It’s so satisfying when someone absolutely nails an ending—whether it’s a song that fades out on the perfect key, or an episode of a TV show where the last breath of dialogue changes everything. The same is true for cover letters.
You don’t need your closing paragraph to have a Sixth Sense-level twist that shocks hiring managers and recruiters alike. But an excellent cover letter should keep them thinking about you long after they’ve read it—or at least long enough to schedule an interview.
To help you put together the most effective application package possible, we’ve assembled top tips for finishing a cover letter strong—including six example cover letter conclusions.
Tips for writing an effective cover letter ending
Ultimately, the goal of your cover letter conclusion is “to propel the reader to take action,” says Muse coach Kristine Knutter. (That action should be reading the rest of your application and scheduling an interview with you!) How do you achieve this with a single paragraph? By being “bold, enthusiastic, and clear in asserting what they can do for the company,” Knutter says.
These guidelines will help you do just that:
1. Remind them why you’re qualified.
Briefly summarize what you can do for the company, Knutter says. You just spent the last few paragraphs sharing stories that show your most important skills and experiences. Your conclusion should reiterate the key points and explicitly connect them to how you’ll help the company—not introduce new information. Now isn’t the time to bring up that super relevant experience that really seals the deal for your candidacy—that belongs in your cover letter body paragraphs or opening.
So you might start your last paragraph with something like, “Based on the job description, I am confident that my skills, knowledge and required experience are a strong match for this exciting opportunity,” says Muse coach Steven Davis. You could also use this framework to plug in some of your specific skills, knowledge, experiences, and explicitly match them with the exciting opportunity.
2. Thank them for their time and consideration.
Even if you aren’t ultimately selected to move forward, you still want to make sure you’re being as polite and professional as you’d be as an employee. It doesn’t need to be an overwrought gesture of gratitude—that could sound disingenuous or desperate. Davis suggests saying something like, “Thank you in advance for your kind consideration.”
3. Focus on the company.
Your closing could be the last thought you leave with the hiring manager before they decide whether or not to call you in for an interview. Think about it: Do you want this thought to be focused on what they can do for you or what you can do for them? Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and you’ll know it’s the latter.
4. Look toward the future, but don’t get presumptuous.
Mention next steps in the application process, like being eager to discuss this job opportunity further or anything else that alludes to an interview, but don’t write as if you assume you’ll be getting an interview.
Do not, under any circumstances, say something like: “I will call your office in a week to schedule an interview.” Muse writer Lily Zhang has no idea where this (threatening) advice originated from, but ending your cover letter like this will not give the impression that you’re a go-getter who takes initiative. It will, however, make you seem egotistical and possibly delusional. This is just not how you get an interview. You want to end by showing that you’re a pulled-together professional, not a demanding child.
5. Be positive.
Don’t use your conclusion to apologize for “missing” skills or experiences. Especially if you’re early in your career or looking to make a pivot, statements like “Even though I don’t have much product management experience” or “Despite having never managed a team” just shine a spotlight on reasons a hiring manager might skip to the next application. But job descriptions are often a wishlist and not hitting a few of the items on it doesn’t mean you can’t do the work. Focus on the experience you do have, the qualifications you do meet, and the transferable skills you bring to the table.
Read more: 7 Cover Letter Words and Phrases That Are Costing You the Job
6. Keep it short and sweet.
Limit your last paragraph to 60 words max, Knutter says.Your entire cover letter should be less than a page, so you should spend as much of that space as possible showing you’re qualified.
7. Use a smart sign off.
Stick to the classic letter and email closings, like regards, sincerely, and respectfully, Knutter says. You can also use your sign off to thank the reader for their time. This is not the time to throw your application in the trash yourself with a “peace out” or “love”–which I’m assuming is the job search equivalent of calling the teacher “Mom.
6 smart cover letter closing examples
Want to see this advice in action? Check out these example cover letter endings. Or you can look at the conclusions in our cover letter templates or read more of our cover letter examples.
Cover letter closing example 1:
I look forward to contributing my skills and experiences to the Senior Account Manager position at ZZTopTech and hope to have the opportunity to speak with you further about how I can be an asset to your team.
Respectfully,
Peter Thomas
Cover letter closing example 2:
Again GreenWorld Co’s commitment to helping other companies become more eco-friendly and sustainable has helped me believe that there are still ways to help slow the effects of climate change. I’d love to bring my expertise in crafting B2B sales messaging and passion for the environment to your team. Thank you for taking the time to consider me for this role, and I hope to speak with you soon about how I can help you sell your products and services to the large companies that need the most.
Sincerely,
Alice Yu
Cover letter closing example 3:
I take the role of executive assistant very seriously and pride myself in learning how to best support each individual I work for so that they can focus on the other parts of their job. My drive, past experiences, and ability to write and speak fluent French would greatly help GoCo and your COO as you expand into the European market and increase travel to Paris and Brussels.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Kobe Morris
Cover letter closing example 4:
Thank you so much for considering me for the role of Nurse Educator. My passion for teaching and expertise at breaking down complex topics drew me to my first career as a teacher, while my desire to help people and in the most difficult times of their lives and strength for memorizing policies and facts—as well as technical ability to perform procedures—has helped me thrive as a nurse for the last 10 years. I’d bring both these skills sets to crafting curriculum and training nurses and home health aides at your organization and ultimately help strengthen your workforce and the care your patients receive.
Sincerely,
Kathy Ramirez
Cover letter closing example 5:
Through my internship and academic experiences in mechanical engineering, along with my involvement in UVA’s National Championship Robotics team—where the ability to translate theory to real world application and troubleshoot under pressure was really put to the test—I’ve developed design a strong skill set that will add value to City Inc’s product development team. I would be thrilled to speak with you further about how I can contribute. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully,
Sarah Zimmerman
Cover letter closing example 6:
With my strong track record of selling software to small businesses, I think I could be a great addition to Real Company as you expand into this market. I’d welcome the opportunity to learn more about your planned product offerings for this segment and discuss how my expertise might contribute to the development, marketing, or sales of these products.
Best,
Asif Hasan
Lily Zhang contributed to this article.