Modern cover letters run the gamut from informal emails sent to hiring managers at companies you are familiar with to formal missives provided to large corporations that receive hundreds of applicants for every position. Write better cover letters by tailoring the closing to reflect your personality, the appropriate level of formality and the type of industry to which you are applying. Properly closing a cover letter requires careful attention to each of its constituent parts.
The Final Paragraph
The final paragraph of your cover letter is your last chance to express who you are to the hiring manager. This is the place to be memorable in a good way. Make a bold statement about your value to the company. Show your enthusiasm while demonstrating your knowledge of the company culture by including a specific example about how you will contribute to its success. Share something you love about the company. All these things work together to show the hiring manager that you are passionate about joining his team.
Although it is important to be upbeat and positive, you can write better cover letters by avoiding any statements that sound arrogant or patronizing. Never discuss salary or benefits or other ways that you will profit from the position. Instead, focus on how you want to help the company. In an informal cover letter, the final paragraph is an acceptable place to mention a reference or contact that you have in the company. If you don't have one, you can also mention a former employee as long as he left the company in good standing.
The Last Sentence
Make your last sentence a call to action. Explicitly state how you will contact the company and then follow through. Let your personality and the tone of the letter guide your wording, but be specific. A vague statement about keeping in touch shows a lack of commitment on your part. Craft better cover letters by including clear-cut statements explaining when and how you will make the next contact.
The Closing
The actual letter closing is the short phrase you include just before your signature. Acceptable formal cover letter closings include "Sincerely" and "Respectfully." Always capitalize the closing and follow it with a comma. "Regards" and "Thanks" are suitable for less formal cover letters, with "Best Regards" being a popular modern choice. Above all, choose a closing that matches your personality and the tone you wish to convey. Writing better cover letters requires avoiding slang or closings that are too casual, even if the letter has an informal tone.
The Signature
After the closing, sign your name in pen with your complete name in print below it. The final touch for better cover letters is including your phone number and email after your name. This makes your information easily accessible to the hiring manager when he is ready to contact you.
Write better cover letters by paying attention to your closing. Proper cover letter closings include strong final paragraphs with specific calls to action and closing phrases that match the tone of the letter. Remember to include your contact details along with your signature, and you can look forward to closing the deal.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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