Should I Use Dear In A Cover Letter?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The most professional salutation for a is

“Dear.”

Even an email should start with “Dear,” followed by the hiring manager's name and a colon or comma.

Should you use dear in a cover letter?


Never use

“To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear or Sir or Madam”—nothing could be more generic (not to mention archaic). Your cover letter could be the first opportunity you have to make an impression on the hiring manager, so make sure you show that you did your company research.

How do you address someone in a cover letter?

Use a professional address in your cover letter

If you know the name of the person you're sending your cover letter to, address the letter to them using either

their full name or ‘Mr. ‘ or ‘Ms. ‘ followed by their first and last name

. If they have a professional or academic title, use that in place of ‘Mr.

Is it bad to not address a cover letter?

1)

Don't Address Your Cover Letter

to the Recruiter

For many job openings, the first person you need to impress is a corporate recruiter. That doesn't mean you should address your cover letter to them. “Recruiters do not read ,” a long-time healthcare recruiter told Jobscan.

What is the proper greeting for a cover letter?

The most professional salutation for a cover letter is

“Dear.”

Even an email cover letter should start with “Dear,” followed by the hiring manager's name and a colon or comma.

How do you greet an unknown in a cover letter?

To address a cover letter without a name, use some variation of, “

Dear Software Team Hiring Manager

.” You can also use, “Dear Hiring Manager” if the addressee really is unknown. Remember that “To Whom It May Concern” is an old-fashioned salutation for cover letters.

Can I write Dear hiring manager on a cover letter?

In short, you

can use ‘Dear Hiring Manager'

on a job-related cover letter. This generic salutation is appropriate in most situations and is more professional than beginning your cover letter with ‘Hello' or ‘Hi There.

Does cover letter need address?


No, cover letters do not need an address

. Traditionally, cover letters were sent in the mail or submitted in person, so they included both the applicant's and the recipient's addresses.

What to say instead of to whom it may concern?

  • Dear (hiring manager's name).
  • Dear (recruiting manager's name).
  • Dear Recruiting Department.
  • Dear (name of the department you're pursuing).
  • Dear (name of referral).

How do you end a cover letter?

Make sure to offer thanks for their time and consideration, and choose a professional closing salutation such as, “

Sincerely

,” “Best regards” or “Thank you for your consideration.” Avoid overly familiar phrases like, “Yours,” “Cheers” or “Take care.”

What should not be included in a cover letter?

  • Spelling mistakes. Making silly mistakes such as typos on your cover letter gives a poor first impression. …
  • Personal information. Employers are not interested in your personal life. …
  • Salary expectations. …
  • Too much information. …
  • Negative comments. …
  • Lies or exaggerations.
  • Empty claims.

Does a cover letter matter?


Yes, cover letters are still important

. … A cover letter also shows the employer that you take the job opportunity seriously and are prepared to take more initiative to be considered for the job. It's also possible the hiring manager will actually look at your cover letter when selecting applicants to interview.

What are 3 reasons a cover letter is important?

  • They offer a more relevant explanation than a resume can. …
  • They demonstrate how you communicate. …
  • They show you're a serious candidate.

What do you do if you don't know the hiring manager's name on a cover letter?

“If the hiring manager's name is nowhere to be found and the company is unwilling to give you his or her name, you should use

‘Dear Hiring Team

‘ in your cover letter salutation,” she says. “By addressing your cover letter to the hiring team, you increase your chances of getting it in front of the right pair of eyes.”

Is To Whom It May Concern rude?

“To whom it may concern” works well in cases where you don't know the name of your recipient(s) and want to come across as respectful, but in other contexts, it is not the most appropriate choice; and in some moments, it's not an appropriate choice at all.

Is message to hiring manager the same as cover letter?

One way to apply for a job is to

send an email cover letter

, with your attached resume, to a hiring manager. … An email cover letter should include the same basic information as a written cover letter. The only differences are in how you format your cover letter and how you include your contact information.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.