Quick answer: How do you close a cover letter? Write a final paragraph of two to four sentences that restates the value you bring, shows specific enthusiasm for the role, asks for a clear next step such as an interview, and thanks the reader. Then add a professional sign-off like "Sincerely" or "Best regards" followed by your full name.
You nailed the opening. You packed the middle with achievements. And then you reach the last paragraph and type "I look forward to hearing from you," because your brain has officially left the building.
It happens to everyone. But the ending is the last thing a hiring manager reads before deciding what to do with your application, so it deserves more than a shrug.
This guide shows you how to end a cover letter with a strong last paragraph, which sign-offs to use (and which to retire), and copy-ready cover letter closing examples for different situations. For the full letter from top to bottom, start with our cover letter writing guide.
Why Your Cover Letter Ending Matters
The opening gets the reader's attention. The closing tells them what to do next.
A strong ending does three jobs:
- Reminds them why you fit, in one sentence they will remember
- Moves the process forward by inviting a conversation or interview
- Leaves a confident, polite impression, not a needy or pushy one
A weak ending does the opposite. It trails off, repeats the resume, or quietly hopes someone will call. Hope is lovely. It is not a strategy.
How Do You Close a Cover Letter? The 4-Part Formula
The last paragraph for a cover letter works best when it follows a simple formula: Value + Enthusiasm + Call to Action + Thanks.
1. Value: a one-line summary of what you offer
Sum up your strongest selling point in a single sentence. Do not introduce anything new here; reinforce what you already showed.
Example: "With five years of B2B content experience and a track record of growing organic traffic, I am confident I can help [Company] reach a wider audience."
2. Enthusiasm: specific, not generic
"I'm excited about this opportunity" could go on any letter in the world. Tie your excitement to something specific about the company: a product, a mission, a recent project.
Example: "Your move into the healthcare market is exactly the kind of challenge I want to be part of."
3. Call to action: ask for the next step
This is the part most people skip. Invite a conversation confidently, without demanding one.
Example: "I would welcome the chance to discuss how I could contribute to your team."
4. Thanks: once, briefly
Thank the reader for their time. One sentence is enough.
Example: "Thank you for your time and consideration."
Length: Aim for two to four sentences in the final paragraph. If it is longer than your opening paragraph, trim it.
Cover Letter Closing Examples (Last Paragraphs You Can Adapt)
These examples combine all four parts. Swap in your own details.
Standard professional closing
I am confident that my experience managing cross-functional projects would help [Company] deliver its new platform on schedule. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can support your team's goals. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Entry-level or recent graduate
My coursework in data analysis and my internship at [Company] have prepared me to contribute from day one, and I am eager to keep learning alongside your team. I would love the chance to talk about how I can support [Team/Department]. Thank you for considering my application.
Career change
While my background is in teaching, the training design, presentation, and stakeholder skills I have built translate directly to this Learning and Development role. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my perspective could benefit your team. Thank you for your consideration.
More on this angle in our career change cover letter guide.
Senior or executive role
I am excited by the chance to lead [Company]'s next phase of growth and to build on the momentum your team has created. I would welcome a conversation about your priorities for the year ahead and how my experience scaling operations could support them. Thank you for your time.
Internal position
Having spent three years on the [Team] team, I understand our customers, our systems, and our goals, and I am ready to contribute at a higher level. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this role with you. Thank you for considering my application.
For more on applying internally, see our guide to letters of interest for internal positions.
Creative or startup role
I would love to bring my eye for bold, on-brand design to [Company]'s next campaign. My portfolio is linked above, and I would be glad to walk you through the projects behind it. Thanks so much for your time.
Remote role
I have worked fully remotely for four years and thrive in asynchronous, documentation-first teams like yours. I am available for a video call at your convenience and would welcome the chance to talk further. Thank you for your consideration.
Cover Letter Sign Off: Which Closing Salutation to Use
Your cover letter sign off is the word or phrase right before your name. Keep it professional and simple.
Safe, professional choices:
- Sincerely – the default. Works for any industry and any level of formality.
- Best regards – slightly warmer, good if you have already been in contact with the recipient.
- Kind regards – warm and professional, common in many English-speaking countries.
