You opened your cover letter strong and motivated the reader to continue. You do not want to risk losing this momentum by closing with a poor ending. That increases the risk the recruiter will be turned off and place your resume in the reject pile. Knowing how to write a strong cover letter closing and what types of endings to avoid helps your chances of making it to the next level in the recruitment phase.
End With an Action It is highly beneficial to end your cover letter with an action, or at least language that demonstrates your willingness to move forward. This shows that you are proactive and serious about the position. However, you want to be careful about what type of action it is. Avoid phrases that make it sound too confident or demanding, such as “I will call to schedule an interview.” Rather, close with a phrase that sounds professional while imparting your excitement to continue the process, such as, “I welcome the chance to learn more about the position and discuss the ways in which I can contribute.”
Demonstrate What You Have to Offer Rather than ending by discussing how the role will benefit you, chose a cover letter closing that details how you will help the company. This is more attractive to prospective employers, as they care more about finding someone who will help their company. Writing something that speaks to them and their interests goes much further than merely focusing on your own. This might be something such as, “I look forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with the company.”
Show Gratitude At the end of the cover letter, do not forget to show gratitude to the hiring manager for considering you and for taking the time to read the letter and review your resume. A simple phrase, such as “thank you for your consideration and time,” will go a long way to endearing yourself to the reader. Hiring managers are taking time out of their busy schedule to go through piles of applications, and acknowledgment of this work will help you to stand out.
The Right Valediction When you worked on the opening of your cover letter, you determined the best salutation. This was most likely “Dear” followed by the recruiter’s name, although you might have chosen something less personal. The valediction, or closing, should mirror the salutation. Some common closings include
• Sincerely • Thank you • All the best • Respectfully • Best/Kind regards
Remain professional in your closing, since this is a business document. Avoid more casual terms, such as Thanks, Cheers, Love and similar closings, even if you know the recruiter personally.
Example of a Poor Ending In this position, I feel I would have an opportunity to advance in my career and develop a deeper understanding of the industry. Let’s have an interview next week. I will call to set it up. Cheers!
This example is poor because it starts by focusing on what the person has to gain from the position, not what the person can offer to the business. It is also very demanding in its actionable closing. There is no gratitude and it is very informal. The valediction is likewise too informal.
Example of a Strong Cover Letter Closing Below is an example of a closing that follows the above tips and creates something that helps you stand out (you can also look through hundreds of cover letter examples here if you want to see more):
Thank you for taking the time to review my resume and consider me for the position. I feel that my experience and education will allow me to make a strong contribution to your company. I would like to meet with you to further discuss my skills and how they are a perfect fit for the position. Please reach me at [phone number] or [email] to set up a time for an interview.
The right cover letter needs the right closing. With these tips, you have the template to create a strong ending that will help increase the chance of your resume making it to the next stage in the hiring process. And if you’re still struggling to see out your cover letter with a professional closing, consider using a cover letter builder – this kind of tool can make the writing process quick and easy.
