
35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips & Advice (With Examples)
Cover letter writing tips—sure to turn any boring letter into something employers want to read.
You're about to learn how to end a cover letter. But first, think about this:
Picture an HR manager's office. A battered laptop crammed with 300+ cover letters and resumes. The manager, Christie, is reading yours right now. She looks interested… then suddenly clicks “delete.” Aargh! What did you do wrong?
Your skills and achievements are Tony-Stark-level, but Christie will never see them if you don't know how to end a cover letter properly. Ensure you nail your letter's ending—and no one will skip your resume again!
This guide will show you:
Here's a sample cover letter made with our fast online cover letter tool. It shows the best way to end a cover letter. Want to write your letter fast? See 20+ cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.
Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter examples here.
So there's your perfect ending for a cover letter. Now I'll show you step by step what makes it great, and how to close a cover letter in a way that works for you.
Want to make sure every cover letter you send lands you an interview? Get our free checklist: 35+ Job Winning Cover Letter Tips & Examples
And learn how to ensure your good thing comes in a small package here: Short Cover Letter Examples for a Speedy Job Application
1
You asked yourself, Are Cover Letters Necessary?, and you found the right answer.
Yes, they are.
Now imagine this—
You are reading emails.
I know, fun, right?
One is from a co-worker. She wants you to re-draft a document. Three are from your boss, all heaping work on you.
Another is from a neighbor, asking you to watch her dog.
Ugh.
Then you get one from a rich relative. He's decided to become a Buddhist. He's giving you $10 million and a mansion out in Westchester.
Which email do you answer first?
That's the power of providing value, and it's the key to ending a cover letter.
Let me show you what I mean.
Check out these two cover letter closing paragraph examples.
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I would love to talk with you in person. I would really love to work for your company. I can interview at your convenience. |
That's as needy as Lutz from 30 Rock. It offers nothing, and makes the manager think, "Ugh, I don't have time to deal with this."
Contrast it with this next closing line and you'll get the message loud and clear.
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I'd be thrilled to learn more about this job opening, and show you how I can help OrrinCo's mission to deliver IT excellence. |
See the difference? The HR manager is thinking, "Wow, this guy will make me look like Wonder Woman." She's excited as she starts to read your resume.
That's the long and short of how to end a cover letter. Put yourself in the manager's shoes, then offer value that she can't resist.
Now you know the secret. Let me show you several ways to do it right.
Pro Tip: The key idea with closing statements? Finish strong. Promise something of real value to whet the hiring manager's appetite.
Want to save time and have your professional job application ready in minutes? Here are a sample cover letter and a matching resume made with our resume and cover letter builder. Pick a resume template and build your cover letter on a matching template.
Resume and a sample cover letter for a job application. See 18 resume templates for a job here.
Already figured out how to close a cover letter? See our full guide: "How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]"
2
There's the harried hiring manager, Christie.
Her eyes look like a map of Cleveland from all the letters of introduction she has read. She's as bored as a frozen pea tester watching fireplace videos on Netflix.
Then she gets to yours. She sits up straight.
At the last paragraph, her mouth drops open. She leans forward as she starts to read your resume.
Clearly, you know how to end a cover letter.
But how exactly did you do it?
You offered something Christie really wants, in one of the following five ways.
I'd love to show you how my success at GLTI can translate to real marketing ROI growth for Davidson and Litman.
See? That cover letter closing statement says, "I've got something you need." It offers excitement and teases more.
To get the payoff, the hiring manager has to read your resume, and interview you.
I believe my skills and drive will blossom in this job because of the renowned support Phair Donaldson Inc. gives to its team.
See that? This isn't some needy Peppa Pig clone. This is Jack Bauer in the rough, and the hiring manager will skip lunch to read his resume.
Let's look at a few more how to close a cover letter examples. This next one uses energy.
I'm very excited to hear more about this opportunity, and to share why my last employer calls me indispensable.
Wow, right? That example of how to close a cover letter shows passion. It also hints at something valuable.
The manager just cleaned her glasses for a good look at your resume.
I'd be honored at the chance to show you how I saved Bookbinder Ltd. $25,000 in inventory costs.
That's not just come cliche for ending a cover letter. It's Buffy Summers, and she can start on Monday.
Can you think of an impressive achievement to tease in your closing paragraph? It's even better if it fits the company's goals. (They're in the job description.)
If I'm hired for this job, I'll exemplify the passion and commitment that helped me grow Locklin Hunt Corp's business by 45% in just two years.
Can you believe the recruiter just spit out her mochaccino? You're basically Liz Lemon, seeking a new situation.
Now you know how to end a cover letter. But don't even think about leaving until you see the next great closing paragraph tip.
It can supercharge all the rest.
Pro Tip: Not sure what to tease in your perfect closing paragraph? Research the company and hiring manager to find out what they need.
Got the cover letter closing statement figured out? Want to know how to start one? See our guide: "How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide [20+ Examples]"
3
Imagine you are on a road trip. You're in Oklahoma.
Flat, flat, flat.
You haven't had a change of scenery in hours.
Suddenly, a fighter jet flies by, 100 feet straight up.
