You’ve probably heard that you should start a cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madam.” But is that still a thing? What if you don’t know the gender of the person reading your application? Should you still call them “Sir” or “Madam”?
And what if they’re both men AND women at once?! In this post, we’ll explore how to proceed when it comes to addressing your cover letter: from salutations like “To Whom It May Concern” and even whether it’s okay to address the reader by their first name.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Starting your cover letter with a strong hook can help grab the reader’s attention and make a positive impression. |
| Address your cover letter to the appropriate person with the right salutation, or use a generic salutation if you don’t know the name of the hiring manager. |
| A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting an interview. |
| Highlight your most relevant qualifications and experience, using a professional yet engaging tone, and tailor your letter to the specific job and company you’re applying to. |
| A cover letter should include an introduction, a body, and a closing that expresses your interest in the position and your willingness to follow up. |
Can I Start A Cover Letter With Hello
You can start your letter with “Hello” or “Dear.” If you know the recipient’s name, you can use that instead. If you don’t know their name, use ‘To whom it may concern.’
The reason for this is because starting a cover letter with ‘Hello’ or something similar shows that you’re confident and friendly right off the bat which is usually a good thing in an interview setting!
A well-written cover letter can make all the difference in landing your dream job. Don’t underestimate the importance of this document. Check out our article on why cover letters are important to learn more about how to make your cover letter stand out.
What Is The Best Way To Start A Cover Letter
To start your cover letter, you can use one of the following:
A greeting: “Dear HR Manager.”
Your contact information and name: “I’m Jhon Doe, and I’m writing to apply for the marketing manager position at your company.”
A lead that shows you’re a good fit for the job or company, like “I’m convinced that my years of experience in customer service would make me an asset to your team.”
Personal stories that show how you’ve applied what’s on their job description.
For example, if they’re looking for someone good at multitasking but also knows how to prioritize tasks, talk about how when you worked at Pizza Hut as a teenager one summer (yes), you were able to juggle four different jobs at once because each required different skillsets one was serving food.
Another was cleaning up after customers left; another involved folding boxes into pizza boxes while they cooled off in preparation for delivery (and this was before box cutters existed).
How Do You Start A Cover Letter Without Dear
When you’re writing a cover letter, start with something like:
Dear [name],
It’s best to use a salutation that is appropriate for the position and person you are writing to. If you don’t know who will be reading your cover letter, then pick something general such as “To Whom It May Concern,” or use the company name if it’s available. So if your friend has applied for a position at [company], then address your greeting like this:
Dear [name],
If you know who will be reading the cover letter but not their name (e.g., it could be an anonymous job posting),
Then go ahead and use their title instead of their name to make sure they understand that this is sent on behalf of someone else from whom they have received permission or clearance to receive contact information about any openings that might exist within their organization
Cover letters can be a powerful tool in your job search, but only if you use them effectively. Check out our expert advice on writing a good cover letter to learn how to make your cover letter work for you.
How Do You Start A Cover Letter Without Knowing The Name
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing to apply for [position] with your company. I have a strong background in [insert relevant experience]. I believe that my skills and abilities would make me an ideal fit for this position, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps.
What Is The Best Way To End A Cover Letter
When it comes to ending your cover letter, you have a lot of options. To end on a high note, use a closing that is professional and polite. You can choose from the following:
- “Thank you for considering me for this position.”
- “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
- “I appreciate your time as I pursue this opportunity with [company name].”
- “I am excited about the possibility of working with you at [company name].”
How Do You End A Cover Letter Introduction
ends with a short sentence. You want to leave the employer with something to think about, so you can use this opportunity to make a connection between the job and your skills, experience, and personality.
ask for the job. Asking for more information or an interview is always a good practice when it comes to cover letters.
ask for a response. Make sure that you ask for what you want at the end of your cover letter introduction!
How Long Should A Cover Letter Be
While it’s not possible to give a definitive answer to how long your cover letter should be, there are some general rules of thumb. Most experts agree that you should aim for between one and two pages.
This is because most hiring managers only have a minute or two to look over each application before making their decision. As such, they want something concise and to the point, so they can make an informed decision quickly.
