How do you address a cover letter without name consulting?
Asked by: Prof. Hermina Shields | Last update: November 9, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (53 votes)
Even if you do not know the name of the recipient, you should still address your cover letter in a formal and courteous manner. Avoid using casual or informal salutations such as “Hi” or “Hello” and use a more appropriate salutation such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Selection Committee”.
How do I address a cover letter to an unknown recipient?
If you do not know who will receive your cover letter, you can use a general salutation such as ``Dear Hiring Manager'' or ``To Whom It May Concern.'' While addressing the letter to a specific person is ideal, using a generic salutation is acceptable when the recipient's name is unknown.
Who do I address a cover letter to when there is no name?
Address the Cover Letter with “Dear Hiring Manager”
It is the most common way to address a hiring manager with no name and hiring managers prefer this salutation over no salutation at all.
How do you address a cover letter to a company without a name?
Instead, use "Dear Hiring Manager", "Dear Recruiter", or "Dear [Job Title] Team". These salutations show that you are addressing the person or the group of people who are responsible for hiring, and that you have some knowledge of the role and the company.
How do I address someone in a letter without a name?
If you cannot find the name and title of the recipient, you can use a generic salutation instead. A generic salutation is a general way of addressing a person or a group of people, such as "Dear Sir or Madam", "To Whom It May Concern", or "Dear Hiring Manager".
Who to Address Your Cover Letter To
How do I address a letter to an unknown recipient?
- EXAMPLE: Dear [Job Title],
- EXAMPLE: Dear Hiring Manager,
- EXAMPLE: Dear HR Manager,
- AVOID: Dear ...,
Is to whom it may concern rude?
But “To Whom It May Concern” cover letters are almost universally considered unacceptable today. In fact, “To Whom It May Concern” may even be considered rude since resources for finding the name of a contact person are readily available. This greeting may signal that you can't be bothered to find out who to contact.
Do you address a cover letter to the recruiter?
If you're unable to find the name of the hiring manager and you don't want to use "Dear Hiring Manager," here are a few alternatives that you may consider: Dear Recruiter or Recruiting Manager: Addressing your cover letter to a recruiter is appropriate if you know a recruiter is handling the hiring process.
What is the best greeting for a cover letter?
Use a generic salutation, such as Dear Hiring Manager, Dear Recruiting Manager or Dear Human Resources Professional. (Avoid To Whom It May Concern; it is antiquated.) Another option is to write Greetings, which is somewhat informal but polite.
How do you address a cover letter without dear?
- Use the recipient's name or job title. One way to start a letter without using Dear Sir or Madam is to address the recipient by their name or job title. ...
- Address the department or company name. ...
- Choose a different greeting.
How to address a letter instead of to whom it may concern?
- Dear [Name] If you address the recipient by name, it shows you have gone the extra mile to identify the right person to address your letter to. ...
- Dear [Department] ...
- Dear [Role/Title] ...
- Dear [Company/Team Name]
What are good phrases for cover letters?
- I am writing to. ---- apply. ask. request for the position of Editorial Assistant which was. ...
- I am currently. ---- worked. employed. used by a Market Research company as a research assistant, but am keen to. ...
- As you will notice on the. ---- included. mentioned. ...
- I would be. ---- available. around.
What if there is no address for cover letter?
The bottom line: There's no compelling reason to put the company's address on your letter. Cover letters without addresses will not be penalized and adding an address introduces room for an unforced error.
How do I find out who to address a cover letter to?
Ideally, you should address your cover letter to the hiring manager responsible for filling the position. If the job posting doesn't provide a name, do some research by checking the company's website or LinkedIn, or by calling the company directly to ask for the appropriate contact.
How to start a cover letter if you don t know the name of the person?
If you can't find the name of the hiring manager, you can use a polite and appropriate generic salutation, such as Dear Hiring Manager or Dear Recruiter. It is best to avoid salutations that are too vague, like To Whom It May Concern, or too informal, such as Hi or Hey. These can give off an unprofessional impression.
What should you do if you don't know the name of the recipient?
Use Generic Salutations Wisely
Generic salutations can be effective when used appropriately. "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern" are formal options for situations where you're unsure of the recipient's gender or position.
How do you address an unknown cover letter?
Using the salutation "Dear Hiring Manager" is the optimal choice for many hiring professionals when a name is unavailable. It's better to use this general salutation rather than not including one at all, as it indicates respect for cultural norms and professionalism.
What is a good opening line for a cover letter?
When unsure how to open a cover letter, a good rule of thumb is to steer clear of clichés or overused opening lines. Instead, start by highlighting a passion or accomplishment relevant to the company or role you're applying for. You could also mention something about the company that caught your attention.
What should you avoid using as a salutation in a cover letter?
- Dear Sir or Madam,
- To Whom it May Concern,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
- Hey/Hello,
- Greetings,
How to address a letter without a name?
- Using 'Dear Hiring Manager' ...
- Addressing the letter to the hiring team. ...
- Use a formal address in a cover letter. ...
- Do not assume gender or marital status. ...
- Use job profiles and processional titles. ...
- Avoid using 'To whom it may concern'
Do job recruiters read cover letters?
“According to the 2016 Recruiter Nation Report by recruitment software provider Jobvite, 74 percent of recruiters do not consider cover letters important in their decision to hire an applicant.
Can you start a cover letter with hello?
The Greeting. The greeting is how you open your cover letter, and it's your first opportunity to make a great impression. Since cover letters are formal pieces of business communication, avoid casual greetings such as “hi” or “hello”, and stick with “Dear…”.
What is the alternative to whom it may concern in a cover letter?
- Dear [Name of the head of the department for which you're applying] ...
- Dear [Name of department for which you're applying] ...
- Dear [Name of recruiter] ...
- Dear [Whatever this company calls their recruiting team or department] ...
- Dear Recruiter/Hiring Manager.
How long should a cover letter be?
A cover letter should be between a half and a full page long. Generally, you should aim for a cover letter word count of 250 to 400 words and about three to six paragraphs. A short, concise cover letter serves as a written introduction to a prospective employer and outlines why you're the best fit for the job.
Is it bad to start a cover letter with to whom it may concern?
Starting a cover letter with "To whom it may concern" may be suitable when you're not sure who to address your correspondence to. Sometimes, though, using this phrase in your introduction letter may make you seem overly formal or unprepared.