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10 Best Ways To Address A Cover Letter Without A Name
- Cover Letter Format
- Salutation and Greeting
- Who To Address When Unknown
- How To Start A Cover Letter
- How To End A Cover Letter
- Best Cover Letter Font And Size
- Cover Letter Spacing
- Cover Letter Length
- Key Elements Of A Cover Letter
- How To Write An Address
- Official Letter Format
- Cover Letter Opening
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Cover letters consume a fair amount of time in the application process, as the more personalized they are, the better. With the majority of the application process being automated and online now, the hiring manager ’s name can end up being an unknown quantity. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name and don’t know what to do, then this article will help you. If the hiring manager’s name is unknown, then you have a few options. The best, of course, is to find out what their name is and address the letter to them. But if that all fails, then there are proper ways to address a cover letter to an unknown recipient. Key Takeaways: Try to find the name of the person you are addressing using the job listing, company website, or contacting the company. Don’t assume someone’s martial status and avoid using “Miss” and “Mrs.” whenever possible. Avoid assuming gender, even if you do know the person’s name. Use a professional and appropriate greeting and avoid sounding like you would when addressing your friend. In This Article Skip to section How to address a cover letter if you don’t know the recipient’s name Why is addressing a cover letter correctly important? How to find out who to address your cover letter to Example cover letter Addressing a cover letter FAQ Final Thoughts References Expert Opinion Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More How to address a cover letter if you don’t know the recipient’s name
There are a few rules to follow when addressing a cover letter: be professional, polite, and concise. That means that even if you don’t know the recipient’s name, you want to maintain the same professional tone in the letter and avoid overly stilted language or being too informal.
Here are some guidelines to follow when addressing a cover letter:
If you can find out the hiring manager’s name, do so. That means that you should spend time looking over the company website, checking LinkedIn profiles, or even calling the company.
Don’t assume the hiring manager’s gender. This is especially true when you don’t know their name. But even if you do find out the person’s name, avoid gendered language until you’re sure how they identify. Some people will put preferred pronouns in email signatures or on their LinkedIn profiles, so it might be a good idea to check.
Maintain a professional tone. There’s a common style and formality to business letters. Make sure that your cover letter has that tone. it’s different than a letter you’d write to a friend, and being too familiar with your writing can be off-putting to hiring managers.
Avoid assuming the person’s title. This applies to both marital status, such as using Mrs. or Miss, but also whether they have a doctorate. In general, unless this is someone you know, avoid using either Mrs. or Miss, because it can cause offense, even if used correctly.
Make sure you include a salutation. Even if you don’t know who you’re addressing, leaving one off entirely can end up either looking like a mistake or that you didn’t personalize the letter at all.
Be as specific as possible. Even if you can’t find out exactly who the hiring manager is, make sure to be specific in your greeting. Use Dear Marketing Hiring Manager rather than just Dear Hiring Manager if you’re applying for a marketing position.
Also, while HR is most often in charge of hiring, it’s best not to just address the HR department unless you know that they’re the ones who’ll be in charge of your application. Not every business has HR take care of all hiring tasks, especially if it’s a smaller company.
Examples of how to address a cover letter:
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Hiring Manager
Dear Talent Acquisition Team
Dear [Company Name] HR Department
Dear [Company name] Hiring Manager
Dear Human Resources Manager
Dear Human Resources Department
Dear [Company Name] Recruiter
Dear [Department Name] Hiring Manager
Dear [Department Name] Hiring Team
Here are some examples of how NOT to address a cover letter:
Good Morning
To Whom It May Concern
Dear Mrs. Smith
Hi Sebastian!
Hey Sales Team
Why is addressing a cover letter correctly important?
Addressing a cover letter correctly shows professionalism, diligence, and politeness. All of these are good for an employee to have and show you to be someone that’s worth investing further time in. While finding the proper person to address can be a chore, it helps you in several ways because:
Hiring managers get myriad applications. Remember that you aren’t the only one applying for a job. While you want to make your application stand out from the crowd if you can, you don’t want to stand out in a negative way — that’ll ensure you don’t get the job.
