How to Structure a Motivational Letter

A good motivational letter is a one-pager where you introduce yourself, your story, and show
your interest in the position or organization you are applying to.

There are two main ways to structure your motivational letter:

1. Using the classic 3 main paragraphs structure, where your motivational letter has the
introduction, the body, and the conclusion. 
2. Using the 5-7 paragraph structure, where you divide your main body paragraph into
smaller 1-3 sentence paragraphs according to the main points.

Now, which one do YOU go for? The rule of thumb is if you want to be more factual and to the
point, go for the 7-paragraph structure. This way, you can use each body paragraph to discuss
specific achievements or points.

If, on the other hand, you’re going for a more story-telling approach, you’d go for the 3
paragraph option, so as not to break the flow of the story.

Dear Sir/Madam,

In May 2019 I will graduate from [university name] with a Bachelor of Science in Economics
and a Minor in Finance. I read your posting for the Business Analyst role with great interest and
I’m convinced that I would be a great addition to your team.

My strong work ethic is evident from the fact I have served as President of the [student activity]
concurrent with my academic studies, as well as paid summer internships in [name of the
internship] at [name of the company] as well as [name of the internship] at [name of the
company]. These experiences have enabled me to gain a realistic view of the demands and
challenges of the Business Analyst position.

As Summer Associate at [name of the internship company], I was responsible for monitoring
fundamental economic, industrial, and corporate developments through the analysis of
information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms,
government agencies, trade publications, company sources, and personal interviews.

 
As an {internship name] at [name of the internship company], I worked on a number financial
reports, including cash flow reporting, profit and loss account, and balance sheet analysis. My
work has been used for companywide presentations.

In addition to my practical experience I’ve also always stayed focused on academics and I’m
expected to graduate with a 3.9/4.0 GPA.

With the combination of these professional and academic experiences, I am looking forward to
discussing the opportunity to join your organisation. Please find my CV attached.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Betty Schulz