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How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name? Use These 5 Salutations
- Klara Cervenanska ,
- Updated August 1, 2024 6 min read
Struggling with how to address a cover letter without a name ? It's a common challenge that can make even the most confident job seekers pause.
Ideally, you want to personalize your cover letter salutation to show you've done your homework.
But what do you do when that information isn't readily available?
If this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Whether the job ad skipped the contact details or your online searches came up empty, we've got your back.
This article will show you:
- 5 different ways how to address a cover letter without a name
How NOT to address a cover letter without a name
- Strategies to find the hiring manager's name
- Cover letter examples
Table of Contents
Click on a section to skip
- How to find the hiring manager's name?
How to address a cover letter without a name? Use these 5 salutations
Tips for addressing a cover letter with no name, where to place the cover letter address, key takeaways: how to address a cover letter without a name, how to find the hiring manager's name.
It's not a deal-breaker to address your cover letter without a specific name.
However, addressing it to a specific person and including a name can add a personal touch that sets your application apart.
If you've hit a wall in your search for a name, don't give up just yet.
Try these five strategies to uncover the name of the hiring manager:
- Check the job posting again. Sometimes the answer is hidden in plain sight. The bottom of the job listing might include instructions like "Email your resume to [email protected]," which not only gives you the hiring manager's email but also their name.
- Use LinkedIn. Search the company's page and browse through employee profiles. Look for individuals with titles that might indicate they're in charge of hiring, such as "Talent Acquisition Manager" or heads of the department you're applying to. Additionally, consider using a LinkedIn email finder to help you directly reach out to these key contacts via email.
- Search the company website. Most organizations have an 'About Us' or 'Team' page where they list their staff members and their roles. Here, you can often find clues about who might be the hiring manager or at least get the names of potential contacts in the right department.
- Try networking. Reach out to your existing network to see if anyone has connections within the company. Sometimes, a mutual contact can provide you with the name you need.
- Call the company. It might seem a bit old-fashioned, but it's a direct approach that can yield results. A polite phone call inquiring about who is managing the hiring for the position you're interested in can sometimes get you the information you need.
Starting your cover letter with the hiring manager's name is the best way to go. It shows you've looked into the company and are serious about the job.
But, if you've tried and still can't find a name, don't worry.
Here are some ways to address your cover letter when you don't know who will read it:
- Dear Hiring Manager. This straightforward approach is professional and widely accepted. It shows respect for the person reviewing your application.
- Dear [Department] Team. Mentioning the department, like "Dear Marketing Team," shows you know where you want to be and who you're talking to.
- Dear Recruiter. Use this if you're applying through a recruiter or if the job ad was posted by HR. It shows you understand the process.
- Dear Director of [Department]. If you know the department but not the name, this shows you've thought about where you fit in the company.
- Dear Talent Acquisition Team. Perfect for when your application will be reviewed by several people. It shows you understand the process.
These ways help you start your cover letter professionally, even when you can’t find a specific name. They show respect and that you're thoughtful about your application.
When crafting your cover letter, it's just as important to know how NOT to address it.
Steering clear of certain greetings can help maintain the professional tone of your application.
Here are some salutations to avoid :
- To Whom It May Concern. This is overly impersonal and outdated.
- Dear Sir/Madam. This comes across as old-fashioned and can be seen as gender presumptive.
- Hey There. Far too casual for a professional document.
- Hello. While friendly, it lacks the formality a cover letter requires.
- Hi [Company Name]. This is too informal and doesn't address any individual or specific role.
Crafting a cover letter without a specific recipient's name doesn't mean you can skimp on professionalism.
Here's how to ensure your cover letter makes a great impression, even when you're not sure who will read it:
- Stick to formal greetings. Use "Dear Hiring Manager" to start off on the right foot. It’s respectful and works every time. Yes, even if the company culture is really laid back.
- Avoid addressing recruiters. Directly addressing recruiters is generally not advised, unless you have been in contact with one specifically for this role. In such cases, using their name can add a personal touch.
- Target the right department/person. Make every effort to verify you're targeting the right person or department within the company. Otherwise, it can redirect your application to the wrong hands.
- Spell-check the name. Found a name? Double-check the spelling. Getting it wrong can look bad.
- How to Write a Cover Letter with No Experience
- 7 Great Cover Letter Openings
- 8 Great Cover Letter Endings
- The Only Cover Letter Guide You’ll Need in 2024
And what about a resume?
Create a beautiful resume in seconds with the help of AI and our customizable templates.