Individual people ultimately decide who gets hired. While the application process can feel faceless, formless, and impersonal, there are actual people at these companies that sort through resumes . And people form first impressions.
It shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile. Think about what the admired traits are in employees. If you’re willing to put in the additional effort or work to get a superior result, then that’s the sort of employee companies want to have to work for them.
It’s less impersonal. Of course the hiring process is somewhat impersonal. You’re petitioning people you don’t know and that don’t know you. But if you address a letter to Dear Hiring Manager, it doesn’t have the same effect as addressing it directly to the person.
How to find out who to address your cover letter to
Despite the importance of properly addressing a cover letter, not every company makes it easy for applicants to do. If the hiring manager’s name isn’t immediately apparent, then there are some other options open to you before addressing the cover letter to an unknown recipient.
Check the job listing. One simple way is to look at the application and double-check that the hiring manager’s name isn’t on the main listing. Sometimes the information isn’t on the application, but rather on the job listing. If it isn’t there you will then have to start doing a little bit more investigative work.
Check LinkedIn. You can check on LinkedIn and on the company’s website to find the hiring manager’s name. If nothing shows up, then you will have to start contacting someone at the company to find out.
Contact the company. Now, this does not mean you should contact some random person at the company who lists the company’s name on their profile. Find the contact information for the HR department, for someone who works in HR, or for the head of the department you are trying to work in and ask them if they know the name of the hiring manager for your application.
Sometimes, they will not give this information, simply so that the hiring manager can stay anonymous and not get a billion emails from applicants. This situation is more likely to happen with massive companies like Google or Apple.
If they give you a name, use it. If they don’t, then you will have to then move on to the next step of figuring out how to address a cover letter to an unknown person.
Example cover letter
Dear Sales Team Hiring Manager, As a fan of XYZ Inc.’s impressive technology products, I was ecstatic to see an opening for a Junior Sales Representative . After reading the job description, I am confident that I’m the right person for the job. With 4 years of experience selling cloud computing products and services, I would bring a unique perspective to the role. In my current role as a Sales Representative at ABC Corp., I’ve created technology presentations for all my clients, driving interest in new product sales and subscriptions by 84% year-over-year. Additionally, I’ve reduced the cost of customer acquisition by over 15% and consistently topped sales quotas by over 20% since starting at ABC. I know XYZ has amazing products and services that I would be honored to promote and sell. With my background in cloud computing, I would be able to hit the ground running and communicate your product’s benefits to customers. Please contact me if you have any further questions about my application or resume. I look forward to speaking with the Sales Team more about the role in an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Malia Freeman [email protected] 555-777-9999
Addressing a cover letter FAQ
How do you address a cover letter to an unknown recipient?
Address your cover letter to “Hiring Manager” or “[Department Name] Hiring Manager.” Always do whatever you can to try to find the name of the person you’re addressing, but if you can’t, address it to the generic position or team you’re trying to get in contact with.
Is To Whom It May Concern rude?
Yes, To Whom It May Concern can be considered rude. Not everyone will agree that it’s rude, but many people do find it rude, or at least impersonal and lazy on a cover letter, so it’s best to avoid this greeting
Is it okay to use Dear Hiring Manager?
Yes, it is okay to use Dear Hiring Manager as a cover letter greeting. It’s always best to address your cover letter to someone by name if you can find it, but many times you can’t. In this case, “Dear Hiring Manager,” is an appropriate greeting.
Who is the best person to address a cover letter to?
The best person to address a cover letter to would be the hiring manager. This should be their first and last name if you know it, but “dear hiring manager” is acceptable if you are unsure of their name.
The rule of thumb was to use titles such as Mr. or Ms. However, it’s also important not to assume the hiring manager’s gender. If you don’t know the person’s preferred pronouns, then it’s best to just use their full name.