There's one thing you can put in a closing line that'll draw the eye like that.
It's "P.S."
It works because it says, "Here is the most important thing about this letter."
In other words, it's a magnet for the eyes.
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PS, I'd love to interview with NWPZ Inc. I can't wait to tell you all about my great qualifications. |
Whoops, the hiring manager is snoring.
It's not just that your cover letter closing is generic. It's that you used "P.S." wrong. You didn't punctuate it, and you used a comma. Sloppy.
Instead, do it like this next closing statement example.
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P.S. – I would relish the opportunity to show you how I raised customer review scores 35% at Wheeler Mizner, and how I can do the same for you. |
Use periods to abbreviate P.S. You can put an "em dash" after it (two dashes linked together) or a colon:
Pro Tip: The letter of introduction's job is to get your resume read. When you promise something the manager really wants, you give her a reason to read.
Are you learning how to end a cover for an internship? Check out this guide: "How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship [+20 Examples]"
4
So you know how to close a cover letter.
But what do you put after your closing paragraph? How do you sign off on a cover letter?
Cover letter endings are pretty simple:
Just thank the hiring manager. Then add a "Best regards" or "Sincerely" synonym.
Finally, leave a space, and add your name, like in this sample sign-off.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Carol Forsberg
You can also add your personal portfolio site, if you've got one.
Should you add your physical address or fax number? Not unless you're ending a cover letter in the 1990s.
Pro Tip: Need some good sincerely synonyms for your cover letter ending? You're in luck. We've got reams of them below.
Don't have a LinkedIn profile yet? Want to make one, fast? See our guide: "How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary & Profile To Get Jobs"
5
Here's the tired hiring manager again.
She's read, "Sincerely" so many times today it's etched into her retinas.
Is there a good sincerely synonym that'll help your ending lines stand out?
First, there's nothing wrong with "Sincerely." You don't need to get attention with your cover letter closing salutation.
You need to get it with your drool-inducing value proposition.
But if you must know how to end a professional letter without "sincerely," you're in luck.
Here are some great synonyms you can use in your cover letter endings:
Here are some great synonyms you can use in your cover letter endings:
Why are some of those how to end a cover letter examples in bold font? Because they're the strongest closing salutations.
Toward the bottom, things start to get a little old school, curt, or needy.
Here's how not to end an introductory letter. Avoid these example sincerely synonyms.
Those are all either a little too handsy or too Charles Dickens. In a choice between yours sincerely vs yours faithfully, "sincerely" always wins.
You don't sign your cover letter when submitting online. However, if you're handing it in on paper, business etiquette requires you to sign it.
Put your signature below the sign-off, above your printed out name. If your cover letter is a soft copy submitted online, skip the signature. Especially, if it is an email cover letter.
Pro Tip: Consider making an email signature specifically for resume letter endings. You'll save time, and standardize the process, which means fewer mistakes.
6
Oh-oh.
Christie, the HR manager, deleted your email so fast she broke a nail.
What did you do wrong?
You made one of these horrendous how to close a cover letter blunders.
The Overcooked Cauliflower Closing Statement
People say nobody reads cover letters, so why write one?
What they mean is, no one reads generic cover letters.
Check out this example of how not to end a resume letter:
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Thank you for your consideration, and your time. |
See that? After about 200 of those, the recruiter starts to feel like she's got The Chicken Dance song stuck in her head.
Use one of our great how to end a cover letter examples above instead.
"Be confident," they said. "Managers love confidence," they said.
They didn't mean Jethro Bodine confident.
Don't ever imitate this next example:
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If you hire me, I will rock your world like a Falcon Heavy Rocket! |
That's not confident. That's frightening. As in, the manager is picturing you carrying a rubber mallet and wearing a balloon hat.
Remember, a cover letter is a value proposition.
You're not providing value if you're being needy.
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Please, please, please interview me. I guarantee that you will not regret it. |
Wow, right? Nobody wants to hire Henry from Once Upon a Time.
Of course you want to get the manager's attention.
But you want to do it with your amazing strengths and achievements. Not your Kramer-esque antics.
Don't emulate the last of our examples.
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Hey, we all hate cover letters, but we gotta do it, right? So look, just get on to reading my resume so we can put this awful business behind us both! |
Ick, right? You just made a tedious job moreso, while offering nothing anybody wants.
What do all these awful cover letter closing statements have in common? They all highlight your needs rather than the company's.
Pro Tip: Follow up after you send your resume. An email a week later can put you top-of-mind just when it matters most.
Need to know how to email your cover letter and resume? Check out this article: "How to Email Your Resume to Get More Job Offers"
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Here's how to end a cover letter:
Want to know more about how to close a cover letter? Not sure what your closing paragraph should be about? Perhaps you found the best way to end a cover letter? Give us a shout in the comments! We love to help!
Cover letter writing tips—sure to turn any boring letter into something employers want to read.
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Applying for a job via email? You need a perfect email cover letter (No, copy-pasting your regular cover letter will NOT do.) Check out this guide to see an email cover letter sample that gets jobs. Plus, you’ll get an email cover letter template you can adjust and use, tons of expert advice, and actionable cover letter tips.