- Resume Writing
- Resume Examples
- Cover Letter
- Remote Work
- Famous Resumes
- Try Kickresume
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.
Related Posts
The only cover letter guide you’ll need in 2024 (+examples).
- 13 min read
10 Cover Letter Samples by People Who Got Hired at Volvo, T-Mobile or HubSpot
Share this article, join our newsletter.
Every month, we’ll send you resume advice, job search tips, career hacks and more in pithy, bite-sized chunks. Sounds good?
Explore Jobs
- Jobs Near Me
- Remote Jobs
- Full Time Jobs
- Part Time Jobs
- Entry Level Jobs
- Work From Home Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
- $15 Per Hour Jobs
- $20 Per Hour Jobs
- Hiring Immediately Jobs
- High School Jobs
- H1b Visa Jobs
Explore Careers
- Business And Financial
- Architecture And Engineering
- Computer And Mathematical
Explore Professions
- What They Do
- Certifications
- Demographics
Best Companies
- Health Care
- Fortune 500
Explore Companies
- CEO And Executies
- Resume Builder
- Career Advice
- Explore Majors
- Questions And Answers
- Interview Questions
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
Find a Job You Really Want In
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!).
Your browser does not support the video tag.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating / 5. Vote count:
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
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.
Related posts
Cover Letter Examples for Every Situation
Miss, Mrs., Or Ms.: When To Use Each
When Are Cover Letters Necessary (With Examples)
Dear Sir Or Madam: When To Use It And Alternatives
- Career Advice >
- Cover Letter >
IMAGES
VIDEO