If you don’t know the recipient’s name, how would you close the letter?
Sincerely or Regards are considered formal, professional closings for letters. If you’re writing a cover letter to someone you don’t know, it’s best to remain professional and polite. A sign-off such as best wishes will likely come off as too familiar.
Final Thoughts
If you are applying for a job and writing a cover letter, make sure you take the time to look over all the details in the cover letter. Not taking the time to look for the recipient of a cover letter or using a professional greeting will look lazy. Your greeting is a small part of the cover letter. However, it’s one of the most important pieces because it’s the first thing the hiring managers will read. Using an appropriate generic greeting will set the tone for your cover letter, making you sound professional and willing to put in the effort to make your cover letter flawless. Now that you know how to address a cover letter if the reader is the recipient is unknown, check out our other articles about cover letters and the job application process.
Applying for jobs can be stressful and tedious, but taking the time to learn tips on how to improve your application will help put you one step closer to landing your dream job .
Georgetown – Writing Cover Letters for Government
Expert Opinion
- Who To Address Cover Letter To If Unknown
Vimari Roman Career Strategist Coach Be Productive Coaching
My recommendation is to always send a customized cover letter when applying for any job and when in doubt, address your letter to the hiring team using “Dear Hiring Team.” In most cases the application will end up on a recruiter’s or an HR Business Partner’s desk, and if they like your cover letter and resume, then they will pass it on to the hiring manager or the hiring team. By addressing your letter to the “team” you’ve got everyone covered and they will all feel as if the letter was written directly to them.
Expert Tip To Find Contact Infoformation
Sally Mikhail Founder of Recruit Petra LLC
Use LinkedIn to find out who to address your cover letter to you with a search of company personnel on the company careers page . However, if you are sending out a cover letter to an unknown hiring influence, you can address it to “Dear Hiring Team” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”
Who To Address Cover Letter To If Unknown Tip
Chelsea Jay Certified Resume Writer and Career Coach
Make sure that you review the company’s “About Me” or “Staff” to view their leaders which often lists direct managers, HR professionals, and executive leadership staff. If you know what department you’ll be working for, I recommend addressing the leader of that department. If the website is for a larger organization and does not list individual staff, I recommend utilizing LinkedIn. You can do a quick company search and find employees who are currently working there. You may even find the original posting with the hiring manager’s name attached.
If you cannot find the hiring manager’s name based on the posting, I recommend taking time to learn more about the specific department you’ll be working in. For example, if you discover that you’ll be working in the Communications department, the next step would be to learn about the specific team you’ll be part of. If you find out that it is the Public Affairs team, I encourage you to address “Public Affairs Team” at the beginning of your cover letter.
If you’re up for a bolder approach that is sure to get attention, address someone on the executive leadership team. I recommend addressing the President or Vice President of the organization (they should be easy to find since they are often the “face” of the organization). Of course, address them with a salutation along with their first name, last name, and title. In the beginning of the cover letter make sure to distinguish what department and position you are applying for. For example, Dear Mr. John Smith, President.
As an applicant, your goal is to stand out and showcase that you are informed and willing to go the extra mile (by doing research!).
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Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.
Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.
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How to address a cover letter without a name
Writing a cover letter and tailoring it to the job you’re applying for can be tricky, especially when you can’t find the details of whom you’re meant to address it to. This seemingly small stumbling block could pause your progress. What to do?
In this article, we cover best practices and approaches to address a cover letter when the recipient is unknown. Here are some tips for success and mistakes to avoid when addressing your cover letter without a name.
Whom to address a cover letter to if no name is provided?
How to start a cover letter without a name
How to find the right name for your cover letter
Cover letter with no name – examples
Whom to address a cover letter to if no name is provided?
The ideal scenario is to address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager by name. This approach shows you care about the role enough to find out who your boss would be, and helps personalise your letter. It’s a great way to capture their attention.
