Closing paragraphs and sign-offs

End with a short closing paragraph that thanks the reader, restates your interest in one line and invites the next step, followed by a professional sign-off and your full name.

A good closing paragraph has two or three sentences:

• Thanks: "Thank you for considering my application."
• Interest and fit: "I would welcome the chance to bring my experience in payroll to your finance team."
• Next step: "I am available for an interview at your convenience and can be reached on +971 50 123 4567."

Then the sign-off:
"Kind regards,
Ayesha Rahman"

Keep the closing short. It should not introduce new examples or repeat the whole letter. Avoid phrases that sound pushy, such as "I will call you on Monday to arrange an interview", or uncertain, such as "I hope you might consider me". A calm, confident ending works best.

A good closing is short, polite and forward-looking. Here are fictional examples for different situations:

• General: "Thank you for taking the time to read my application. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience in retail operations could support your new stores."
• Graduate: "Thank you for considering my application. I am keen to begin my career in your graduate programme and would be glad to discuss my studies and internship at an interview."
• Experienced professional: "I would be pleased to discuss how my background in supplier management could help your procurement team meet its goals. Thank you for your consideration."
• Shift-based role: "I am available for morning, evening and weekend shifts and can start within one week. Thank you for considering my application."
• Senior role: "I would value a conversation about your plans for regional expansion and how my experience could contribute. Thank you for your time."

Choose one, then adapt the wording to your situation. Each example thanks the reader, connects to the role and invites the next step in two or three sentences.

"Kind regards," "Best regards," and "Sincerely," are all safe, professional choices. Pick one that suits the tone of the employer and your region.

Common sign-offs:

• "Kind regards," widely used in the UK, Gulf, India, Australia and international business.
• "Best regards," similar, slightly more neutral, common worldwide.
• "Sincerely," or "Yours sincerely," more formal, common in the US and in formal letters.
• "Yours faithfully," a traditional UK form used when you do not know the reader's name.

Sign-offs to avoid in a cover letter:

• "Cheers," "Thanks!," "Take care," which are too casual.
• "Love," "XOXO," or emojis.
• "Your humble servant" or other old-fashioned forms.

Follow the sign-off with a comma and your full name on the next line. In a printed letter, leave space for your signature between them. Whatever you choose, be consistent with the tone of your greeting: "Dear Ms Gomez" pairs naturally with "Kind regards" or "Yours sincerely".

All three are acceptable. "Sincerely" is slightly more formal and common in the US; "Kind regards" and "Best regards" are popular in the UK, Europe, the Gulf, India and international companies.

How to choose:

• Very formal employer, such as a law firm or government body: "Yours sincerely" or "Sincerely".
• Most businesses: "Kind regards" or "Best regards".
• Match regional norms where you know them.

None of these will cost you an interview. What matters more is the content above it and spelling your name correctly below it.

In traditional British usage, "Yours faithfully" goes with "Dear Sir or Madam" (when you do not know the name), and "Yours sincerely" goes with a named greeting such as "Dear Mr Ali". Many UK and Commonwealth employers still notice this convention.

Quick guide:

• "Dear Sir or Madam," → "Yours faithfully,"
• "Dear Mrs Clarke," → "Yours sincerely,"
• "Dear Hiring Manager," → "Yours sincerely," or "Kind regards," are both commonly used.

In the US, "Yours faithfully" is rarely used; "Sincerely" is standard. If you are unsure, "Kind regards" is acceptable in almost any context.

It is better not to. "Thanks" and "Cheers" are casual and more suited to quick emails with colleagues. For a first contact with an employer, use a professional sign-off.

Better options:

• "Kind regards,"
• "Best regards,"
• "Thank you for your consideration," followed by "Sincerely,"

If you want to thank the reader, do it in the final sentence of the letter, then use a standard sign-off:
"Thank you for reviewing my application.

Kind regards,
Samuel Mensah"

It is acceptable in many emails, but slightly short and casual for a formal cover letter. "Best regards" or "Kind regards" sounds more complete and professional.

When "Best" may be fine:

• A short email exchange with a recruiter after the first contact.
• A company with a clearly informal tone.

For the cover letter itself, especially one attached as a PDF, choose a fuller sign-off. Small choices like this add up to a polished overall impression.

It is a common, acceptable phrase, but it is very familiar. You can use it, or make the closing slightly more specific and active.

Alternatives:

• "I would welcome the chance to discuss the role with you."
• "I would be glad to talk about how my experience could support your team."
• "I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my application in more detail."

Avoid demanding versions such as "I expect to hear from you soon". If you use "I look forward to hearing from you", keep the rest of the closing specific so the letter does not end on a cliché.

Invite the next step politely and leave the decision with the employer. A call to action should show readiness, not pressure.

Polite calls to action:

• "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application at an interview."
• "I am available to meet at a time that suits you."
• "I would be happy to provide samples of my work if helpful."

Pushy versions to avoid:

• "I will call your office next Tuesday to arrange a meeting."
• "Please contact me immediately."
• "I look forward to our interview." (assumes you have one)

One clear, polite sentence is enough.

Usually not. Promising to call or email on a specific date can seem pushy, especially in large organisations with set hiring processes. It is better to invite contact and then follow up later if it seems appropriate.

If you want to mention it, keep it soft:
"If it would be helpful, I would be happy to follow up next week to answer any questions."

In most cases, a closing like "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application" is enough. Decide on follow-up timing separately, based on the employer's process and any dates in the advert.

State it briefly and flexibly in the closing paragraph, adding any important limits only if needed.

Examples:

• "I am available for an interview at your convenience."
• "I am available for interviews in person or by video call."
• "I am available for interviews on weekdays after 4 pm, or at any time with a day's notice."
• "I will be in Riyadh from 10 to 20 March and could meet in person during that time."

