Writing for Success
Excerpt
Introduction
Dear Reader:
The book you hold in your hands is intended to inspire you and help you write successful letters of motivation, cover letters, grant proposals, and reports. This book contains examples in English, German, and Ukrainian.
While your CV focuses on your employment history and your report focuses on your professional experience, your cover letter or letter of motivation always focuses on the future. It projects you into the educational program or company of your choice. It sends the message, “I am a good fit.” It is also the face of your application package. It shows your personality, and personality is the key to a successful application.
So, what makes you special? What should you include in your writing to stand out?
“Hobbies are often very interesting,” says Sebastian Kohler, co-founder and managing partner at the recruitment consultancy Kempkens x Kohler. Or as Katja Sponholz said, “Sometimes, the cultural fit between a candidate and a company is more important than qualifications from their previous job.∗“
Finally, community service can also impress decision-makers. Activities such as volunteering with local NGOs or building houses with Habitat for Humanity demonstrate that you are a caring person with strong values.
Before writing a cover letter for an application, it’s important to have a clear idea of the type of work you want to do. If you are applying for educational programs, consider where you would like to work in the future. Take some time to think about what you really want, and with this step checked off, your cover letter will be easy to write.
For educational programs, the fastest way is to adapt successful applications from the past. But don’t worry if you don’t have any yet. Use the examples in this book to craft a unique letter that reflects your personality.
Statement of Motivation
Take one of your successful projects and apply the same great writing to a new one. Draw inspiration from it and add a paragraph or two explaining why you want to attend this particular educational program. Don’t forget to mention any talents you have, such as singing, dancing, writing poetry, or playing the guitar. Without editing a word, set the essay aside for a week. Then, find someone to proofread it.
The statements of motivation included in this book worked for me everywhere — for summer schools, university programs, and fellowships. You’ll notice that these are not perfect essays, but they never failed me. Use them for inspiration to write your own statement of motivation.
Community Service Grants
Also, use your writing skills to brainstorm opportunities for grants and community projects. Start building a team and composing an application. While reading one of my successful grant applications, you can start getting ideas for your own project.
Cover Letter for Internships and Jobs (Das Anschreiben in German)
How do you write an outstanding cover letter? First, read the ad carefully several times. Check if you meet all the requirements. Then, and this is very important, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself: Do I really want to work for this company? Only when you feel a strong “yes” in your solar plexus should you craft a cover letter. You’ll find that your letter will practically write itself and won’t take much time to complete. Your cover letter should be polite, spark interest, and clearly demonstrate your motivation for the job. Proofread for grammatical errors, and keep it to one page.
Reports
You can write reports about your professional experiences, such as internships, to earn credit points. You can also use a report instead of a cover letter. For instance, you can combine a report (past-oriented) with a motivational letter (future-oriented) to extend your fellowship, stipend, or educational program. See the examples in this book for more details. Once your application is ready, I suggest having someone proofread it. This person could be a friend, a professional editor (paid service), or a consultant from the university career center (free service).
I hope this collection inspires you to succeed in all your professional endeavours!
Per aspera ad astra!
Mariya Heinbockel
∗ Sponholz, Katja: “Wie Sie Recruiter wirklich überzeugen,” Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Saturday, May 18, 2024, No. 114