But what happens when a job posting doesn’t include the name of the hiring manager or contact details? It may be a hurdle, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make a strong, personable connection. In these cases, different approaches can be used to maintain professionalism while still making a personal impact.
How to start a cover letter without a name
Starting your cover letter to an unknown recipient is important, to help you create a professional and engaging tone. Here are some ways you can open your letter, ensuring it captures attention and conveys respect.
Using ‘Dear Hiring Manager’
‘ Dear Hiring Manager ’ is a universally accepted option when the name of the recipient is unknown. (The hiring manager is usually the person you’d be reporting to in the role.) This approach holds a high level of professionalism and formality, which is appropriate for most types of job applications . It ensures your cover letter is likely to be directed to the correct person or at least to someone with hiring responsibilities.
Addressing the letter to the hiring team
Choosing to address your cover letter to the department's hiring team shows you have taken the time to research the company and understand its structure. A ‘hiring team’ generally includes the direct manager of the vacant position, plus senior colleagues or teammates you’d be working most closely with. To tailor your letter effectively, look for the specific department name either in the job posting or on the company website. This shows a proactive approach to your job application.
Use a formal address in a cover letter
Using a formal address such as ‘ Dear Recruitment Officer ’ is less common but still works if the job posting provides a generic title. It’s important to use the exact title mentioned to keep it professional and ensure the letter reflects the specific role or department outlined in the description.
Do not assume gender or marital status
It’s important to avoid assuming the gender or marital status of the recipient. Phrases like ‘ Dear Sir/Madam ’ are outdated and can be seen as impersonal. Use titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss only if you are certain of the recipient’s preferred title, which is rarely the case when the name is unknown.
Use job profiles and processional titles
Addressing your cover letter to a job profile or professional title, such as ‘ Dear Head of Sales, ’ can be effective if the job posting clearly mentions a specific department or senior position. This approach is less formal than other options but can be a great way to add personalisation.
Avoid using ‘To whom it may concern’
The phrase ‘ To Whom It May Concern ’ is considered outdated and impersonal. Because it’s generic, it could be seen as a lack of effort on your behalf, in trying to find the right contact person. You should always try to avoid making your application appear generic , as it’s less likely to capture the attention of the hiring manager. Instead, opt for more personalised alternatives.
Avoid addressing your cover letter to recruiters
Directly addressing your cover letter to recruiters is generally not recommended unless requested, as they may not be the decision-makers for the position you’re applying for. Focus instead on addressing it to either the hiring manager or the relevant team that is directly involved with the role.
Address the cover letter to the right person
It’s important to make every effort to address your cover letter to the most relevant person or team. This shows you’re really invested in the role and that you’ve carried out thorough research and increases your chances of your application being reviewed by the right person. Use all available resources, including the job posting, company website and professional networking platforms, to find the best recipient for your cover letter.
How to find the right name for your cover letter
Finding the right name to address in your cover letter can have a big impact and create a personal connection. Here are some methods for researching this crucial piece of information to ensure your application is as targeted and effective as possible.
Read the job description thoroughly
The job description is the most likely place you’ll find clues for whom you should address in your cover letter. Take a close look to see if it mentions the name or title of the hiring manager. Contact details such as an email or a direct line might be provided, particularly in smaller companies, offering you insight into how to personalise your cover letter.
Visit the profile of the job publisher
Many job boards allow you to view the profile of the company that posted the job. This company profile can sometimes reveal the name of the hiring manager or relevant department responsible for the listing. Accessing this information directly from the job board can be a simple yet effective way to personalise your cover letter and show your attention to detail skills. The company’s official website might also have an Our Team page where you can see employees’ names and roles.
Do a quick search
If in doubt… search online. Use the company name along with the job title or department as search terms, and consider using quotation marks around your search phrase to narrow down the results more accurately. This can help uncover the name of the hiring manager or relevant contacts posted on the company’s official website or professional networking sites.
