part of your master's program due to my research experience in the field of environmental studies and actual field experience. With my master's in Sustainability and International Relations, I am confident that I will possess the knowledge and skills required to develop and implement good policies that will help reduce climate change and maintain biodiversity for future generations.

Thank you for considering my application. If given the chance, I would like to enroll in UCLA for the fall semester.

Sincerely,

George Maxton

The Best Techniques to Write a Motivational Letter

• Keep it brief: 350–500 words, roughly one page.
• Be authentic: Be passionate and speak from the heart.
• Feel free to modify: For each internship that you apply for, you can change the letter.
• Avoid clichés: Instead of making generalizations, give concrete examples.
• Proofread carefully: A misspelling in a letter might damage your reputation.

Key Takeaways:

• Your passion, background, and suitability for the internship are highlighted in a motivation letter. It is presented alongside your resume.
• Recent graduates and students who may not have the right kind of work experience need to be especially careful about this.
• Key considerations are academic history, relevant skills, motivation for the role, post-graduation career goals, and personal introduction.
• Introduction, one or two body paragraphs, and closing should be written in a typical professional style; three or seven paragraphs would also do equally well.
• Ensure it is concise, genuine, specific to the firm, devoid of typos and grammatical mistakes, and free of clichés!

Recommended Reading :

Short Cover Letter Sample: A 6-Step Guide to Impress Employers

How to End a Cover Letter with a Call to Action