How to End a Cover Letter: Closing Lines and Sign-Offs That Work
To end a cover letter, write a two-sentence closing paragraph that says what you would bring to the role and asks for a conversation, then sign off with “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,” and your full name. Keep it confident and specific. The last paragraph is where the reader decides whether to open your resume or move to the next applicant, so it should leave them with one clear reason to call you and an easy next step.
That is the short answer to how do I end a cover letter. The rest of this guide covers what the closing paragraph needs, eight closing lines for different situations, how to choose a sign-off, what goes under your name, and the endings that undo an otherwise strong letter.
What the end of a cover letter has to do
The ending has a smaller job than the opening, and it is easy to overdo. A good close does three things:
- restates your strongest fit in one line, so the reader finishes on the reason you are worth an interview;
- asks for the next step, plainly and without pleading;
- makes contact easy, with a phone number or email they can use straight away.
Everything else is optional. You do not need to summarise the letter, list your skills again, or thank the reader three times. If the middle paragraphs did their work, the close only has to point at what comes next.
If you want the full four-paragraph structure first, our guide on how to write a cover letter covers it, and how to start a cover letter covers the other end of the page.
The parts of a cover letter ending
A complete ending has four pieces, in this order:
| Part | What goes in it | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Closing paragraph | What you would bring, plus a request to talk | 2 to 3 sentences |
| Sign-off | A short, professional valediction | 1 or 2 words |
| Name | Your full name as it appears on your resume | 1 line |
| Contact line | Phone and email, optionally a portfolio or LinkedIn link | 1 or 2 lines |
In a printed or PDF letter your contact details usually sit in the header, so the contact line under your name can be dropped. In an email, put them under your name, because that is where a reader looks for them.
Step 1: Write the closing paragraph
Start from the strongest point in the body of your letter. If the middle paragraph proved you cut onboarding time for new hires, the close can say you would bring the same focus to their team. Then ask for the conversation.
A simple pattern:
- One sentence on what you would bring, tied to the posting’s top requirement.
- One sentence asking to talk, using “I’d welcome”, “I’d be glad to” or “I’d like to”.
- An optional third sentence for anything practical the reader needs: a start date, relocation, or availability.
Example:
I’d bring the same attention to response times that cut our ticket backlog in half last year. I’d welcome the chance to talk about how that could help your support team, and I’m available to start in November.
That is the whole paragraph. It is specific, it names a next step, and it stops.
Step 2: Pick a sign-off
The sign-off matters less than people worry about. No hiring manager rejects a strong letter over “Best regards” versus “Sincerely”. What does matter is that it reads as professional and matches the tone of the letter.
| Sign-off | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sincerely, | Formal, neutral | Any application; the safe default |
| Best regards, | Warm, professional | Most applications, especially by email |
| Kind regards, | Warm, slightly British | Applications in the UK, Europe or Australia |
| Regards, | Brief, a little cool | Email follow-ups more than first letters |
| Thank you, | Polite, direct | When the closing line did not already say thanks |
| Respectfully, | Very formal | Government, legal or military applications |
Avoid sign-offs that belong in a message to a friend: “Cheers,” “Thanks!”, “Warmly,” “Talk soon,” or no sign-off at all. They are not fatal, but they spend goodwill you do not need to spend.
Put a comma after the sign-off, then your name on the next line. In a printed letter, leave room for a signature between the two if you plan to sign it by hand.
Step 3: Add your name and contact details
Use the same name that appears on your resume, so the reader can match the two documents without thinking. Under it, in an email or online form, add:
- your phone number;
- your email address;
- a portfolio, GitHub or LinkedIn link, if it supports the application.
Skip a full postal address, a photo, a quote, or a list of social profiles. One or two lines is enough.
Eight ways to end a cover letter, with examples
Each of these is a closing paragraph you can adapt. Swap the bracketed parts for your own details, and keep only claims your resume backs up.
1. Tie your strongest result to their need
Best for most applications.
I’d bring the same [process discipline] that [got three late projects back on schedule] at [Company]. I’d welcome the chance to talk about how that could help your team hit its [launch dates].