When setting up your cover letter, start with your name centered at the top. It looks neat and professional. Right below your name, put the company’s address on the left side and your address on the right. This way, both addresses are easy to spot.
Next, add the date below your address. It shows when you sent the letter.
Right under the date, write your greeting, like “Dear Hiring Manager.” This is where your actual letter begins.
We’ve got a sample below to show you how it should look. It’s made with Kickresume's cover letter builder . This tool is great because it gives you a template that’s easy to fill out. It makes sure your cover letter looks good without much effort.
Cover Letter Structure Example
This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.
In wrapping up, let’s quickly recap the 5 best salutations to use for addressing your cover letter when the name is unknown:
- Dear Hiring Manager
- Dear [Department] Team
- Dear Recruiter
- Dear Director of [Department]
- Dear Talent Acquisition Team
But remember, the strength of your cover letter lies in its content .
A well-crafted letter that speaks directly to the job description and showcases your skills can make a significant difference. Personalizing your cover letter as much as possible helps you stand out from the crowd.
For those struggling with writer's block, Kickresume's AI resume builder is an invaluable tool. It can help you write the first draft of your cover letter based on your job title and job description , making personalization easier and more effective.
Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.
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Click here to directly go to the complete cover letter without name sample
How to address a cover letter without a name?
According to a study, every corporate job opening gets roughly 250 resumes , out of which only 3-4 applicants land an interview.
That means if your cover letter feels generic and lacks personal touch, it may end up in the trash.
However, what if there is a circumstance for addressing a cover letter with no name?
Read on to get an insight into the following FAQs:
- How do you write a cover letter if you don't know the hiring manager?
- How to format the cover letter address correctly?
- Who to write a cover letter to without a contact?
- Which method of delivering a cover letter is not appropriate?
- What are the practical ways to find the hiring manager’s name?
- Additional tips to write a cover letter without name
Whom to Address a Cover Letter To?
Who do you address a cover letter to when there is no name?
To understand how to address a cover letter, you need to know to whom to address it.
A cover letter should be addressed in the following ways:
- If the hiring manager’s name is given in the job description, you should always address the cover letter to them.
- If the hiring manager’s email address is not there in the job description, you can address the cover letter to the department manager.
There is no point in sending the cover letter to the CEO or founders because they are not the ones who usually handle the recruitment process.
Also Read: How to address a cover letter?
How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name?
A cover letter for a job is not similar to a letter to a friend.
The purpose of a cover is to impress the hiring manager with your professional expertise to score an interview.
But addressing cover letters with no name may get rejected by the recruiters.
We understand how important it is to know how to write a cover letter without a name as per these statistics.
Also Read: How to write a cover letter?
Here are some steps on how to address a cover letter without a name:
1. 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.
This salutation allows the hiring manager to quickly focus on the main body of the cover letter, instead of rejecting the cover letter right away.
However, the best way to address a cover letter is by personalizing it.
2. Address the Cover Letter to the Team
When in doubt, you can address the whole team so that anyone from the team can receive your cover letter and respond accordingly.
It can be the hiring manager, assistant, or anyone from the department who may interview you during the job application process.
You can phrase it as:
- Dear Recruiting Team
- Dear Project Manager Hiring Team
Also Read: What can a cover letter explain that a résumé cannot?
3. Maintain Professional Approach
Maintain a professional approach and avoid informal phrases or words such as "Hello!", "Good Evening/Morning", or "Hi!"
Keep it simple and professional by using the term, "Dear" followed by the designation.
For Example:
- Dear Hiring Head
- Dear Recruitment Supervisor
4. Do Not Assume Gender or Marital Status
You often know the hiring manager’s name but do not know their gender or marital status.
Assuming someone's gender may seem disrespectful and unprofessional hence you should avoid making such mistakes by keeping it gender-neutral. Avoid the term "Sir" or "Madam" and simply address the recipient as "Dear (Profile)".
The best way to find the hiring manager’s gender is by doing a quick LinkedIn search.
The LinkedIn profile may contain a profile picture wherein you can determine the hiring manager’s gender.
If the hiring manager’s gender is Male, address the hiring manager with “Mr.”.
- “Mr. Xavier,”
If the hiring manager is female, it can be confusing.
As you don’t know the marital status, avoid using Miss. or Mrs. to address the hiring manager. Instead, use a generic “Ms..”
- Dear Ms. Moore
- Dear Ms. Kyle
- Dear Mrs. Lane
- Dear Miss Maximoff
Also Read: How to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn?
