Knowing how to end a cover letter the right way boosts your chances of getting considered for a job. Cover letters are akin to a blurb—it’s the first thing that recruiters and potential employers read and learn about you.
It is like a summary and a preview of your professional skills, which is why it has to be perfect and concise from start to finish. You want to capture your recruiters’ interest right at the beginning of your letter and then ensure you leave a strong and lasting impression with a solid closing remark.
With that said, this guide will show you the ropes of how to compose a powerful and attention-grabbing cover letter ending with ease.
Key Takeaways
- Knowing how to end a cover letter is important because it helps you leave a stronger, more positive, and lasting impression on the recruiters.
- Some powerful ways to end a cover letter include exuding confidence and professionalism, connecting your profile to your skills, and expressing your appreciation.
- The common mistakes to avoid when ending a cover letter include using a casual tone or slang terms, specifying salary expectations, and being overconfident.
6 Powerful Ways to End a Cover Letter
The key to understanding how to end a cover letter for a job application is to understand the unique advantages and skill sets that you can bring to the table.
Whether you end your letter on a professional or confident note, every single detail has to tie together with your cover letter details, your resume, and your portfolio.
There are six different ways to end a cover letter, depending on the kind of impression that you want to evoke from your recruiters.
#1. Maintain a Positive & Confident Tone
Nothing is more impressive to recruiters than an applicant who is confident in their abilities and professional credentials. One of the reasons why you need to know how to end a cover letter properly is to make your application stand out among other contenders for the job.
With that being said, talent scouts prefer candidates who are certain about their range of skills, work experiences, and the value they can potentially bring to the company.
Some effective ways to exude positivity and confidence when ending your cover letter involve reasserting the experiences and strengths you’ve previously mentioned in your letter. Try to highlight skills and experiences that have to do with the position you are applying for.
For instance, if you described your leadership skills in the body of your letter, then you can reiterate the said qualities by stating something along the following lines:, “I am positive that my critical thinking skills and capability to foster rapport among individuals of varying backgrounds can help boost your team’s efficiency exponentially.”
#2. Summarize Your Skills
Summarizing your skills is an effective way to underscore your qualifications. Remember to highlight skills and professional experiences that are closely related to the job requirements and the role.
If you are applying for the highest-paying IT jobs, then focus on related and in-demand skills you may possess, such as cloud computing, machine learning, technical support, or programming languages.
You can also add in your years of experience in the field to emphasize your expertise, something that works well in a cover letter for an internal position.
#3. State Your Goals & Expectations
Stating your goals and expectations while also stressing your possible contributions to the team gives recruiters an idea of how aligned you are with their core objectives.
Sometimes, interviewers encounter a candidate whose credentials match the job requirements they are looking for but end up giving the job to someone else due to differences in long-term goals, aspirations, and core values.
To ensure you can perfectly encapsulate and connect your goals and expectations with a potential employer, conduct extensive research about the company. You can also go over the details of their job advertisement.
Recruiters will typically describe the qualities and skills they are looking for in a particular position, along with the kind of work environment that they have in the company. Use these details to end a cover letter with a strong and remarkable finish.
#4. Connect Your Profile to the Role
Connecting your profile to the role means explaining how your previous job experiences and accumulated knowledge can be of good use to the company.
Understandably, it can be challenging to figure out how to end a cover letter for an internship, especially since you are still lacking in experience.
Fortunately, you can still make up for it by expressing your enthusiasm for developing new skills and willingness to be trained.
#5. Be Professional
Professionalism in ending a cover letter goes a long way, no matter if you are applying to a large corporation or a humble startup. It shows respect, reliability, and dedication to the job.
Using closing remarks such as ‘Sincerely yours’, ‘Yours faithfully’, ‘See you around’, and ‘Cheers’ may leave recruiters questioning whether your letter was sent as a joke or a mistake.
It is best to showcase more of your personality during the interview or when you are interacting with your new co-workers upon landing the job. That said, stick to simple but formal complimentary closings, such as ‘Respectfully’ and ‘Kind regards’.
#6. Express Your Appreciation
Don’t forget to express your appreciation and gratitude to the recruiters for taking the time to review your application. After all, interviewers and recruiters go through multiple credentials and applications from several candidates.
A simple ‘Thank you in advance for considering my application’ or ‘Thank you for taking the time to evaluate my application’ is enough to make you more memorable and worth giving a chance.
How to Sign Off a Cover Letter
Another way to end a cover letter properly is to use appropriate word and sentence choices.
