How to End a Cover Letter?

Are you looking for a way to make your job application stand out from the crowd? 

When written correctly, a great cover letter is a call to action. It lets hiring managers know that you are the person they have been looking for. After reading this document, the hiring manager should be inspired to reach out to you and arrange an interview. However, if there are a lot of other candidates, you need to make sure that it is particularly compelling. 

So, let’s take a look at how to end a cover letter so that you will always be contacted for an interview. 

About The Closing Paragraph 

The main objective of a cover letter is to convince the hiring manager to schedule an interview. When you apply for any job, there are sure to be several other candidates. Only a select number will move onto the interview stage.

While your resume presents your skills and experience in a professional way, the cover letter personalizes it. This is your chance to connect with the hiring manager and highlight your key attributes. You can also choose details that you believe will make you stand out from the crowd. 

What is the closing paragraph for?

The way that you end this document is particularly important. The closing paragraph is essentially a summary of the information in the other paragraphs. It should show that you are genuinely interested in the job and are a particularly strong candidate. 

You need to make sure that the closing paragraph is polite, brief, and tailored to the job post. The tone needs to match the rest of the documents and be both professional and polite. If you are serious about securing an interview, make sure you don’t overlook this section of the cover letter. 

What Should The Closing Paragraph Include?

The closing paragraph typically consists of between three and five sentences. This may seem like a very small amount of space to convince a hiring manager to contact you. Let’s take a look at the elements that should be included in this final paragraph. 

Be Confident

You need to be convinced that you’re the right person for the job when creating this document. If you do a good job, the hiring manager will also have the same conviction. Of course, you will also need to back up this belief with concrete examples of your skills and experience. 

Show Your Enthusiasm

Hiring managers actively seek candidates who are passionate about the job and the company. This indicates that you will be more likely to stick with the company and even advance within it. This saves time from mistakenly scheduling interviews for people who aren’t really interested in the job. 

Highlight Your Value

The final paragraph of your cover letter should remind the hiring manager of the value you have to offer. The best way to do this is by carefully studying the job post. Try to identify the main challenges of the job and how you will overcome them effectively.

The skills that you will use to overcome these challenges directly relate to your value to the company. You could briefly provide an example of a time you have done this in the past. This shows that you have the skills and experience to help the company thrive and will deliver significant value. 

Put The Company’s Needs First

It is essential to highlight what you can do for the company and how you align with the company’s goals. Most successful companies have a clear set of goals that drive them. Identifying these goals will help you to understand how you can contribute to the company.

You can briefly outline how your role in the company will help these goals to be realized. This is sure to spark the interest of the hiring manager and make them want to know more. This will be a good point to expand on in the interview and can help you land the job. 

Outline Your Goals and Set Expectations

Try to imagine yourself doing the job and think about what you would like to achieve. You can then create a sentence or two that concisely reflects this. Talking about your goals within the role will highlight your value and show that you’re a strong candidate. 

It is a good idea to make a polite inquiry about the next steps in the process. It should be clear that you are genuinely interested in securing an interview. You need to politely request an interview rather than demanding one.

Express Your Appreciation

Hiring managers usually have stacks of cover letters to read each week. Showing your appreciation for their time can help leave them with a positive impression. Everyone wants to be recognized for their hard work, and this is a good way to stand out from the crowd. 

Sign Off Professionally

The sign-off is the final impression you leave the hiring manager with. It serves the same function as the handshake at the end of the interview you’re trying to secure. The way you close the document should be both polite and professional to leave a strong impression. 

Examples of strong closings include:

Tips For Creating A Strong Closing Paragraph 

The last thing you want is to create a generic cover letter that will instantly be forgotten. You need to make sure this document sticks in the mind of the hiring manager. Here are some ways to make your closing paragraph as impactful and memorable as possible. 

Tailor It

This is a good time to show your research into the company. You need to include at least one element that reveals the research you’ve done. This detail will not go unnoticed and is sure to impress the hiring manager.

This statement should reference the specific skills and experience that are needed to do the job well. It will hint at how you will do the job if you are given the opportunity. This will help the hiring manager to picture you in the role. 

Be Realistically Confident

While confidence can be a real advantage, overconfidence may seem like a crutch that masks uncertainty. To avoid this, make sure you focus on the qualities you actually possess. Highlight the professional areas you feel you excel in and the proven results you have enjoyed.