5. Include Job Profile and Professional Titles
Are you asking yourself continuously, “How to address a cover letter without a contact name?”
Here is the answer for you.
Instead of using only “ Dear Hiring Manager ,” include the department name or the title of the person who will be reading the cover letter to make it more specific.
- Dear Marketing Department,
- Dear Head of the Sales Department,
- Dear VP of Marketing
By personalizing the addresses in this way, you can grab the hiring manager’s attention to read your resume.
This shows that you are not throwing a rock blindly. You have done your research and have some idea about the company.
Don’t forget to include the hiring manager’s academic title or professional title in the cover letter address.
These types of hyper-personalization can grab the hiring manager’s attention even more and entice them to read your cover letter.
How to Write the Academic Title in the Cover Letter Address?
You can write the academic title in full form.
- Dear Doctor Green,
- Dear Professor Geller,
Alternatively, you can use the abbreviation of the titles as well.
- Dear Dr. Murphy,
- Dear Prof. Goodwin,
- Dear Sgt. Moore,
- Dear Principle Alan,
Where to Place the Cover Letter Address?
Not just the proper format, but the placement of the cover letter address also plays an important role.
- The cover letter heading will go at the top.
- Write the date below the heading.
- Leave one line space and write the hiring manager’s name.
- Write the address of the company.
- Leave one space and then write the position you are applying for.
- Leave one space and then write the salutation.
Best Way to Address a Cover Letter with No Name or Email
Writing an email cover letter address is fundamentally similar but with some tweaks.
If you are sending a digital cover letter, you need to start with a professional subject line.
John Doe: Application for Video Editor Position, Reff: Anthony Moore
Then add your cover letter salutation based on the same rule.
Add a line space and then start your cover letter by adding the necessary information that gives an insight into your professional experience and skills.
Subject Line: John Doe: Application for Project Manager Position, Reff: Charles Moore
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am a 5+ years experienced project management professional…
Appropriate Method of Delivering a Cover Letter
- Dear Hiring Manager
- Dear Hiring Committee
- Dear (department name) Hiring Committee
- Dear Hiring Team
- To the (department name) Hiring Manager
- Dear Team (For smaller companies)
- To the Recruiting Team
Also Read: What are the benefits of using a cover letter builder?
Inappropriate Method of Delivering a Cover Letter
- Dear Sir or Madam — Ancient salutation does not work anymore
- To Whom It May Concern — It is not personalized
- Hello, Hi, or Greetings — Informal salutation
- Happy Sunday! — Casual salutation
- Good Morning — Not practical as you have no idea when they will read the letter
Also Read: How to draft a professional message to the hiring manager?
How to Find the Hiring Manager's Name?
How do you write a cover letter if you don't know the name?
Well, you can simply address your cover letter as, "Dear Hiring Manager". But if you feel the need to add the name of the hiring manager then there are ways to do so.
Finding the hiring manager’s name is the best way to address a cover letter.
So, before calling it quits, let us look at some ways to find the hiring manager’s name.
Read the Job Description Thoroughly
Always read the job description carefully!
Usually, the hiring manager’s name or the title of the reporting manager is given in the job description or under the job description.
For instance, “ The digital marketer will report to the Marketing Manager. ”
You can use the title to then find their name on the company website or LinkedIn.
Sometimes the job description includes the hiring manager’s email address.
For Example: “ Send your cover letter and resume to johndoe@hiration[dot]com" .
You can find the hiring manager’s name in the email address.
Visit the Profile of the Job Publisher
Sites like LinkedIn or AngelList have this unique feature to show you the name of the one who posts the job.
You can go to their profile to see if they are the hiring manager and include their name in the cover letter.
Call the Company Front Desk
Calling the company is the easiest way to find the hiring manager's name. But, job candidates reserve it as the last option.
- Call the company desk
- Tell them that you are applying for a “vacant position” in their company and would like to know the hiring manager’s name.
Here’s an example of the script:
“ Hi, my name is Alex, and I’m currently applying for the video editor position in your company. Would it be possible for you to provide me the name and email id of the hiring manager so that I can address the cover letter properly?”
Do a Quick LinkedIn Search
According to a study, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly . That means, if you search for the hiring manager of a certain company on LinkedIn, there is a high chance for you to find their name.
Many job descriptions specifically tell the reporting manager’s title in the job description. Then you need to address the cover letter to the reporting manager.
The process of finding the reporting manager’s name is similar.