- Respectfully – best for very formal settings like government, military, or academia.
- Thank you – acceptable, especially when your last sentence did not already say thanks.
Sign-offs to avoid:
- Cheers – too casual for a first impression
- Thanks! – the exclamation point undermines the tone
- Warmly or Take care – better suited to personal letters
- Yours truly – reads as old-fashioned to many readers
- Love – save it for birthday cards
- "Sent from my iPhone" – turn off that auto-signature before you apply
A quick note: if you do not know the recipient's name and opened with "Dear Hiring Manager," the closing does not change. "Sincerely" still works.
How to Format Your Cover Letter Closing
Printed or PDF cover letter
- Final paragraph
- One blank line
- Sign-off followed by a comma ("Sincerely,")
- Space for a handwritten signature, if printing
- Your full typed name
Your contact details already sit in the header, so you do not need to repeat them. For layout details, see our post on cover letter font size, spacing, and length.
Email cover letter
When the email body is your cover letter, add contact information below your name:
Sincerely,
Jordan Lee
(555) 123-4567
jordan.lee@email.com
linkedin.com/in/jordanlee
Keep it to a few lines. No quotes, no images, no glittery banners. Our sample email for job application post shows the full email layout.
What NOT to Say at the End of a Cover Letter
Avoid these common closing mistakes:
- The passive close. "I hope to hear from you" leaves everything to the reader. Replace it with an invitation to talk.
- The pushy close. "I will call your office on Monday to schedule my interview" can feel presumptuous, especially when the job post says no calls.
- New information. Do not introduce a brand-new qualification in your last paragraph. If it matters, move it up.
- Apologies or self-doubt. "Although I may not have all the qualifications…" undercuts everything you just wrote.
- Salary talk. Unless the posting asks for salary expectations, save that for later. Our salary negotiation guide covers when to bring it up.
- Generic filler. "Thank you for your consideration" is fine once. Stacked with "I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience," it becomes wallpaper.
- Typos in the last line. The final words are the freshest in the reader's mind. Make sure they are spelled right.
Should You Add a P.S.?
A postscript can work in creative fields or startups, where a little personality helps. Use it for one punchy, relevant detail, such as a link to a project that fits the role.
In traditional industries like law, finance, or healthcare, skip it. It can read as an afterthought.
How to Write Your Closing in 5 Steps
- Reread the job posting and pick the one requirement you meet best.
- Write one sentence that connects that strength to the company's needs.
- Add a specific reason you want this job at this company.
- Invite a conversation with a confident, polite call to action.
- Thank the reader, sign off, and proofread the whole paragraph out loud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to end a cover letter?
The best way to end a cover letter is with a short paragraph that summarizes your value, shows specific enthusiasm, asks for a next step, and thanks the reader. Follow it with a professional sign-off such as "Sincerely" and your full name.
Should I use "Sincerely" or "Best regards"?
Both are professional. "Sincerely" is the safest default for formal applications, while "Best regards" is slightly warmer and works well if you have already been in touch with the recipient or the company culture is less formal.
How long should the last paragraph of a cover letter be?
Two to four sentences is ideal. That is enough to restate your fit, ask for an interview, and say thank you without repeating your resume.
Is it okay to end a cover letter with "Thank you"?
Yes. "Thank you" works as a sign-off, especially if your final sentence does not already thank the reader. Avoid "Thanks!" with an exclamation point, which feels too casual for an application.
Should I say "I look forward to hearing from you"?
It is not wrong, but it is passive and very common. A stronger option is to invite a specific next step, such as "I would welcome the chance to discuss how I can help your team."
Do I need to include my phone number at the end of a cover letter?
In a printed or PDF letter, your contact details belong in the header, so you do not need them again. In an email cover letter, add your phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL under your name.
How do I close a cover letter when I don't know the hiring manager's name?
The closing stays the same. Use "Sincerely" or "Best regards" followed by your name. The missing name only affects your greeting, where "Dear Hiring Manager" is a safe choice.
Make the Rest of Your Application Match
A strong closing invites the hiring manager to take the next step, and that next step is usually opening your resume. Make sure it is just as sharp. Our Resume Builder helps you create a clean, tailored resume that backs up everything your cover letter promises.