How to end a cover letter in a positive and impactful way

A well-written cover letter, with a strong ending paragraph, goes a long way in showcasing your skills and competence to the reader and convincing them that you’re the right person for the job. So, how do you end a cover letter to create a positive, lasting impact on the hiring manager?

In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the:

• Importance of a cover letter closing

• Key components of the last paragraph of a cover letter

• Common mistakes in the closing paragraph

What does the last paragraph in a cover letter deal with?

Think of your cover letter as an essay. Just like every essay has an introduction, main body, and conclusion, the last paragraph in your cover letter ties up everything in a neat bow.

With this paragraph, you can briefly summarize your value proposition, show appreciation to the hiring manager for reviewing your cover letter, and display your eagerness to learn more about the job opportunity at hand. 

In essence, the last paragraph of the cover letter is your chance to showcase your confidence, enthusiasm, and gratitude.

Confidence

All of the skills and core competencies you mention in your cover letter may lose some value if you’re not able to convince the hiring manager that you can apply them to benefit the company. Your cover letter’s last paragraph should help you confidently reiterate these skills. 

For example, if you’ve mentioned in your cover letter that you were able to boost your company’s sales by 30% in 2021, the last paragraph should reiterate this point by saying, “I believe my ability to drive revenue and accelerate business growth will significantly contribute toward your company’s goals and objectives.”

Enthusiasm

No matter how qualified or capable you are, your cover letter (especially the closing paragraph) should focus on your enthusiasm for the job you’re applying to. In many cases, the key distinguishing factor between two candidates with the same qualifications and experience is the enthusiasm and motivation they show in their cover letters.

For example, a good closing statement in your cover letter can be, “I look forward to the opportunity to apply my skills and experience to this project and improve your organization’s bottom line.”

Gratitude

Recruiters and hiring managers go through several resumes and cover letters in a day, so it pays to thank them for reading through your documents. And what better way to show your appreciation than the final paragraph in your cover letter?

A little bit of gratitude goes a long way in making a lasting impression. When wrapping up your cover letter, add a line of appreciation at the end. Something like, “Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to discussing how my skills will prove useful for your organization.”

How do you close a cover letter?

Whether you’ve written a cover letter or are just getting started, here’s how you can properly conclude the document so as to pique the reader’s interest in your capabilities.

Summarize your strengths

You’ve already talked about your key qualifications and accomplishments in your cover letter’s main body. Instead of rehashing the same content, try to conclude your cover letter by focusing on how your credentials will benefit the organization. 

Be polite and stay confident

Instead of using a generic statement, such as “I look forward to hearing from you”, try to be creative while staying polite and confident. Politely request an interview by indicating a willingness to discuss how your skills and qualifications will be a good fit for the job you’re applying to. 

Thank the reader for their time

As mentioned earlier, you need to thank the recruiter or hiring manager for taking out the time to review your application. Also, choose a professional closing salutation, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

How NOT to end a cover letter: common mistakes to avoid

When it comes to securing a job, your cover letter’s closing statement could be a real deal breaker. Here are a few mistakes you need to avoid when concluding this crucial document.

Sounding desperate

You may want that job badly, but there’s no need to show your desperation. Since you’ve already made a case in your favor, you don’t want to ruin it by showing the hiring manager how badly you need this job. Avoid using statements like, “Please do consider me for this role. I will be grateful to you.”

Being unprofessional or vague

When writing a cover letter, you would want to talk about specific accomplishments from your past and how they relate to the job you’re applying to. Instead of being vague or making open-ended statements, try to be specific. For example, the phrase “I look forward to taking your organization to the next level” neither adds any value to your cover letter nor does it specify how you will benefit the organization.

Similarly, don’t make your closing statement too friendly or unprofessional, even if you personally know the hiring manager. A good example of this would be using the phrase “Faithfully yours” instead of “Sincerely” as the closing salutation in your cover letter.

Coming across as overconfident

Hiring managers are always on the lookout for charismatic individuals, but there’s a fine line between being confident and being cocky. The closing statement in your cover letter should indicate an enthusiasm to learn more about the job opportunity, instead of presenting you as the greatest thing that will ever happen to the organization. 

Avoid using cliched overstatements, such as “With me, you’ll find a competent and capable individual who can stay strong in the face of adversity, battle any storm, and come out victorious against all odds.” 

Making grammatical errors

A grammatical error sticks out like a sore thumb. Even if your cover letter is extremely articulate and well-written, a minor grammatical error is likely to irk the reader. Such errors do not necessarily denote unprofessionalism on your part, but they do convey a message to the reader that you probably aren’t too good at paying attention to detail. 

Key takeaways

1. The last paragraph of your cover letter helps you connect your key accomplishments to the job you’re applying to and show gratitude to the hiring manager for reviewing your application.

2. When concluding your cover letter, keep the tone consistent with the overall tone of voice of your cover letter. Be professional and polite and show your enthusiasm for the job.

3. Choose a professional closing salutation for your cover letter, even if you know the recruiter or hiring manager personally.