How to Sign a Cover Letter

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A cover letter signature is the final section of your letter where you include your sign-off, name, and contact details.

The way you sign a cover letter can shape the final impression you leave on a hiring manager. A clear, professional closing helps reinforce your application and shows attention to detail.

This includes choosing the right way to end your cover letter so it leaves a strong final impression.

Whether you’re submitting your cover letter by email or in print, using the right sign-off, avoiding casual language, and including the correct details ensures your letter ends on a strong, professional note.

What to Include in a Cover Letter Signature

• Use a professional sign-off such as Sincerely or Best regards
• Write your full name underneath
• For email applications, include your contact details and LinkedIn profile or relevant links
• Avoid casual phrases like “Cheers” or “Take care”

Choosing how to sign off a cover letter depends on a few factors, such as the format of your email. In general, it’s best to remain formal and professional. You can be positive and even friendly, but avoid casual language such as “thanks”, “cheers”, or “take care”.

How to Sign Off a Cover Letter Email

Emailing job applications, including cover letters and resumes, is now the standard. Even when submitting your application electronically, you still need a proper sign-off to close your cover letter professionally.

When emailing a cover letter, use a professional sign-off such as sincerely, sincerely yours, best regards, or most sincerely, followed by your full name written underneath. This helps reinforce a professional final impression.

Best Cover Letter Sign-Offs

These are the most commonly accepted professional sign-offs

• Sincerely
• Best regards
• Kind regards
• Respectfully
• Yours sincerely

Do you need to sign a cover letter electronically?

You do not need to sign a cover letter by hand when submitting it electronically. Simply type your full name in the same font as the rest of the letter.

Avoid using italics or alternative fonts, as this can look unprofessional.

Cover Letter Closing Signature Examples

Here are some examples of how to sign a cover letter electronically. The first example contains the very least you should include (name, email address, and phone number). The third is the ideal example of how to sign a cover letter via email.

Example 1:

Sincerely yours,

Mary Washington
marywashington@emailaddress.com
70997654

Example 2:

Best regards,

Mary Washington
17 Cherry Tree Lane,
Portland, Oregon, 97035.
marywashington@emailaddress.com
70997654

Example 3:

Best regards,

Mary Washington
17 Cherry Tree Lane,
Portland, Oregon, 97035.
marywashington@emailaddress.com
70997654
www.linkedin.com/marywashington
www.personalwebsite.com

Examples of Bad Signatures on Cover Letters

Including this part of a cover letter is essential, and doing it well can give your chances of being hired a serious boost. However, there are things you should avoid writing in your cover letter signature. In a cover letter, you as an applicant have a chance to show off some of your personality, but that does not mean you can be too casual.

Here are some examples of words you should avoid writing when you are signing off your cover letter:

• Best wishes
• Cheers
• Fondly
• Love
• Yours
• Smiles
• Take it easy
• Affectionately
• Take care

It is also a good idea not to use abbreviations of words, such as “thx”. Also, erase any messages that are automatically included by your cell phone. Delete messages such as “Sent from my x phone” before sending.

How To Sign a Paper Cover Letter

Though it is becoming less common, you may need to either mail a cover letter or upload one to a website. In these cases, you should leave enough space between the sign-off and your full name to include a handwritten signature. After printing your cover letter, you should sign your name using black ink.

For written cover letters, you should use a formal business cover letter format which includes your contact details and those of the employer at the top of the page, as well as a heading and salutation. As you include your contact details at the top, there is no need to include them with your signature as you would in an email.

Though the importance of signing a cover letter shouldn’t be underestimated, how to end a cover letter is only one part of your application. Read more cover letter advice for information on writing the other parts of your cover letter and also spend time researching how to write a resume. Using resume templates is an effective way of producing professional-looking results quickly.

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