How to End a Cover Letter

How you end a cover letter is critical if the hiring manager is still considering your merits. Spending that much time on your application will mean they consider you a genuine contender for the role. All the more reason to write an awesome ending.

There are a few things to consider when you only have a couple of sentences to finish the cover letter. It is certain that you will have so much more to say about your application, but reign in your enthusiasm. The ending of a cover letter should contain a particular focus.

You should try to strike a hopeful but not expectant tone. Never state that you are confident about your chances of securing the role (or any similar arrogance). You don’t know the candidates you are up against. At this point you haven’t even met the hiring manager. Sure, express excitement about the role, but keep the tone hopeful.

Justify your call to action and say you are looking forward to a potential interview. Despite what has been written above, it is standard practice to mention that you are looking forward to the possibility of an interview to meet the hiring manager and find out more. Showing a passion for the role is vital – they want to hire someone who will stick around.

Make sure that the last paragraph offers one last carefully considered point. Avoid long lists of adjectives or multiple accomplishments shared breathlessly. You will have plenty of opportunities to expand on your application during an interview – pick just one of the following four content approaches for the last cover letter paragraph:

Cover letter ending

…. Mention the hidden needs of the hiring manager – show you understand.

…. End on your personal “why” – get emotional about the potential fit.

…. Repeat one of your crucial cover letter messages – leave them in no doubt.

…. Mention a personal connection at the company who might act as a referee.

When you only have a few short lines to finish your cover letter, only one of these approaches will be possible, so select the one that is most appropriate for each role.

But how does the close of your cover letter really make a hiring manager feel? Hopefully, the hiring manager will want to find out more. They may be intrigued by what you have written and excited about what you can bring to the role. You will doubtless end on a memorable note (always important in any sales content), and their fingers will be hovering over the send button for that magical interview invite.

Ending a cover letter on a strong note will show that there is much more to come.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).