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How to End a Cover Letter: Strong Closings, Sign-Offs, and Examples

By Roy4 min read
Tagscover letterresume tipsjob search strategy

The ending of a cover letter does more work than its length suggests. It's the last thing the reader sees before deciding whether to open your resume — the moment to convert interest into a decision to keep reading. Too many letters trail off with a limp "thank you for your consideration" and leave the strongest impression to chance. A good closing is confident, specific, and points to the next step.

What a strong closing paragraph does

Your final paragraph has three jobs, and it can do all of them in two or three sentences:

  1. Restate your interest and fit — briefly, without repeating the whole letter.
  2. Point forward — reference your resume or your enthusiasm to discuss the role.
  3. Make a confident call to action — express that you'd welcome a conversation.

The shift that matters most is from passive to active. "I hope you'll consider my application" puts the reader in charge and you in the waiting room. "I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can help your team hit its Q3 targets" signals confidence and frames the next step as natural. Keep the whole closing inside your overall 250–400 word budget.

Closing paragraph examples you can adapt

For a role you're well-matched to:

I'd love to bring the same approach that grew our retention rate by 18% to your customer success team. My resume has the full details, and I'd welcome the chance to talk through how I can contribute.

For a career change:

My background in teaching gave me the communication and project-management skills your program coordinator role calls for, and I'm eager to put them to work in a new setting. I'd be glad to discuss how my experience translates.

For a referral or warm intro:

After speaking with Maya about the team's roadmap, I'm even more excited about this role. I'd welcome the opportunity to explore how my background fits what you're building.

Notice that each one is specific, points forward, and never apologizes for itself.

The best sign-offs (and which to skip)

After your closing paragraph, use a professional sign-off followed by your full name:

Safe and professional:

  • Sincerely
  • Best regards
  • Kind regards
  • Respectfully (more formal — good for government, legal, academic)

Acceptable in warmer or modern contexts:

  • Best
  • Warm regards
  • Thank you

Skip these:

  • Cheers, Take care, Talk soon (too casual)
  • Yours faithfully / Yours truly (dated in most US contexts)
  • Love, xoxo, or anything you'd text a friend
  • No sign-off at all

If you're sending the letter as the body of an email, the same rules apply — close with a sign-off and your name, then your contact details below.

Endings that quietly cost you the interview

A few common closers undercut an otherwise solid letter:

  • Pure passivity: "I hope to hear from you soon." It's fine, but forgettable. Add a reason to talk.
  • Over-apologizing: "I know you're busy, so I'll keep this brief." You've already kept it brief — don't draw attention to the imposition.
  • Generic gratitude as the entire closing: "Thank you for your consideration" alone is filler. Pair it with a forward-looking line.
  • Repeating the whole letter: the closing summarizes interest, it doesn't restate every qualification.
  • Demanding rather than inviting: "I look forward to your call to schedule my interview" is presumptuous. Invite a conversation; don't book it for them.

Tie the ending to a sharp overall application

A confident closing only lands if the rest of the letter — and the resume behind it — backs it up. Before you send, make sure your resume matches the job's keywords using our free resume checker, and if you're writing several applications, our AI cover letter generator drafts a complete, tailored letter — strong closing included — from your resume and the posting. The free trial includes 3 generations, so you can produce a draft and then polish the ending into your own voice.

For the broader picture of what a cover letter is and how it fits with your resume, see what is a cover letter and cover letter vs resume. And once you land the interview, don't forget the thank-you email afterward.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to end a cover letter?
Close with a short paragraph that restates your interest, points to your resume, and includes a confident call to action — for example, that you'd welcome the chance to discuss how you can contribute. Follow it with a professional sign-off and your name.
What is a good sign-off for a cover letter?
"Sincerely" and "Best regards" are the safest professional choices. "Kind regards" and "Respectfully" also work. Avoid casual closers like "Cheers" or "Take care," and don't leave out a sign-off entirely.
Should you say 'thank you for your consideration' at the end?
It's fine, but don't let it be your entire closing — on its own it reads as filler. Pair it with a forward-looking line that invites a conversation so the ending leaves a confident, specific impression.
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