World Food Programme Internship Letter
I am applying for an internship with WFP. I would like some feedback on my motivation letter which should be about 3000 characters which is roughly about 1500 words.
Born in a third-world country. Raised in a first-world economy. This privilege has led me to pursue a career to make a difference in the environments that people live and work. I have made it my primary goal to focus my studies on agriculture and environmental sustainability. As during my studies, economics alone- has not been adequate to explain how the world will feed 10 billion people and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As such, that I have made it my primary goal to focus both research interests on agriculture and environmental sustainability. A place at the World Food Programme would support my thesis topic on agricultural crops and the environment. In addition I would better understand the global presence of WFP, also on the ground, in reaching marginal environments with innovative and technological solutions.
During my master's course, I have sought several experiences to challenge both my theoretical and empherical knowledge on the relationship between food security and the environment. As such, I focused and choose electives such as income and poverty distribution, development microeconomics and development policy analysis to extend both my theoretical and empherical capabilities. In classes, I learnt about theories and frameworks on world hunger and climate change. To translate this knowledge, working at the WFP would provide me with the opportunity to understand the EMS framework, which has been most compelling during my studies.
Gaining almost a year of work experience within the UN system, I have enhanced my skills in programme management, partnership coordination, analytical and communication skills. This is demonstrated where I supported GEF's Environment and Economic Mitigation workshop to coordinate discussions with high level participants and understand how to improve environmental strategies to support agriculture. WFP's internship would support this experience as I would better acknowledge WFP's collaboration with other UN for technical advice and non-food resources in both crises and development situations.
As an individual, I am very positive and a self-motivator with a willingness to be resourceful and take high accountability. In both my work and academic experience I have benefitted a lifelong interaction with people from different backgrounds. To be considered for the WFP internship would be a great opportunity and a logical step towards my career goal. It would improve my environmental knowledge and no doubt help with ultimate goal of working in environmental sustainability to make a global impact.
Winnie, when writing an internship letter, you should only create an overview of the documents that you are submitting. Highlighting the portions of your qualifications that you wish the screening committee members to note as they review your application. Start off your letter by immediately stating the reason that you chose to apply for an internship with this particular organization. While using your personal back story is alright, you overused it in this version and thus, created a very informative but irrelevant letter.
It would be in your best interest to use bullet points in your letter to mark the important details of your work traits and/or your relevant work duties (not experience). This is to make it easier for the reader to determine if you have the major points that they are looking for in a candidate. The eyes of the reader tends to veer directly for the bullet points when reading because of its itemized format. Doing this will make it easier for the reader to sort through the irrelevant and unnecessary information in your letter as well.
