The greeting is the first thing the recipient will see when they read your cover letter. Therefore, it’s important for you to convey the appropriate level of familiarity and respect.
Cover Letter Greetings to Avoid
Using casual greetings, such as “Hello” and “Hi” can make your letter seem unprofessional. Reserve these casual greetings for personal email and refrain from using them in your cover letter unless you are very familiar with the recipient. Such greetings are simply too informal—not the most professional way to begin the conversation if you’re looking to land a job. “Hi” is appropriate only in casual email correspondence with people you personally know well. For example, if you’re checking in with a close friend to find out if they’ve heard of a job opening at their company. “Hello” is appropriate only in email correspondence. It should be used primarily for people you know well but can be used in very casual circumstances. Beginning your correspondence “To Whom It May Concern,” on the other hand, may seem too impersonal and make the hiring manager believe you do not care enough to find out whom you should be addressing. The only time to use “To Whom It May Concern” as a cover letter greeting is when you simply cannot find out the specific person to whom you are writing. You should, of course, make every effort to find the name of a contact in the specific department in which you are interested. When making an inquiry with a company for unadvertised openings, this greeting may be most appropriate.
When You Have a Contact Person
The following is a list of letter salutation examples that are appropriate for cover letters and other employment-related correspondence when you have the name of a contact.
Dear Mr. JonesDear Ms. BrownDear Riley DoeDear Dr. HavenDear Professor Lawrence
When You Don’t Have a Contact Person
If this information was not provided in the job announcement and you cannot find it on the company’s web site, then you may be able to call the company, ask to be forwarded to their Human Resources department (if they have one), explain that you will be applying for a job there, and ask for the name of their hiring manager. LinkedIn is also a great tool to find out the name of the hiring manager. You can do a search for the company you are applying to with one or two keywords that would describe the person hiring for the position. Scroll down the list until you find the person who fits the criteria. This approach may help you pinpoint the appropriate contact person. Many companies don’t list a contact person when they post jobs, because they have a team of hiring staff who sort through cover letters and resumes before passing them to the hiring manager for the appropriate department. They prefer to leave the hiring manager anonymous until he or she contacts you for an interview. An organization may also not want to disclose who the hiring manager is to avoid emails and phone calls from applicants, particularly if they anticipate receiving a large number of applications from potential job candidates. So, don’t worry if you can’t find someone to address your letter to. It will be forwarded to the correct department and recipient.
Examples of General Salutations
When using a general salutation, capitalize the nouns.
Dear Hiring Manager To Whom It May Concern Dear Human Resources Manager Dear Sir or Madam Dear [Company Name] Recruiter
When to Use ‘Dear’ in a Cover Letter
It is appropriate to use “Dear” in most circumstances, such as when the potential employer is someone you know well, or they are a business acquaintance. Follow these tips on choosing the right greeting:
For people who you know well on a first-name basis, it’s okay to use their first name only. For a business acquaintance or associate, use their first name if you met them more than once and addressed them by their first name.For potential employers, use Mr., Ms. or Dr., unless you have been instructed otherwise. Even if you know a woman is married, it is safer to use “Ms.” as opposed to “Mrs.,” as the latter may be offensive in certain circumstances.If you are unsure of the appropriate greeting, play it safe and use Mr./Ms./Dr. [last name] or Mr./Ms./Dr. [first name, last name].
How to Write a Cover Letter Salutation
Standard business correspondence formatting requires that, after providing your own contact information and the date of your letter, you then write down your contact person’s name, the company’s name, and the company’s address. The formal salutation/greeting comes next: “Dear [Contact Person’s name].” If you have a contact person for your letter, include their personal title and name in the salutation (i.e. “Dear Mr. Franklin”). If you are unsure of the reader’s gender, simply state their full name and avoid the personal title (i.e. “Dear Jamie Smith”). Follow the salutation with a colon or comma, leave one line blank, and then start the first paragraph of your letter on the following line.
Concluding Your Letter
Your letter greeting has the potential to improve your chances of getting an interview. To enhance your candidacy, make sure your cover letter maintains a professional appearance and offers relevant information, including your qualifications for the position. Choose the appropriate closing and always thank the reader for their time and consideration.
Cover Letter Example
This is a cover letter salutation example. Download the salutation cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.
Sending Your Letter
When you are sending your letter via email, include the reason you are writing in the subject line of your message: September 1, 2018 Brett LeeNurse ManagerSt. Ansgar Hospital123 Business Rd.Business City, NY 54321 Dear Mr. Lee: I am writing to apply for the position of nursing attendant, as advertised on the St. Ansgar Hospital website. As a trained nursing assistant who is fulfilled by working with patients and staff, and by helping people, I would be a great asset to your nursing staff. I completed my nurse assistant program in June of 20XX, and I also have a nurse attendant certificate from the state of New York. I have been working part-time at Dr. Ellen Mueller’s primary care office in Smithtown, NY, for the past year, so I am experienced in working with patients. In addition, I am diligent about my responsibilities, and I have a flexible schedule which enables me to work almost any hours that you need. I’ve attached my resume so that you can review my education and experience. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Signature (hard copy letter) Alex Applicant List yourcontact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter: FirstName LastNameYour EmailYour Phone Number