Remain Professional

This is a formal document, and the tone throughout needs to be professional. This highlights the fact that you take the opportunity seriously and are ready to rise to the challenge. It will also demonstrate your excellent written and communication skills. Therefore, it is important to take the time to choose your words carefully. 

Address the Hiring Manager’s Needs

You need to put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and focus on their needs. The hiring manager has the difficult task of choosing a handful of candidates to contact for an interview. Make their job easier for them by showing that you are interested in attending an interview.

Many applicants are afraid of appearing to be too pushy if they ask for an interview. Instead, they skirt around the issue and never manage to come to the point. This can make the hiring manager doubt whether they actually want to attend an interview.

Don’t Waste the Hiring Manager’s Time…

If selected candidates refuse to attend an interview, the hiring manager will have to start the selection process again. This will ultimately result in a lot of wasted time. Showing that you are ready to attend the interview and start work saves the hiring manager time and trouble.

Use Repetition to Create an Impact 

Most hiring managers skim-read cover letters and search for certain keywords. This often means that they can miss important details. Repeating key points help to make sure they are not overlooked.

Repeating particular phrases also helps to make your sentences flow and have a stronger impact. Repetition helps to create rhythm and will make your document easier to read. When trying to recall details of your application, you can be sure these details will come to mind. 

Proofread Carefully

All your hard work will be wasted if your document is full of grammar and spelling mistakes. You need to proofread the whole thing carefully with a keen eye for errors. You should also look for unnecessary words and phrases that can be eliminated.

Proofreading your own work can be tricky, as you often overlook basic errors. Your mind tends to fill in the blanks and reads what you intended to say instead of what’s actually there. If possible, ask a friend or relative to proofread your cover letter before you send it. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid

There are certain elements that can harm your chances of securing an interview. Experienced hiring managers will see these as red flags and are likely to reject your application. Here are some mistakes that you should avoid at all costs while creating this document. 

Appearing Desperate

Although you should express enthusiasm, you need to avoid coming across as desperate. You need to show that you recognize your own value and are confident that you will secure a job. Any hints of desperation are likely to indicate that you’re unhirable. 

Seeming Arrogant or Boastful

There is often a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Acting as if the job belongs to you or you’re going to save the company is likely to be off-putting. The aim is to walk the line between confidence and humility. 

Using Slang or Familiar Language

Unless you know the hiring manager personally, don’t write as though they’re your buddy. You need to make sure your language is respectful and professional at all times. The trick is finding a way to inject a little of your personality into it at the same time. 

Forgetting to Format

Structure is important when it comes to official documents. There is a particular format that the hiring manager expects to see. If you’re not sure how to format this document, you can use online templates to guide you. For more information, check out our Best Resume Format Guide.

Forgetting about the Closing

You need to make sure this document has a strong ending that inspires the hiring manager to contact you. The final paragraph is your chance to summarize your strongest skills and features. Make sure this paragraph is memorable and helps you stand out from the crowd.

More Advice On Writing Your Resume

We’ve put together a superb selection of guides to help you, such as the best Resume Accomplishments Examples, the Best Professional Resume Writing Services, and the Best Free Resume Builders, along with the Best Font for a Resume, the Best Resume Introduction Examples, and the Top Hard Skills to Put on a Resume.

Next, we move on to How To Tailor Your Resume To A Specific Job Description, how to list Work Experience on a Resume, the Best Opening Statement Examples For Resumes, as well as How to List Cum Laude on a Resume, How Many Years You Should Go Back On A Resume, and Does A Resume Need An Objective in 2023?

Lastly, let’s take a look at the Most Important Skills To Put On A Resume, and How Long Should A Resume Be, followed by the difference between CV vs Resume, and finally, How To Show A Promotion On Your Resume.

Final Thoughts

Remember that it is very important to create a compelling cover letter for each role you apply for. This is your chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and create a positive impression. You can also use this document to provide extra information that will help you secure an interview.

The way you end your resume is particularly important. This is the final impression you will leave the reader with, and it needs careful consideration. The final paragraph needs to tie all the information together and show why you’re the perfect candidate for the role.

Good luck with the job hunt!