If you are a jobseeker polishing your application emails, networking messages, or follow-ups, knowing how and when to use "Best regards" can help you sound professional, polite, and appropriately warm without oversharing. This guide shows simple rules, examples tailored for job hunting, and step-by-step usage so you can end your emails confidently and increase the chances of a positive reply.

What "Best Regards" means and when to use it

"Best regards" is a neutral, professional closing that conveys polite regard and a friendly but not overly familiar tone. It's widely accepted in business correspondence across industries and fits most jobseeker scenarios from application submissions to interview follow-ups and networking outreach.

• Formality level: polite-professional, suitable for unfamiliar contacts and hiring managers.
• Use-cases: application emails, thank-you notes after interviews, informational interview requests, recruiter follow-ups.
• When not to use it: very informal contacts, close colleagues or mentors where "Thanks" or "Warmly" might be better.
• Variations and personalization: pairing with your name, job title, and contact info increases clarity and credibility.
• Cultural considerations: remains safe in many cultures but check company tone and regional norms when available.

How To Use Best Regards In Your Email With Examples - Step by Step

Below is a practical, five-step sequence to choose and implement "Best regards" in jobseeker emails. Follow these steps to match tone, format the signature correctly, and adapt examples for application and follow-up messages.

Step (1): Assess the formality and relationship

Start by deciding how formal the email should be and how well you know the recipient.

If you're emailing a recruiter at a company you've never interacted with, lean formal.

If you have already met the person at a career fair or spoke briefly on the phone, "Best regards" still works but you can add a small personalized line above the closing.

Step (2): Choose "Best regards" when you need neutral professionalism

Select "Best regards" for most job-application and interview follow-ups unless the company tone is casual or the contact is very familiar.

Use it whenever you want to be polite without sounding distant, and when you want the closing to be universally acceptable across industries.

Step (3): Format your signature properly after "Best regards"

Place "Best regards," followed by a line break and then your full name.

Add your phone number and a LinkedIn URL or portfolio link on the next lines if relevant to the application.

Keep the signature compact: name, desired job title or current role, and one contact link are usually enough for initial outreach.

Step (4): Personalize the line above the closing for context

Include a brief reminder or call-to-action before "Best regards" such as "I look forward to discussing this opportunity further" or "Thank you for considering my application."

This helps the recipient immediately understand why you're closing and encourages the next step.

Step (5): Match punctuation and spacing to professional norms

Use a comma after "Best regards" and then a blank line before your name.

Avoid excessive punctuation, emojis, or long sign-offs in job-related emails.

Proofread the entire email for tone and clarity before sending—small mistakes reduce the impact of a well-chosen closing.

What You Need to Remember

This section expands on the step-by-step guide with do's and don'ts, key tips, and the measurable value of using "Best regards" correctly when you're job hunting.

Do:

• Use "Best regards" for most professional communications where a neutral, respectful tone is appropriate.
• Combine it with a concise signature including at least one contact method and your name.
• Tailor the line above the closing to the message purpose—follow-up, thank-you, or next-step request.

Don't:

• Use  "Best regards" with overly casual audiences where "Thanks" or "Cheers" is the norm within that company's culture.
• Overload your signature with unrelated links or long quotes; recruiters prefer brevity.

Key point: Following these steps improves perceived professionalism and clarity—email responses from recruiters and hiring managers are more likely when your message is polished and respectful. In practice, candidates who send clear, well-formatted follow-ups increase their reply rate; even a modest 10–20% improvement in response rate can mean the difference between getting an interview or not in a competitive job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is "Best regards" too formal for an email to a recruiter?
  It's typically appropriate; recruiters expect professional tone. Use it unless the recruiter prefers a casual tone or signs off with something more relaxed.
• Can I shorten it to "Regards" or "Best"?
  Yes, but "Best regards" is slightly warmer. "Regards" is more neutral and "Best" is informal; choose based on how well you know the recipient.
• Should I capitalize 'regards'?
  Standard capitalization is "Best regards" with lowercase 'regards.' Use a comma after the closing and then your name on the next line.
• What if I'm emailing someone in a different country?
  "Best regards" is widely accepted internationally, but when in doubt, mirror the recipient's tone or use "Sincerely" if you need maximum formality.
• How long should my email signature be after 'Best regards'?
  Keep it short: name, relevant title (optional), phone number, and one link to a professional profile or portfolio. Recruiters prefer concise contact details.

Conclusion

Using "Best regards" correctly gives your jobseeker emails a professional, polite finish that works in most hiring and networking contexts.

Start by assessing formality and relationship, format your signature cleanly, and add a brief, action-oriented line above the closing to remind the reader why you're writing.

Try the five-step process in your next application or follow-up and adjust based on the recruiter's tone—small changes in email presentation can noticeably improve response rates and move your job search forward.