How to end a cover letter: what a good closing does
Close by bringing the application back to the work you are offering to do. A useful final paragraph briefly restates the connection, thanks the reader and invites an appropriate next step. It should not introduce a new qualification that needed explanation earlier in the letter.
Choose a closing that fits the application channel. An uploaded letter may simply invite a conversation, while an email can also identify the requested attachment. For hourly roles, actual shift availability may be worth mentioning. Do not include availability you have not checked or a promise to follow up on a date you cannot keep.
The close does not need to repeat the opening word for word. Refer to the relevant contribution in a shorter form and move forward. If the middle paragraph explained a records-checking process, the closing can refer to bringing that care to the team rather than retelling the whole example.
A clear next step is an invitation, not a demand. You can say you would welcome a discussion about the role without implying that the employer owes you an interview. Avoid writing as though a hiring decision has already been made or setting deadlines for the recruiter to respond.
Closing paragraph examples
Adapt one closing to your situation and replace the brackets with information you can verify. These are short paragraph patterns rather than complete letters. Use only the details that belong in your application; a referral, attachment or schedule should not appear merely because it is present in a sample.
For an entry-level application, refer to the relevant habit or project already explained. For an experienced application, name the contribution without adding a fresh performance claim. A career changer can close on the task that carries over, keeping the earlier explanation of the transition brief.
When applying by email, confirm that the attachment is actually attached before mentioning it. When using a referral, make sure the person has agreed to be named and has genuinely suggested the application. The final paragraph should make the next action easier, not create new facts for the employer to verify.
- Entry level: Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome a conversation about bringing the [work habit] I developed through [activity already described] to your [role]. I am available [actual schedule, when relevant].
- Experienced: Thank you for reviewing my background. I would be glad to discuss how my experience in [relevant responsibility already explained] could support your team's work on [duty from the posting].
- Career change: I appreciate your consideration as I move from [past field] into [new field]. I would welcome the opportunity to explain how my work on [transferable task] connects to this position.
- Referral: Thank you for considering the application [referrer, named with permission] suggested I submit. I would be pleased to discuss the [relevant responsibility] described above and learn more about your team's needs.
- Email application: I have attached [requested document] for the [position] opening. Thank you for reviewing my application; I would welcome a discussion of how my experience with [relevant task] fits the role.
Sign-offs and when to use them
Place a professional sign-off after the closing paragraph, followed by your name. Sincerely, is a straightforward default for a US business letter. Best regards, is also a practical option when the surrounding wording is less formal. Consistency matters more than finding an unusual phrase.
Use a separate contact line beneath your name in an email when appropriate. An uploaded document may already have contact information in its header, so repeating it in several places can add clutter. Avoid an image-only signature that makes your name or details difficult to select or read.
The following choices describe tone rather than strict rules for every employer. Follow a named application format when one is provided. Yours faithfully is associated with British correspondence and is not the default suggested here for an American cover letter.
| Sign-off | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sincerely, | Professional and neutral. | A standard US application letter when you want a straightforward default. |
| Best regards, | Professional with a slightly warmer feel. | Email applications or a letter whose wording is direct rather than highly formal. |
| Kind regards, | Courteous and warm. | A professional application where this sounds natural in your own voice. |
| Thank you, | Brief and appreciative. | A concise note, provided the preceding paragraph does not repeat the same thanks. |
| Respectfully, | More formal. | An application context that calls for a particularly formal tone, rather than routine use everywhere. |
What to avoid at the end
Remove language that shifts the closing from an application to an appeal for sympathy. The employer needs to understand the work you could do, not feel pressured to answer because of your personal circumstances. A polite invitation is enough to show that you are open to a conversation.
Also remove new claims that appear only at the end. If a qualification or major achievement matters, explain it in the body where it can be assessed. If it does not matter enough for that space, it probably does not belong in the closing either.
- Do not beg for a chance or ask the reader to overlook missing requirements; return to the relevant evidence you have already provided.
- Leave out apologies for your background, while answering any direct application questions truthfully in the appropriate place.
- Avoid demanding a reply by a particular date or assuming you will meet the team before an invitation exists.
- Do not add a new certification, tool or achievement without context just to make the last line sound stronger.
- Replace a vague hope to hear back with a polite, specific invitation to discuss the role when that adds clarity.
Final check
Check the final version in the form you will send, not only in the editor. Opening the exported document or reading the pasted email can reveal a missing name, a broken line break or a contact detail that disappeared during copying. Check any required attachment separately.
Read the last paragraph alongside the opening to make sure they concern the same employer and position. Then verify the factual details in the middle once more. Finishing the letter should be a review step, not the moment you stop checking because the wording sounds polished.
- Check your name and the recipient's name for spelling, including any name retained from an older draft.
- Confirm the email address and phone number you choose to include are accurate and appropriate for employer contact.
- Open attachments, verify their file names and remove any mention of a document you are not actually sending.
Fair questions
What is the best sign-off for a cover letter?
Sincerely, is a safe default for a US application, and Best regards, also works for many professional letters. Choose wording that matches the tone of the rest of your message. Put your name beneath it, and keep contact details easy to find without adding a decorative signature or an unrelated personal quotation.
Should I say I look forward to hearing from you?
You may use it, but it should not be the whole purpose of the closing. A brief invitation to discuss your relevant experience is usually more specific. Keep the request polite and avoid implying that the employer must respond. The final paragraph should connect to the position rather than repeat a generic hope.
Should I include my phone number?
Include an accurate phone number where the employer can find it, usually in the document header or an email signature. It does not need to be repeated in every paragraph. Follow the application's contact instructions, check the number before sending and avoid placing it only in an image that cannot be copied.
How do I end an email cover letter?
Use a short closing paragraph, a professional sign-off and your name, followed by suitable contact information. Mention an attachment only when you have included it and the employer requested or accepts it. Check the subject line and recipient separately; the closing cannot fix an email addressed to the wrong person.