Motivation letter example 2026: structure and tips

People often use “cover letter” and “motivation letter” interchangeably. In Dutch, these are sollicitatiebrief and motivatiebrief. Usually they mean the same thing: a letter that goes with your CV and explains why you are applying. In practice, the word motivation letter is mostly used for courses, traineeships and jobs where your motivation carries a lot of weight.

The motivation letter gives the reader something your CV cannot: your drivers. Why do you want exactly this job? Why at this organisation? And what makes you stick with it? Below you can read how to answer those questions without the story becoming long or vague.

What makes a motivation strong?

A strong motivation is specific. A sentence such as “I would like to work with people” could apply to any job. A sentence such as “I want to learn to combine client contact with administration at your organisation, because in my part-time job I already noticed that I am good at both” can apply to this one job only.

The reader wants to see that you know what the job involves. You show that by linking the duties in the vacancy to what you have already done. That way your motivation is supported, not just claimed.

Question yourself first

Before you write, answer a few questions on paper. The answers are your raw material.

What attracts me to this job? Name three things.
Which moment in my work or studies showed me that I am good at this?
What do I know about this organisation, and what appeals to me about it?
What do I want to be able to do in a year that I cannot do yet?

Structure of the letter

A motivation letter of one to one and a half pages has four paragraphs. Keep to this order and the story stays logical.

First paragraph: who you are and which job you are looking for, in two or three sentences.
Second paragraph: your experience and what you have learnt from it, with one concrete example.
Third paragraph: why this organisation and this job. Here you show that you have done your research.
Fourth paragraph: what you want to contribute, and an invitation to an interview.

Example of a motivation letter

The example is a motivation letter for the job of policy officer at a municipality (gemeente). Use it as a structure. The situations and figures are made up; replace them with your own experience.

Example

Dear Ms Janssen, I would like to apply for the position of policy officer, Social Domain. I have worked as a policy adviser at a smaller municipality for [number] years. There I write policy papers and speak with residents, council members and the people who carry out the policy. I would like to build on that combination of policy and practice at your municipality. My most important experience is the revision of the scheme for special assistance (bijzondere bijstand). I began with an analysis of the applications of the past two years and saw that many people dropped out at the first form. Together with the implementation team we simplified the form and built in a personal contact moment. The result: [describe the result of your project, with figures if you have them]. Your vacancy asks for someone who can translate policy into implementation and the other way round. That is the part of my work I like doing most. I know the Social Support Act (Wmo) and the Participation Act (Participatiewet) in practice, and I follow national developments closely. I would like to contribute to policy that also works well for the people it is meant to reach. I would be glad to explain my motivation in an interview. My CV is attached. Kind regards, [Your name] [Telephone number] · [Email address]

View the CV example for a policy officer

Tips for a motivation letter

Read your letter again after a day, as if you were the recruiter who has read thirty other letters. Which sentence sticks? Which sentence can go without anything missing? Cut the latter and rewrite the first so that your motivation is in it straight away. Also keep your first version. Sometimes it is stronger than what you rewrote later.

Watch the length of your sentences. A sentence that runs over two lines often contains two thoughts. Split it into two sentences and check that both still hold. Short sentences are not a sign of little content, but of a clear story. Check the facts too: are the name of the department, the job title and the name of the organisation correct?

Show that you know the organisation. Refer to a project, a value or a recent news item, but only if you can describe it correctly.
Write in the first person, but do not begin every sentence with “I”.
Name one strong example and develop it. Three short examples just end up as a list.
Ask someone who knows the job whether they recognise the motivation as genuine. A second pair of eyes quickly spots the vague sentences.

Common mistakes

A letter that is mostly about the organisation, and not about you. What matters is what you bring.
A motivation that consists only of superlatives, such as “it is my dream job”, without support.
Misspelling the name of the organisation or the job.
A letter that is longer than one page, when the vacancy does not ask for that.

Read the vacancy like a recruiter

The vacancy text is your checklist. Put the duties, the requirements and the wishes in three columns. For every requirement, find an example from your own work. If you have no example for a requirement, do not mention it in your letter. For the wishes you may devote one sentence, if you show that you are already working on them.

Pay attention to the tone of the vacancy too. An informal vacancy calls for a letter with more personality. A formal vacancy calls for precise language. In both cases you stay yourself: the tone adapts, but your story does not change.

Support your motivation with a fact

A motivation becomes credible when you link it to something you have done. Do not write that you like care work, but describe what you did when a resident was restless and how you solved it. The story does not have to be big. It does have to be real.

Use the example to explain the why. You then write not only what you did, but also why you like doing it most. That makes the letter personal, without you boasting about yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a motivation letter and a cover letter?

The terms are often used interchangeably. A motivation letter puts more emphasis on your drivers and your choices. A cover letter is often shorter and focuses on the job. Choose the form that the vacancy or course asks for.

How long should a motivation letter be?

A motivation letter is usually one to one and a half pages. If the course or organisation sets a maximum number of words, follow that.

Should I adapt my motivation for each organisation?

Yes. A letter that is the same for every organisation stands out. Adapt the third paragraph to the organisation and the job, and show that you know where you are applying.

What do I write if I have little work experience?

Use your studies, a part-time job, volunteer work or a project. Describe what you did there and what you learnt from it. When you have little work experience, what you have done counts, even if it was not an official job.

How do I start a motivation letter?

Start with the job and the reason it attracts you, in one or two sentences. Name something concrete straight away: a duty from the vacancy, a project of the organisation or an experience of your own. Avoid an opening that could be in any letter, such as “I hereby apply”.

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Motivation letter: example and tips