What Is The Proper Greeting For 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.

How do you start off a cover letter?

  1. Convey enthusiasm for the company. …
  2. Highlight a mutual connection. …
  3. Lead with an impressive accomplishment. …
  4. Bring up something newsworthy. …
  5. Express passion for what you do. …
  6. Tell a creative story. …
  7. Start with a belief statement.

How do you address a cover letter to an unknown recipient?

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 .

Does a cover letter need a greeting?

When you're writing a cover letter or sending an email message to apply for a job, it's important to include

an appropriate greeting at the beginning to set the tone for your letter

, which should be professional and appropriate. The greeting is the first thing the recipient will see when they read your cover letter.

What is the best opening line for a cover letter?

  • Start with an accomplishment. …
  • Inform the company what you can offer them. …
  • Show you love the company. …
  • Name-drop by saying you know someone relevant. …
  • Exude enthusiasm, excitement, and passion. …
  • Refer to their current events. …
  • Display some creativity & humor. …
  • Be direct.

How do you start and end a cover letter?

You want to be confident, not pushy. Say thanks. 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.”

How do you address a cover letter to a name?

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.

What to say instead of to whom it may concern?

  • “Dear [First Name]” or “Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./Professor] [Last Name]” Be aware of your use of pronouns. …
  • “Dear [Job Title]” …
  • “Dear [Team or Department]” …
  • “Greetings,” “Hello” or “Hi there”

How do you address a generic cover letter?

Use a generic salutation, such as

Dear Hiring Manager

, Dear Recruiting Manager or Dear Human Resources Professional. (Avoid To Whom It May Concern; it is antiquated.) Another option is to write Greetings, which is somewhat informal but polite.

What are seven common mistakes on a cover letter?

  • Starting With Your Name. How do you start a cover letter? …
  • Rehashing Your Resume. …
  • Not Being Flexible With the Format. …
  • Going Over a Page. …
  • Over Explaining. …
  • Focusing Too Much on Training. …
  • Sharing Irrelevant Information.

How do you end a cover letter?

  1. Thank you,
  2. Best regards,
  3. Kind regards,
  4. Sincerely,
  5. With best regards,
  6. Best,
  7. Thank you for your consideration,
  8. Respectfully,

How do you start a letter to whom it may concern?

When addressing a letter “To Whom It May Concern,” the entire phrase is typically capitalized,

then followed by a colon

: To Whom It May Concern: Leave a space after it, then start the first paragraph of the letter.

What can I say instead of Dear hiring manager?

  • Dear Recruiter.
  • Dear Recruiting Manager.
  • Dear HR Manager.
  • Dear [Department title] Manager.
  • Dear [Department title]
  • Dear Hiring Team.
  • Dear Hiring Committee.
  • Dear recruiting Department.

What should be avoided in cover letter?

  1. Focusing too much on yourself. …
  2. Sharing all the details of every single job you've ever had. …
  3. Writing about something uncomfortable. …
  4. Writing a novel. …
  5. Rehashing your resume. …
  6. Being too trite. …
  7. Being a superfan of the company. …
  8. Typos.

What should not be included in a cover letter?

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

Should you start a cover letter with my name is?

Yes,

you should introduce yourself in a cover letter

. Introduce yourself by stating your name, the position you're applying for, and how you found it. … While there are some other cover letter opening strategies, introducing yourself by name is the most professional way to begin a traditional cover letter.

How do I write a cover letter without a hiring manager?

The Best Way to Address a Cover Letter with No 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

.

How long should a cover letter be word count?

How many words should a cover letter be? Unless the employer has specified otherwise,

250 to 400 words

is the right amount. This length will fill half a page or one full page using 12 point font, while still leaving room for the correct spacing and margins.

How do you express enthusiasm in a cover letter?

  1. Open With a Personal Greeting. …
  2. Show You Researched the Company and Job. …
  3. Describe Your Qualifications With Powerful Verbs and Action Words. …
  4. Explain Your Quantifiable, Concrete Results. …
  5. List Reasons Why You Are Personally and Professionally Excited to Apply.

Is it sincerely or faithfully in a covering letter?

Format your cover letter correctly

You should start the letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam' or even by name if you have this information to hand. If you have addressed the receiver as sir or madam, you should sign off with ‘Yours faithfully'. If you have addressed the receiver by name, then ‘

yours sincerely

‘ is best.

How do you begin a letter?

Step 2: Writing a letter, formally

Formal letters

begin with “Dear” followed by the name of the receiver

. If you don't have a contact at a certain company, search online for a name, a job title, or department. As a last resort, use the generic salutation “To Whom It May Concern.” A comma follows all greetings.

What can I use instead of dear in a letter?

  • Dear [First Name]
  • Hello, [Insert Team Name]
  • Hello, [Insert Company Name]
  • To Whom It May Concern.
  • Hi There.
  • Good Morning.
  • Dear Customer Service Team.

How do you start a letter to the government?

A formal salutation is appropriate for a letter written to a government official, such as, “

Dear Governor Charles”

or “Dear Senator Richardson,” followed by a colon. Then start your letter by introducing yourself and the reason you're writing.

What are the worst cover letter mistakes?

  • But aren't cover letters a thing of the past? …
  • Cover Letter Mistake #1: Lack of research. …
  • Cover Letter Mistake #2: Overly formal or casual greetings. …
  • Cover Letter Mistake #3: Talking all about me, me, me. …
  • Cover Letter Mistake #4: Repeating your entire resume.

What are the mistakes you might do while writing cover letter?

  • Being overly formal. “Dear Sir/Madam…” …
  • Being too informal. On the opposing side of the court is the peril of being too informal. …
  • Using a stock cover letter. …
  • Saying too much. …
  • Forgetting to proofread. …
  • Bragging. …
  • Focusing too much on yourself. …
  • Clumsy language.
Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.