2. Ask for the interview directly
Best when the letter is short and the fit is obvious.
I’d be glad to talk about the role and answer any questions. You can reach me at [phone] or [email].
3. Mention your availability
Best when timing is part of the decision, such as a contract or seasonal role.
I can start on [date] and I’m happy to work around your team’s schedule for an interview.
4. Address the career change
Best when the reader may wonder whether you can make the jump.
My background in [previous field] means I’d bring [a specific transferable strength] to this role from the first week. I’d welcome the chance to explain how that experience carries over.
The career change example in our cover letter examples shows a full letter in this shape.
5. Show interest in the company’s work
Best when you have a real, specific reason to want this employer.
I’ve followed [a product, project or decision of theirs] closely, and I’d like to help build what comes next. I’d welcome a conversation about where I could contribute.
6. Reference a mutual contact
Best when someone referred you and the opening already said so.
[Name] suggested I’d be a good fit for the team, and after reading the posting I agree. I’d be glad to talk whenever suits you.
7. Close an internal application
Best when you already work there.
I’d like to keep growing at [Company] in this role, and I’d welcome the chance to talk with you about it. Our guide to a cover letter for an internal position covers the rest of that letter.
8. Keep it brief for an email application
Best when the cover letter is the body of the email.
Thank you for considering my application. My resume is attached, and I’d be glad to talk at your convenience.
Endings that weaken a good letter
These are the closing lines that make a reader stop paying attention. Each has a simple fix.
| Weak ending | Why it hurts | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| ”I hope to hear from you.” | Passive, puts you in a waiting role | ”I’d welcome the chance to talk." |
| "Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you again.” | Repeats itself and fills space | One thank-you, or none if the close is strong |
| ”I will call you next week to schedule an interview.” | Presumes a decision that is theirs | ”I’m available any time next week." |
| "I know I would be perfect for this role.” | A claim with no proof behind it | Restate one real result instead |
| ”Please find attached my resume, which details my experience.” | Says what the reader can already see | Drop it, or mention the attachment in a short clause |
| ”Sorry for the long letter.” | Apologises for your own application | Cut the letter instead of apologising |
The common thread: the close should sound like someone confident they can do the job, asking for a conversation between equals.
How to end a cover letter with no name to address
If the greeting was “Dear Hiring Manager,” the ending does not change. Use the same closing paragraph and the same sign-off. “Sincerely,” works whether or not you know the reader’s name. There is no need to switch to an older form like “Yours faithfully” unless you are applying somewhere that still expects it, such as some UK employers.
Writing a fresh closing for every application, faster
The closing paragraph should change with each posting, because the “what you would bring” line depends on what that employer asked for first. Rewriting it from scratch for every application is slow, and reusing one generic close is how letters start to sound pasted.
A faster routine:
- Find the posting’s top requirement. It is usually the first or most repeated item in the job description.
- Draft from the posting. Paste your experience and the job posting into InstaResume, and it drafts a cover letter aimed at that role, closing paragraph included, built only from what you gave it. It will not invent employers, titles or results you did not mention.
- Edit the close yourself. Check that the result it names is real, that the request to talk sounds like you, and that any start date is correct.
The free tools need no signup and give three generations a day, with cover letter pages for roles such as an internship, a teacher or an administrative assistant. A free account adds saved history, and the pricing page covers heavier application weeks. Our guide to a free cover letter generator covers what to check in any generated draft before you send it.
When the manual way is enough
If you are sending one or two applications to roles you know well, write the close by hand. The pattern above takes a few minutes once the body of the letter is done, and a close written in your own words is easy to defend in an interview. A drafting tool earns its place when you are applying to several roles a week and each one needs its own angle.
A quick checklist for your ending
Before you send, check that the end of your letter:
- names one specific thing you would bring, taken from the posting;
- asks for a conversation in one plain sentence;
- uses a professional sign-off with a comma after it;
- gives your full name, matching your resume;
- includes a phone number or email the reader can use straight away.
If all five hold, the letter finishes as strongly as it started, and the reader knows exactly what to do next.