Crafting a Compelling Letter of Motivation/Personal Statement: Your Review Rubric
1.Does my portfolio fit the advertised position?
- This is a vitally important question one should consider before applying to any
scholarship opportunity. - How is the advertised position related to my academic qualifications?
- How is the advertised position connected to my work experience?
2.How could I personalise my application?
- If your portfolio fits the advertised position both academically and professionally, then,
this is the second stage of framing your letter of motivation. - What SPECIFIC academic/research attributes do I posses that will contribute to the
project? - What SPECIFIC professional experience do I have that will significantly contribute to
the project? - What is YOUR STORY? Does your background (education, soil science, medical, law)
directly speak to the advertised position? What are the areas of convergencies and
divergencies? Be unique, using relevant examples to tell a compelling story.
3.Who is involved in the project?
- While this may not be important, but it could make a difference for your personal
statement. - The WHO? Could be the financiers, supervisors and other stakeholders.
- What do I know about those involved with the project? Is there one thing that you know
about the organization’s quantum themes? Is there a previously executed project you
know about? Be SPECIFIC and mention it. - Is there something you know about your potential supervisors (especially for advertised
projects)? - What is the ONE thing I could include in my personal statement to SHOW that I am
aware of what my prospective supervisors do or have done? This could still be the lab
you are targeting to be considered for a position.
4.Why am I applying for this position?
- Yes, your story and qualifications matter, but what drives you to apply for that position?
What is your research interest in that field? - What is CONTRIBUTION will you bring to the lab’s research community?
- What possible solutions do you foresee yourself in addressing the enduring challenges
in your field of study? - Where do you foresee yourself in this field? Global, national or even local goals. This
demonstrates your suitability for the project.
5.What other skills/knowledge do l possess?
- This could be interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, leadership skills,
presentation skills etc. - If you have SPECIFIC research skills, you can demonstrate through your publications-books
, journal articles and non-traditional outputs and your conference presentations
(always an added advantage). - Any other extra-curricular activities that you have? If you have space mention them
briefly.
6.Is my personal statement readable?
- Here, you are required to proofread your work. Ensure that your write up does not have
any grammatical or typographical errors. - Who could I ask? You may ask for a friend to review it for you and fix any errors or
misprints you may have in your write up. - When in doubt, do not hesitate to seek a professional proofreader service. This will save
you the pain of submitting a poorly written personal statement