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Cover letter vs motivation letter, they're not the same
Who this is for
You're applying in the Netherlands, Germany, the Nordics, or anywhere in the EU that asks for a "motivation letter", and English-language advice keeps talking about American cover letters instead. This is the part that content gap leaves out.
European employers, especially in the Netherlands and Germany, read the motivation letter to answer one question: does this person actually want to work here, or did they mass-apply? A letter that could be sent to any company answers that question with a quiet "mass-applied," and goes in the no pile.
The opening line decides everything
Most letters open by stating the obvious in the most boring way possible. You have one sentence to prove you're a human who chose this company. Spend it.
What most people write
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to apply for the Junior Cloud Engineer position I saw advertised on your website. I believe I would be a great fit for your company.
Rewrite that lands
Dear hiring team, your job post mentions you're moving from manual deploys to infrastructure-as-code, that's exactly the work I've been teaching myself, and the reason I'm applying for your Junior Cloud Engineer role rather than just any opening.
- "Dear Sir/Madam" + "I saw advertised" signals a template. Drop both.
- Reference something specific and real, and if the company has no public footprint (most small ones don't), mine the job description itself, their product, or a recent funding round. It proves you researched THEM, which is the entire point of the letter.
- "I believe I would be a great fit" is an empty claim. Replace it with a concrete reason you're drawn to *their* work.
The honest career-switch paragraph
If you're switching fields, the letter is where you address it head-on. Do not apologise, and do not pretend it didn't happen. Frame the switch as a deliberate move and show what transfers.
What most people write
Although I do not have professional experience in IT, I am a fast learner and I am very passionate about technology. I am sure I can learn quickly on the job.
Rewrite that lands
I spent four years coordinating logistics, which meant owning systems where a small mistake cascaded into expensive failures. That's the same instinct cloud reliability needs. I've since built and deployed infrastructure on AWS with Terraform, and I want to do that work full-time, for a team like yours.
- "Although I do not have experience" leads with the weakness. Never open a sentence apologising.
- "Fast learner" and "passionate" are the two most ignored phrases in hiring. Show, don't assert.
- Connect the old career to the new one with a real, transferable instinct, here, systems thinking and consequences. That makes the switch a feature.
Watch out
Length and tone matter in Europe: keep it to one page, formal but not stiff, and address a real person or team if you can find the name. A four-paragraph letter that's clearly about THIS company beats a full-page essay that fits anyone.
The structure that works every time
- 1
Hook (2–3 sentences)
Something specific about the company + the role you're applying for. No "I am writing to apply."
- 2
Why you (one paragraph)
Your strongest relevant proof, a project, a result, transferable experience. Concrete, not adjectives.
- 3
Why them (one paragraph)
Why this company, this team, this problem. This is the paragraph that separates you from the mass-appliers.
- 4
Close (2 sentences)
A confident, low-pressure sign-off. "I'd welcome the chance to talk through how I'd contribute." Then thank them.
Key takeaways
- Motivation letter = "why I want this," not just "why I'm qualified."
- Open with something only THIS company would recognise.
- Address the career switch directly, frame, don't apologise.
- One page, real recipient, formal but human.
Reading is step one. Now do it for real.
When you're ready, the platform has live mock interviews and portfolio-grade capstone projects you can actually talk about.
Keep reading
This is general, educational career guidance, not legal, financial, immigration, or professional advice. Examples are illustrative and simplified. Norms vary widely by country, company, role, and over time, so always verify what applies to your own situation. Nothing here guarantees an interview, an offer, or any particular outcome.