Keep it short. If you have major limitations, mention them clearly but politely, so the employer can plan.

State it plainly in the closing paragraph, as it can be a real advantage when an employer needs someone quickly.

Examples:

• "I am available to start immediately."
• "I can start as soon as needed and am available for interviews this week."
• "I have completed my studies and am available to start full-time from 1 July."

There is no need to explain why you are available unless the reason is helpful, such as finishing a contract or graduating. If there are brief limits, such as a pre-booked week of travel, you can mention them at the interview stage.

Thank them once, simply, in the closing paragraph. A short, sincere thank-you is polite without being excessive.

Examples:

• "Thank you for considering my application."
• "Thank you for your time and for reviewing my application."
• "Thank you for considering me for the Junior Architect role."

Avoid thanking them several times, or using phrases like "I am eternally grateful for this opportunity". One clear thank-you, followed by your sign-off, is enough.

Yes, briefly. One sentence that restates your interest and your main strength leaves the reader with a clear final impression.

Examples:

• "I am very interested in joining your audit team and confident that my experience in manufacturing audits would be useful."
• "Working on your community health programme would be a meaningful next step in my nursing career."
• "I would be glad to bring my experience in hotel guest relations to your new resort."

Do not repeat full examples from the body; just remind the reader of your fit in one line.

Only in one short phrase. The closing is not the place to repeat your whole case; the reader has just read it. A brief reminder of your main strength is enough.

Compare:

• Too much: "To summarise, I have five years of experience, a degree in finance, CPA certification, strong Excel skills and excellent communication."
• Better: "I believe my five years in financial planning would let me contribute quickly to your team, and I would welcome the chance to discuss it."

Then add your thanks and sign-off. A short ending is more confident than a long recap.

Avoid phrases that sound desperate, arrogant, unsure or overly formal. The ending should sound calm and professional.

Phrases to avoid:

• Desperate: "I really need this job" or "Please give me a chance."
• Arrogant: "I know I am the best candidate you will find."
• Unsure: "I hope I am not wasting your time" or "Sorry for the long letter."
• Pushy: "I expect to hear from you by Friday."
• Old-fashioned: "I remain your obedient servant" or "Thanking you in anticipation."

Replace them with a simple thank-you, a line about your fit and a polite invitation to discuss the role.

It is common, but it is polite and widely accepted, so it will not hurt you. If you want a fresher ending, make the sentence slightly more specific.

Options:

• Standard: "Thank you for your time and consideration."
• More specific: "Thank you for considering my application for the Lab Technician role."
• With a next step: "Thank you for your time. I would welcome the chance to discuss how I could support your laboratory team."

Clichés are a problem when the whole letter is generic. A specific letter can end with a familiar thank-you without any issue.

Two or three sentences is ideal. The closing should thank the reader, briefly restate your interest and invite a next step, then stop.

Example:
"Thank you for considering my application. I would be glad to bring my experience in medical billing to your clinic and to discuss the role at an interview."

If your closing is longer than four sentences, check whether you are repeating points from the body or adding new information that belongs earlier in the letter.

It is optional. Your contact details should already be in the header, so repeating them is not necessary. Some people add the phone number in the closing to make it easy to act on.

Example:
"I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application and can be reached on +974 5555 1234 or by email."

If you include it, make sure it matches the header exactly. In an email application, put your phone number in your email signature instead.

Say briefly where you are, that you can interview by video, and when you could travel or start. This removes doubt for an employer hiring in another country.

Examples:

• "I am currently based in Manila and available for video interviews at times that suit your team in Dubai."
• "I am available for interviews by video call and could travel to Doha for a final interview if needed."
• "I will be relocating to Muscat in April and am available for online interviews until then."

Keep the tone confident and practical. Mention only facts you are sure of, such as confirmed travel dates.

Use your full name, the same as in your header and on your resume. It is the professional standard and makes your application easy to match to your documents.

Example:
"Kind regards,
Priya Nair"

Tips:

• Do not add "Mr" or "Ms" before your own name.
• Use the same spelling and order of names on all documents.
• If people usually call you by a shorter name, you can mention it in the header, for example "Mohammed (Mo) Saeed", but keep it consistent.

It is optional. A short professional title can reinforce your profile, but avoid long lists of letters or titles.

Acceptable examples:
"Kind regards,
Khalid Mahmood
Chartered Accountant"

"Best regards,
Dr Sneha Iyer"

Tips:

• Use a title only if it is accurate and relevant.
• If your header already shows your title, you do not need to repeat it.
• Do not use your current employer's name or logo as if it were an official company letter.

It is acceptable in very formal settings, such as government, military or some diplomatic roles, but it can feel too formal for most job applications.

When it fits:

• Letters to senior officials.
• Applications in organisations with a strong formal culture.

For most employers, "Kind regards," "Best regards," or "Sincerely," is more natural. If you are unsure, look at how the employer writes in its own adverts or emails, and choose a sign-off that matches.

It is acceptable but slightly more personal than "Kind regards". It suits employers in caring or people-focused fields, such as education, healthcare or non-profits, and friendly companies.

When to use something more neutral:

• Formal industries, such as banking or law.
• When you have had no previous contact with the reader.

"Kind regards" is the safer middle ground. If you have already exchanged warm messages with the recruiter, "Warm regards" can feel natural.

It is acceptable but can sound a little abrupt. "Kind regards" or "Best regards" sounds warmer and more complete, which suits a first contact with an employer.

"Regards" is more common in short work emails between people who already know each other. For a cover letter, adding one word makes the ending more polished without changing its meaning.

Example:
"Kind regards,
Hassan Darwish"