How to End a Cover Letter
A cover letter should end with a short closing paragraph confirming your interest and thanking the reader, followed by the correct UK sign-off: 'Yours sincerely' if you addressed the letter to a named person, or 'Yours faithfully' if you used a general greeting such as 'Dear Hiring Manager'.
What the closing paragraph should do
The closing paragraph is short, usually one to three sentences, and its job is simply to confirm your interest and round the letter off politely.
It is not the place for new information or a long summary of your experience. Save the detail for the middle paragraph, and let the ending be brief and confident.
A good closing paragraph leaves the reader with a clear, positive impression, rather than trailing off or repeating what has already been said.
It is also worth remembering that the closing paragraph is often the last thing a reader sees before deciding whether to move you forward, so it is worth taking a moment to get it right rather than rushing through it once the middle of the letter is done.
What to include in the closing paragraph
Confirm that you are keen to be considered for the role, and thank the reader for taking the time to read your application.
If it is relevant, mention your availability, for example for an interview, or note any dates you are not available if you already know them.
You can also add a brief line inviting further contact, such as offering to answer any questions, though this is optional and should stay short.
If you have anything time-sensitive to mention, such as an upcoming holiday or a start date you already know, the closing paragraph is a sensible place for a brief note, since it keeps that detail near the end where it is easy to spot.
- Thank the reader for their time
- Confirm you would welcome the chance to discuss the role further
- Mention your availability for interview if relevant
- Keep it to one to three sentences
Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully
This is a small but noticeable UK convention. If you addressed the letter to a named person, such as 'Dear Mr Ahmed', close with 'Yours sincerely'.
If you used a general greeting, such as 'Dear Hiring Manager' or 'Dear Sir or Madam', close with 'Yours faithfully' instead.
Getting this the wrong way round is a small error, but it is one that some readers notice, so it is worth checking once your letter is finished.
This rule applies specifically to formal, letter-style cover letters. A short email covering note can end a little more simply, which the following sections cover.
How to format the sign-off
Leave a blank line after your closing paragraph, write 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully' on its own line, then leave a gap of a few lines before typing your full name underneath.
If you are sending a printed or signed letter, sign your name by hand in the gap above your typed name. For an emailed or attached digital letter, your typed name is enough.
There is no need to add 'Kind regards' or other email-style sign-offs to a formal cover letter; keep to the traditional 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully' for this kind of letter.
It can also help to add your phone number underneath your name, particularly if the employer might want to call you rather than reply by email, so they do not have to search back through your CV to find it.
Ending an email cover letter
If your cover letter is written directly in the body of an email rather than as a separate attached document, the same sincerely/faithfully rule still applies, but the letter around it can be a little less formal.
You do not need the full address block or a printed signature; simply end the closing paragraph, add the correct sign-off, and type your name and phone number underneath.
Avoid switching to a casual sign-off such as 'Thanks' or 'Speak soon' for this kind of application, even though it is an email. A UK cover letter, whether emailed or attached, still reads better with a proper sign-off.
Example closing paragraphs
To a named person: 'Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role further and am available for an interview at any time that suits you. Yours sincerely, Priya Shah'
To a general greeting: 'Thank you for considering my application. I am available for an interview whenever convenient and look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Jordan Lee'
Both examples are short, polite, and end with the correct sign-off for how the letter was addressed.
You can adjust the wording slightly to suit your own voice, as long as you keep the same two ingredients: a short thank-you and confirmation of your interest, followed by the matching sign-off.
Mistakes to avoid at the end
Do not mix 'Dear Mr Ahmed' with 'Yours faithfully', or 'Dear Hiring Manager' with 'Yours sincerely'. Match the sign-off to the greeting you used at the top.
Avoid ending on a negative or uncertain note, such as mentioning weaknesses in your application again. Keep the final lines positive and forward-looking.
Do not forget your name underneath the sign-off. It sounds obvious, but it is an easy line to leave out when finishing a letter quickly.
Avoid a long, drawn-out ending that repeats points already made earlier in the letter. A short, confident closing paragraph does more for you than a longer one that starts to ramble.
