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What do I include in my closing?

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Summary:

"Writing Your Cover Letter" is a series of short documents that walks you through the creation of a cover letter. Here you can see the information in the "Quick Tips for Cover Letters" and "Preparing to Write a Cover Letter" pages put to use. This page guides you through adapting your experiences to the content in your cover letter and its different sections.

A closing sums up your qualifications and reveals what you plan to do after your readers have receive your application packet (resume, cover letter, etc.)

Here are our recommended tips for closing your cover letter:

  • Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the job position and the organization.
  • Request an interview in some way.
  • Provide contact information.
  • Thank them!
  • Sign your name and print it underneath.

For example:

I am eager to speak with you and discuss my possible contribution to Country Press, as I feel my experiences in communication and customer service will be an asset to the company. I will be in touch with you within a week, and if you need to reach me, you can call 423-512-1143, or email me at anyone@anywhere.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Stating that you will contact the potential employer will cause them to read your application materials with more interest. Therefore, you have a better chance that your materials will not be filed away. By following up, you can achieve three goals:

  • Inform the employers that you are still interested.
  • Prove you can take the initiative to call.
  • Discover where you are in the hiring process.

If you do not feel comfortable informing your readers when you will contact them, you may simply delete that part of the closing. For example:

I am eager to speak with you and discuss my possible contribution to Country Press, as I feel my experiences in communication and customer service will be an asset to the company. Please contact me at 423-512-1143, or email me at anyone@anywhere.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.

If you say you will call, though, do not forget to do so.