- Go to LinkedIn
- Search the job title and company name
- In the search result, you can find the profile of the designated person
- Sometimes, there might be more than one similar position for a big company so you need to narrow your search by location to find the reporting manager
Also Read : How to Make the Best Use of LinkedIn Search Feature?
Network with People
LinkedIn is the best way to find and connect with people who have connections in the company you are applying for. If you can create a good rapport with these professionals, you can ask for a reference.
It is an easy but time-consuming process.
- Search the company name and see the professionals active on LinkedIn
- Start engaging with their content and leave thoughtful comments
- Send them a personalized connection invite after engaging with their content for a couple of days
- Do not ask for a reference abruptly; instead, start building a rapport with them by sharing helpful industry information, blog, article links, videos, etc.
- If possible, move the connection offline and meet in person
- After you develop a good rapport with the professionals, you can ask for a reference or introduce yourself to the hiring manager
Also Read : How to Connect with People on LinkedIn?
Tips for Addressing a Cover Letter with No Name
Always use a formal address in the cover letter.
Whether you know the hiring manager’s name or not, always keep the address formal in the cover letter. Even if the company has an informal culture, do not use any casual address unless you are a part of the organization.
- Dear Ms. Lane,
- Dear Prof. Luther,
- Dear Ms. Ann,
- Hello Maya,
- Greetings Max,
Avoid Using “To Whom It May Concern”
This salutation is too generic and does not address anyone at all; however, according to a survey, 17% of hiring managers prefer this salutation over others .
But the problem is 83% of hiring managers don’t prefer it.
So we suggest that you avoid it altogether.
Avoid Addressing the Cover Letter to the Recruiters
A recruiter’s job is to sort the resumes based on skills and experience and pass them to the hiring managers. They don’t generally read the cover letter.
So, it’s a waste of opportunity if you address the cover letter to the recruiter.
Instead, always address the cover letter to the hiring manager.
Ensure That You Are Addressing the Cover Letter to the Right Person
Online information is not updated regularly. Often, the concerned persons leave the job, but their email id is still there on the website.
So, who to address cover letter to if unknown? Or you are unsure? It is best to acresully research the hiring manager’s name and crosscheck if you have any doubts by calling the company directly.
Do Not Mess up the Hiring Manager’s Name
There is a saying that “The first impression is the last impression.”
Try to make an excellent first impression by writing the hiring manager’s name using the correct spelling.
Don’t Stress Too Much
If you have the relevant skills and experience for a job, addressing a cover letter to the wrong person might not be a big deal. So, if you can’t find the hiring manager’s name and wondering how to address a cover letter without a name, just write “Dear Hiring Manager.”
Make Sure the Cover Letter is Short and Easy to Read
You should not make the cover letter more than 400-500 words long. It will make it difficult to read.
A short and crisp cover letter will intrigue the hiring managers as compared to a long one.
Also Read: How long should a cover letter be?
Cover Letter Without Name Sample
Hiration cover letter builder.
Create a polished, professional cover letter in minutes with an AI-powered tool that helps you create a personalized cover letter based on the job description.
It comes with the following features:
- Option to save unlimited cover letters
- Intuitive next text suggestion
- 15+ cover letter designs
- Full rich-text editor
- Unlimited PDF downloads
- 30+ pre-filled cover letter templates
- 1-click design change
- A sharable link
- LIVE cover letter editor
FAQs on "How to Address a Cover Letter Without Name?"
With that, we have answered all of your questions on “how to address a cover letter without a name?”.
Addressing a cover letter to an unknown person should not be difficult if you can keep some points in mind regrading how to go about in this situation. Here are a few FAQs that will help you gain a quick recap:
Q. How to address a cover letter to an unknown person?
A. In cases where you are wondering how to address a cover letter without name, you can opt for "Dear Hiring Manager," or "Dear {Company Name} Recruiting Team,".
Q. Who to address cover letter to with no contact?
A. When addressing a cover letter without a specific contact, it's best to use a generic but professional greeting such as "Dear {Company Name} Recruiting Team" or "Dear Hiring Team." This shows that you have taken the time to tailor your application to the company while acknowledging that you don't have a specific contact person.
Hiration provides you with a personalized 360-degree ChatGPT-powered career service platform for all your professional needs - from building a shortlist-worthy resume and cover letter to optimizing your LinkedIn profile, preparing for interviews, and more!
For any queries or concerns, feel free to drop a mail at support{@}hiration.com
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