Network with people in the company
If you have connections at the company , now’s the time to reach out for some inside information about the hiring process and the name of the hiring manager. This helps when it comes to personalising your cover letter and also provides insights into the company culture and other job-related details.
Cover letter with no name – examples
Writing a cover letter without a name can still be effective with the right approach. Here are some examples to give you an idea.
Subject: Application for Project Coordinator Position
Dear Hiring Manager,
I’m writing to express my interest in the project coordinator position advertised on your website. With a proven track record in project management and a passion for continuous improvement, I believe I am a strong candidate for this role. My experience at XYZ Corp, where I led cross-functional teams to deliver projects within strict deadlines and budgets, aligns closely with the responsibilities of this position.
I am particularly drawn to this opportunity because of your company's commitment to innovation and quality, values I have upheld throughout my career. I am eager to bring my expertise in project planning and stakeholder engagement to your team, contributing to successful project outcomes and organisational growth.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background, skills, and enthusiasm align with the goals of your team.
Kind regards,
Takeshi Sugi
Subject: Enthusiastic Candidate for Marketing Coordinator Position
Dear marketing coordinator hiring team,
I’m excited to submit my application for the marketing coordinator role advertised on SEEK. With a solid background in digital marketing and a deep understanding of communication strategies, I’m ready to contribute to your department’s goals.
At my current workplace, I successfully increased our social media engagement by over 50% through targeted content campaigns and data-driven decision-making. I am keen to bring my skills in social media strategy and analytics to your company, supporting your efforts to expand your digital footprint and engage with a broader audience.
I admire your team's innovative approach to marketing and am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute in such a dynamic role. I am confident that my proactive style and commitment to excellence would be a great match for your company.
Thank you for considering my application. I hope to discuss in further detail how I can contribute to your team.
Warmest regards,
Ilana Mauboy
The way you address your cover letter can shape the first impression you make. By thoughtfully choosing how to address your cover letter when you don't know the name –whether to a hiring manager, a team, or a department – you set a professional tone right from the start. By following the methods outlined in this guide and dedicating the time to write a well-written and personalised cover letter, you can help your application stand out. Remember: every part of your job application is an opportunity to demonstrate your attention to detail and conscientiousness.
If the job posting mentions a department, should I address the cover letter to that department or the hiring manager within it?
Address the cover letter to the hiring manager within that department if possible. If the manager's name is not available, addressing it to the department (e.g., Dear Marketing Department ) is a good alternative.
Should I address my cover letter to the recruiter who contacted me about the job?
Yes, if a recruiter contacted you directly about the job opportunity, you should address the cover letter to them. This personalises your response and helps in maintaining continuity in communication.
Where can I find the company website or social media profiles to potentially discover the hiring manager's name?
Company websites are typically the best source for accurate and up-to-date information. Look for sections like About Us, Team or Staff . Social media platforms are also great for researching company staff, especially for finding out the names and titles of department heads or hiring managers.
Is it appropriate to reach out to someone at the company to ask about the hiring manager?
Yes, it is appropriate to reach out to someone at the company, especially if you have a professional connection. This can be done through professional networking sites. Ensure your approach is courteous and professional, expressing genuine interest in learning more about the role and the company.
If I can't find the hiring manager’s name anywhere, which approach from this guide should I prioritise?
If you can’t find the hiring manager's name, the safest and most professional approach is to use Dear Hiring Manager . This is widely accepted and ensures that your cover letter is appropriately directed without making incorrect assumptions about personal details.
How can I ensure my cover letter opening is strong even without a personalised salutation?
To ensure a strong opening for your cover letter without a personalised salutation, focus on an introductory paragraph that highlights your enthusiasm for the position and your most relevant qualifications, and how they align with the job’s requirements. Starting with a strong statement about your professional background or a notable achievement can capture the reader's attention.
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