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The Secret Formula to Cover Letter Success

Paragraph 4: End with immense gratitude and an action item

Now that you’ve charmed and impressed the hiring manager, you need to end strongly and proactively. Always end with an action item. Say how you’ll follow up and how you very much look forward to it. Be sure to be gracious and thank the reader for his time.

In the example below, the writer tells the hiring manager when she will be available and asks for permission to contact. Now, asking for permission to contact is merely a formality. Hopefully, the hiring manager will contact you once he has read your captivating and amazing cover letter.

However, if he doesn’t, try to follow up in an email to the hiring manager. Do not call him. With so many applicants, hiring managers find phone calls from potential applicants highly annoying. Also, if the job listing specifically says to not contact the hiring managers, then don’t!

Your last paragraph can pretty much look the same for all of your cover letters — but only this last paragraph! You always want to customize your cover letter for the specific job listing otherwise.

I will be in Sunnyvale the week of March 21, and with your permission, I would like to contact you in the next few weeks to see if we can meet in person. For your review, I have enclosed a resume. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

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