How to End a Cover Letter: 15+ Examples That Get Noticed

The best way to end a cover letter is with a confident final paragraph that reinforces your interest, includes a clear next step, and closes with a professional sign-off. A weak ending can undermine an otherwise stellar cover letter, while a strong professional closing reinforces your enthusiasm and leaves a positive final impression. The way you conclude your correspondence signals your level of professionalism, attention to detail, and understanding of workplace communication standards—all qualities employers evaluate when deciding who gets an interview.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to end your cover letter effectively, from crafting compelling final paragraphs to choosing the right professional sign-off for different industries and situations.

What Makes a Strong Cover Letter Ending?

A strong cover letter ending accomplishes three essential goals: it reinforces your genuine interest in the specific role, creates a clear pathway for next steps, and leaves the reader with a positive emotional impression.

Understanding the psychology behind the effective ways to end your cover letter helps you create content that resonates with hiring managers. When recruiters review dozens of applications daily, they develop an intuitive sense for which candidates truly want the position versus those who are mass-applying with generic materials.

The Final Paragraph Formula

Your final paragraph should follow a proven structure that covers all necessary elements without feeling formulaic.

1. Start by reiterating your interest in the position, but avoid simply restating what you've already said in your resume or in the rest of your cover letter. Instead, connect your enthusiasm to something specific about the company or role that genuinely excites you.
2. Next, mention your next steps or availability for follow-up conversations. This shows initiative while respecting the employer's process. You might reference your availability for interviews, your willingness to provide additional information, or your plan to follow up within a reasonable timeframe.

Finally, express genuine gratitude for the hiring manager's time and consideration. This isn't just politeness; it acknowledges that reviewing applications requires effort and demonstrates your appreciation for the opportunity.

Professional Sign-Off Selection

The formality level of your closing should match the corporate culture and industry standards you've observed throughout your research. Traditional industries like banking, law, and government typically expect more formal closings, while startups, creative agencies, and tech companies often appreciate slightly more contemporary approaches.

Consider the tone of the job posting, the company's website language, and any interactions you've had with current employees through LinkedIn profile optimization. If the job description uses casual language and emphasizes work-life balance, a slightly warmer closing might be appropriate. When in doubt, err on the side of professionalism rather than familiarity.

7+ Professional Cover Letter Closing Examples

The following examples demonstrate how different closings work in various contexts, helping you choose the most appropriate option for your situation. They also show real-world applications of professional endings that have helped candidates secure interviews.

Formal Business Closings

Sincerely remains the best option for formal business correspondence, particularly in traditional industries where established protocols matter. Use "Sincerely" when applying to government positions, law firms, financial institutions, or any organization where the job posting maintains a formal tone throughout.

Best regards offers professional versatility that works across most industries and company types. It strikes the right balance between respect and approachability, making it an excellent default choice when you're unsure about company culture.

Respectfully works particularly well for government positions, military contractors, and other organizations where hierarchy and formal respect are valued. It conveys deference while maintaining professional confidence.

Yours truly takes a traditional approach that works well for established companies with formal cultures. While less common today, it can be effective when you want to convey classic professionalism.

Modern Professional Closings

Best represents a contemporary communication style that's clean, professional, and widely accepted across industries. It works particularly well for email applications and companies with modern, streamlined cultures.

Thank you serves double duty as both a closing and an expression of gratitude, making it particularly effective when you want to emphasize appreciation. It works well for competitive positions where showing gratitude might set you apart.

Kind regards offers warmth while maintaining professionalism, making it ideal for relationship-focused roles or companies that emphasize collaboration and team culture.

Warm regards works well when you've already established some connection with the company or hiring manager, perhaps through networking events or referrals. It suggests relationship-building while staying professional.

How to Write Your Final Paragraph: 4 Handy Tips

Writing an effective final paragraph requires combining several elements while maintaining the engaging tone you've established throughout your cover letter. The key is creating a conclusion that feels complete rather than abrupt, while avoiding unnecessary repetition of earlier points.

#1. Reaffirm Your Interest

Rather than simply stating "I'm interested in this position," connect your enthusiasm to specific aspects of the role or company that genuinely appeal to you. This approach demonstrates that you've done your research and aren't just mass-applying.

Reference something from the job description, company mission, or recent news that resonates with your career goals. For instance, you might mention excitement about the company's expansion into new markets, their commitment to sustainability, or the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology.

Avoid repeating the same points you made in your opening paragraph. Instead, build on your initial interest by showing how your research has deepened your enthusiasm for the opportunity.

#2. Mention Next Steps

Professional communication includes clear expectations about follow-up, but you need to strike the right balance between showing initiative and respecting the employer's process. Reference your availability for interviews or additional conversations without being presumptuous about the timeline.

Consider mentioning specific availability if you have constraints, such as "I'm available for interviews next week" or "I can provide references upon request." This practical information helps move the process forward while demonstrating your responsiveness.

However, avoid ultimatums or aggressive follow-up statements like "I'll reach out again next week"; most employers prefer to control their own timeline and communication preferences.

#3. Express Gratitude

Authentic gratitude acknowledges the time and effort required to review applications, but generic thank-you statements can feel perfunctory. Instead, be specific about what you're appreciating: their time, consideration, or the opportunity to learn more about the organization.

You might thank them for the detailed job description, for their commitment to diversity and inclusion, or for creating an opportunity that aligns so well with your career goals. This approach feels more genuine than standard "thank you for your consideration" language.

#4. Call to Action Considerations

While you want to encourage response, avoid being pushy or demanding. Phrases like "I expect to hear from you soon" or "Please respond by Friday" can backfire by creating unnecessary pressure or appearing presumptuous about their interest level.

Instead, use language that expresses hope and openness: "I look forward to the possibility of discussing this opportunity with you" or "I hope we can explore how my experience might contribute to your team." These phrases encourage follow-up without creating demands.

For senior-level positions, consider incorporating language that reflects your understanding of salary negotiation processes, e.g., similar to: "I welcome the opportunity to discuss both the role and compensation package that reflects my experience level."

3 Common Cover Letter Ending Mistakes

Now that we know what we should do when picking the right cover letter ending, let’s see what we should avoid at all costs:

Cover Letter Closing Templates by Situation/Experience Level

Different career stages and circumstances require tailored approaches to cover letter conclusions. These templates provide starting points that you can customize based on your specific situation and target role.

Entry-Level Positions

New graduates and career starters should emphasize enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and transferable skills from academic or volunteer experiences. Your closing can acknowledge your early career stage while confidently presenting your potential value.

Career Change Applications

Career changers need closings that acknowledge their transition while emphasizing transferable skills and genuine motivation for the new field. Address the change directly rather than hoping it goes unnoticed, like this:

Senior-Level Positions

Executive and senior-level applications require closings that demonstrate leadership presence and strategic thinking. Therefore, your conclusion should reflect the gravitas expected at higher organizational levels.

Final Thoughts

Ending a cover letter effectively requires combining professionalism with personality, confidence with humility, and enthusiasm with restraint. The strongest closings feel authentic while adhering to established business communication standards that you'll also use in other professional correspondence.

Your cover letter closing is your final opportunity to make a strong impression before hiring managers decide whether to consider you for interviews. Therefore, you should make it count by choosing an ending that reflects your genuine interest in the opportunity.