How to end a cover letter (with three endings that work)
End with the next step, not a hope. One line saying what you would like to happen, one line on your availability, then your name. 'I would welcome a conversation about the role. I am available weekday mornings.' That is a complete ending, and it is shorter than most.
· 3 min read
The last two lines of a cover letter are the ones people rewrite six times, which is a shame because they carry the least information. The ending has one job: tell the reader what happens next, and make it easy to say yes.
The three endings that work
Pick the one that matches how much you want this job, and change the details.
- Direct: I would welcome a conversation about the role. I am available weekday mornings and can start from 3 November.
- Warm: I would like to talk about the role, and I am happy to send work samples first if that is more useful.
- Specific: You mentioned the reporting rebuild in the advert. I would like to talk about how I would approach it. I am free most afternoons.
Cut these
I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear from you soon. I would be delighted to discuss this opportunity at your earliest convenience. None of them are wrong, and all of them are what everyone else wrote. They also ask for nothing, which means the reader has to decide what to do next.
Get the sign-off right
If you used their name, close with Yours sincerely. If you used Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully. In the US, Kind regards works in both cases and nobody will mind. Then your full name, and a phone number or email on the line below so it does not have to be found elsewhere.
The thing people forget
An ending that names a date is a commitment, and it is also a small act of confidence. Available from 3 November says you have thought about it. Available immediately says you are waiting. Neither is wrong; one reads better.
Questions
How long should the ending be?
Two sentences and your name. If it is a paragraph, you are explaining rather than closing.
Should I say I will follow up?
You can, but then actually do it, about a week later, once. I will follow up next week if I have not heard is fine. It is not fine if it is the third letter you have sent.
Do I need a postscript?
No. It is a technique from direct mail and it reads as a gimmick in a job application unless you have one genuinely striking fact to add.
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