Here are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable terms and phrases to end a cover letter:
| Acceptable words & phrases | Unacceptable words & phrases |
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5 Effective Cover Letter Closing Examples
The following cover letter closing examples are prepared based on the type of job you are applying for and the level of expertise you have. On that note, you can still tailor each example below to suit your requirements.
Example 1: Intern
Thank you for considering my application. Despite my inexperience, I am confident in my capability to learn and pick up new skills and knowledge. I look forward to the possibility and opportunity to contribute to your company’s initiatives and core mission.
Example 2: Fresh Graduate
I’m positive that my experience in leading different school organizations and solid communication and decision-making skills make me a strong contender for the position. More importantly, I am driven by the possibility of sharing new ideas that can benefit your team greatly.
Example 3: Internal Position
I fully appreciate you taking the time to consider my application. My supervisor is more than happy to evaluate my overall performance in my current department, as well as the opportunity to further advance and develop my career within the company. Please let me know if there is any additional information you may need that will be instrumental in your assessment of my qualifications. Thank you.
Example 4: Managerial Position
With my extensive experience as a programming manager, I am well-equipped to lead, train, and work alongside a team of software developers and fellow programmers. I can oversee large databases, coordinate with clients to meet their expectations and specifications, and ensure you meet the objectives for each project.
Example 5: General
I truly appreciate your company’s initiative and dedication to providing and promoting sustainable solutions to your customers. I would love to discuss further how my professional experience can be of great help to your business in reaching more milestones and making a bigger difference in society.
3 More Tips to Consider for Ending a Cover Letter
Aside from the cover letter ending examples we’ve enumerated above, we also listed additional tips to help increase your chances of passing the initial screening process and getting considered for an initial or one-on-one interview.
- Proofread your letter. Before hitting the ‘Send’ button or mailing your cover letter, take a moment to pause and review its contents first. Proofreading your cover letter lets you pinpoint any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors that you may have otherwise overlooked while preparing your resume.
- Keep it simple and concise. Sometimes, a simple yet strong ending to your application letter is exactly what recruiters look for in a candidate. It shows you value their time, and you can be straightforward with your expectations.
- Stay humble and respectful. An essential part of understanding how to close a cover letter is to exude humility and remain respectful to the recruiter. Humility and respect are two key qualities that are often associated with a candidate who knows their limitations and understands the value of teamwork.
How Not to End a Cover Letter
Knowing how to not end a cover letter increases your chances of landing an interview and getting booked for the job. Below are some practices that should be avoided when closing your cover letter:
- Don’t be too casual. Ending your cover letter in a casual and nonchalant tone shows dismissiveness and a lack of enthusiasm for the role. Recruiters want candidates who are eager to exhibit what they can contribute to the team or who are interested in advancing their skills and taking on new challenges attributed to the position.
- Don’t be arrogant. Arrogance is an exaggerated expression of your fitness for the role without any real facts, data, or explanation to back it up. It often involves phrases such as “I am the best”, “Several companies regret not hiring me”, or “I’m the most talented candidate for this role”.
- Don’t use slang. Using slang words or jargon to end a cover letter is highly unprofessional. Remember, you are reaching out to a potential employer, not a friend, classmate, or relative.
- Don’t provide character references unless explicitly required by the recruiter. While it might seem like you are proactive in discussing your qualifications, it is not necessary to do so in the early phases of your job application. Most companies request character or professional references towards the end of a job interview.
- Don’t mention salary expectations. Similar to your character references, you must only mention or communicate your salary expectations if the recruiter asks for them. Usually, discussions of salary offers and compensation packages take place during the final interview, when the interviewer has clearly expressed that you have landed the job.
Should You Sign a Cover Letter?
Yes, you should sign a cover letter—but that is if you are sending a physical letter and want to add a simple personal touch. Remember to use a black or blue pen and place your signature in the space between your closing remark and your name.
On the other hand, if you are sending a digital letter to an interviewer or potential employer, you don’t need to add your signature.
Instead, provide your full name, email address, and a link to your LinkedIn profile and portfolio. In this manner, recruiters can explore your skills and assess your qualifications hassle-free.
Final Thoughts
Recruiters aren’t only focused on your skills and credentials; they are also eager to dissect who you can potentially be as an individual and as a professional.
By knowing how to end a cover letter in a strong, positive, and remarkable manner, you are potentially unlocking more opportunities for yourself. Furthermore, a well-written cover letter increases your chances of being considered for the position, even if you lack the necessary experience.
