How to end a cover letter: what the last paragraph has to do
To close a cover letter well, the last paragraph has three small jobs, and it should do all of them in three or four sentences. First, it restates why you want this role in a single line, so the reader leaves with your main reason fresh. Second, it makes one clear request or offer: an interview, a call, a portfolio walkthrough, a date you are free. Third, it thanks the reader once, without grovelling. Anything beyond that belongs in the body of the letter or on your resume.
A good cover letter closing is confident, not pushy. Phrases like “I look forward to discussing how I can contribute” are acceptable but they are in every letter, so a reader skims past them. Better is a sentence that names something specific from the job or company, and then asks for the conversation. If you are unsure what comes before the close, read how to write a cover letter first, and check how long a cover letter should be so the ending does not push you onto a second page.
Cover letter closing paragraph examples
Here are eight ways of ending a cover letter. Each is a full closing paragraph; change the details to match your own and keep the shape. The names, companies and numbers are invented.
General, for an experienced applicant
I would welcome the chance to show how the supply-chain savings I built at Harrow Freight could work for your regional network. I am available for a call any weekday after 10 a.m. Thank you for your time and for considering my application.
Career changer
Teaching has given me eight years of practice explaining complex ideas to people who did not ask for them, which is most of what customer success is. I would be glad to walk you through how I would handle your onboarding calls. Thank you for reading.
With a referral
Maria Santos suggested I write to you because of the audit work we did together at Elmstead Audit. I would like to talk about how it applies to your compliance team and can meet at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.
Internship or first job
I am a quick learner who finishes what I start, and my capstone shows it: a working inventory tool used by a local pantry. I would be grateful for an interview and can be reached at the number below. Thank you for your time.
Remote role
Working across time zones is how I have worked for four years, and I keep a written log of decisions so no one has to ask twice. I would like to arrange a video call this week or next. Thank you for considering my application.
With a follow-up date
I will follow up by email next Thursday to see whether you need anything further. In the meantime, my portfolio is at the link above. Thank you for reading my letter.
Relocating
I am moving to Denver in January and can start on the first of February. I would be happy to interview by video before then. Thank you for considering a candidate from out of town.
Short and direct
I would like to discuss the role and can come in any day this week. Thank you for your time.
How to sign off a cover letter
The sign-off is the word or phrase above your name. The safe, correct choices are Sincerely, Best regards, Kind regards and Respectfully. Sincerely suits formal fields such as law, finance, government and education; Best regards is the everyday choice for most corporate and creative roles. Avoid Cheers, Thanks!, Yours faithfully (it belongs with “Dear Sir or Madam” in British English) and anything with an exclamation mark.
An email sign-off works the same way, with one difference: the signature block carries your contact details, since there is no letterhead. Write your full name, your phone number, your email address and, if it helps, a link to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile on separate lines. In a printed or PDF letter, leave a blank line after the sign-off, type your name and add a handwritten signature above it only if you are mailing a paper copy. If you attach the letter to an email, the email body can be two lines; the PDF carries the full letter.
Mistakes in the ending of a cover letter
- Repeating your resume in the last paragraph instead of making a request.
- Apologizing, such as “I know I may not have the exact experience”. State what you have and stop.
- Demanding a reply, for example “I expect to hear from you within a week”. Offer a follow-up date instead.
- Closing with a generic sentence you could paste into any letter, so the reader cannot tell which job it was written for.
- A sign-off from a different register, such as “Yours sincerely” in a casual startup letter or “Later” in a bank letter.
- Forgetting a way to reach you. Your phone number and email should be in the letter, not only on the resume.
Match the close to the job: the more formal the field, the plainer the ending. For the full set of parts above it, see cover letter format.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026.