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How to End a Cover Letter

by Jonathan Tijani

You can also read this article in German, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Italian and Portuguese.

When you apply for a job, there’s always space for you to attach a cover letter. And you should: It may be the only document the hiring manager reads.

When you’re applying for a job, you’re among a whole lot of applicants. Your goal is clear: You want to get the job. As long as your qualifications match the position, you—or at least the documents you provided—advance to the next round of the hiring process. It is now that your cover letter can make or break your application. It should be a standalone source of information that, on its own, blows the potential employer's mind. The reason is simple:

Let’s say 100 people apply for the job. Of those, 30 don’t meet some sort of objective criteria, such as experience or the required educational degree, and are excluded. That means the hiring manager still has 70 applications. They can’t invite them all to a personal interview. Maybe some additional information from the resume excludes another ten. For the remaining 60, the cover letter will be the only document the hiring manager has time to read before deciding whether or not to include you in the next round. Obviously, every single part of your letter matters. However, the final paragraph needs to be the strongest: It's the last thing the hiring manager will read, and it will leave a lasting impression.

In this post, I'm going to show you how to nail that last part of your cover letter and land the job (or at least the interview!) you're after.

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

How to Write the Perfect Closing Paragraph

 

For maximum effect, make sure your closing paragraph

  • sums up your strengths. In a clear and concise manner, talk about how your qualifications and previous experiences will add value to the company you want to work for.
  • sounds both polite and confident. This is really a no-brainer, but make absolutely sure that you come off as a competent professional who anyone would enjoy working with.
  • expresses gratitude. Hiring managers are busy people, so you definitely want to include a “thank you for your time” in the closing paragraph.

Examples of Good Cover Letter Closings

 

While you should always aim to sound professional, there are several different ways to achieve that with your closing paragraph. Here are just a couple of examples:

  1. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about my qualifications and ways that I can contribute to the company.

This option comes from MIT Career Advising & Professional Development. You can use it to succinctly reiterate how your qualifications and experiences make you the perfect fit for the role.

  1. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how my experience and enthusiasm will benefit your company.

Taken from Emily Gibson. You can use it to highlight your positive attitude and relevant previous positions, especially if you don't have exactly the qualifications the company is looking for.

  1. I am very keen to undertake this role and can start at your earliest convenience.

This option comes from LetterCV. You can use it to let the hiring manager know that you're available right away, giving you the edge in situations where a company is looking to hire someone as quickly as possible.

What You Shouldn’t Do

 

Here are a couple of common mistakes to avoid when crafting your perfect cover letter:

  • Don't add or restate your contact information in the closing paragraph. That belongs on the letterhead, in your CV, and also in your email signature, provided you applied via email. You only have so much space in the closing paragraph. Use it wisely!
  • Resist the urge to immediately hit “send” after you've finished what you think is your best cover letter to date. Go grab a cup of coffee, come back, and proofread carefully. You're bound to find some typos. Ideally, ask a grammar fanatic to read through your letter for you. Two sets of eyes are better than one!
  • Obviously, you shouldn't lie. But you also shouldn't exaggerate; i.e., if you have beginner Excel skills, don't call this “expertise.”
  • Try not to get sidetracked. Once again, you only have limited space. Don't mention qualifications or experiences that are irrelevant to the position you're applying for.
  • Match the tone used in the job posting. If it sounds formal, so should you. If it doesn't, then by all means, rock on, dude 🤘. It’s a form of mirroring and it can be very effective, showing that you can connect with the people at the company.
Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

Tips on Managing Application Documents

 

Hunting for a new job is stressful enough as it is. But messy and/or large application documents can make the situation so much worse and give off the wrong impression. Fortunately, Smallpdf lets you order, combine, and compress your documents so that you're always putting your best foot forward.

  1. Go to our Merge PDF tool.
  2. Upload your application documents.
  3. Arrange your files and pages so that the most important documents appear first.
  4. Merge your documents.
  5. Instead of downloading your documents directly, click “Compress” to make the merged file smaller.
  6. Download your email-ready application document.
  7. GO GET 'EM!
Guest Writer
Jonathan Tijani
Guest Writer