Here’s another tip: make sure your resume gets in front of your hiring manager as soon as possible by focusing on skills relevant to the job at hand. This will help you avoid having your application lost among other applicants who might share similar qualifications but aren’t quite as well suited for this particular role (or at least don’t seem like it).
Remember that every cover letter needs some personalization so that it shows off what makes YOU special! That means tailoring both content AND format (font size/style used) based on what works best when talking about YOUR background experience.*
In today’s competitive job market, a well-crafted cover letter is more important than ever. Don’t overlook this critical document in your job search. Check out our article on why cover letters are necessary to learn how to make your cover letter stand out from the competition.
What Should You Not Put In A Cover Letter
There are a few things you should not include in your cover letter. Here’s a list of them:
Do not put your salary requirements in the cover letter. Many people believe that listing their salary requirements in the cover letter will help them get an offer from the company, but it can backfire on you. The only way to find out what they’re willing to pay is during negotiations and when they make you an offer; so don’t put it in there until then!
Don’t put references or contact information of any kind, such as social media links or email addresses where you can be reached, either within or outside of your cover letter itself (unless specifically asked for).
References who are familiar with your work might still be listed on LinkedIn if requested by a potential employer; however, all other personal information should remain private unless approved beforehand by whoever may need access to it so keep those locked up tight!
Do I Need A Cover Letter For An Internal Position
A cover letter is a document that formally introduces you to a company. It should briefly explain why you are applying for the job, where you heard about it, and what your qualifications are.
A cover letter can be very helpful if you’re applying for an internal position because it will allow your hiring manager to learn more about who you are as an employee and why they should consider bringing you on board.
A cover letter should include:
- Your name, address
- Your phone number (and cell phone number)
- The company’s name or website address
- A summary of what type of job(s) or internship(s) you’re looking for (this will help them direct their search).
Using subheadings in your cover letter can help break up the text and make it more readable. Learn more about how to use subheadings effectively in your cover letter with our expert advice on using subheadings in a cover letter.
Should My Cover Letter Address My Employer Or Recruiter
You should always address your cover letter to a specific person.
If you don’t know the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter, look up the position you are applying for and see who is in charge of hiring.
If this information isn’t available, do some research online to find out who reviewed similar job applications in the past. Address it to them directly and explain why you think they would be interested in what you have to say about yourself and your work history (or why you think they might not be).
How Do You Write A Good Cover Letter For An Interview
A cover letter for an interview is an opportunity for you to tell the employer why you’re the best person for the job. Cover letters are used by some employers as a screening tool, so your cover letter must be well-written and highlight your top strengths.
When applying for a job, whether it’s through mail or electronically, your cover letter should be included with your resume. The length of a good cover letter will vary depending on who you are writing it to (i.e., recruiters or hiring managers). If they are more than two pages long then they may become too long and cause people to lose interest in what you have written!
However, if they are shorter than one page then there won’t be enough information provided about yourself which defeats its purpose altogether!
There is no right answer when determining how long should my cover letter be. It depends on who will read it but also what type of position is being applied for as well as how much experience has been gained thus far within the said occupation.”
Transitioning to a new career can be challenging, but the right cover letter can help you make the leap. Check out our guide on how to write a cover letter when changing fields to learn how to make your cover letter work for you in a new industry.
Should I Include Salary Requirements In My Cover Letter
If you’re applying for a job that pays more than minimum wage and less than $250,000, there’s no reason not to include your salary requirements in the cover letter. Even if it’s not a required field on the application form, it’s always good practice to include this information in your cover letter so you can stand out from other applicants who don’t include their salary requirements.
If you’re applying for a job that pays more than minimum wage and less than $250,000 (and especially if they’ve asked that you provide this information in their application), there’s no reason not to include your salary requirements in the cover letter.
Even if it is not required by them or other candidates, it’s always good practice to include this information anyway so that you can stand out from other applicants who don’t have their personalized approach as yours does!
In many cases though when writing about yourself (which should always be done via first-person pronouns like “I” instead of third-person pronouns like “he/she”), people will use pronouns such as “myself/himself/herself” instead which also works fine because we know exactly who I’m referring too here: myself!
We could even go further by making sure it’s clear what company our resume is targeted towards too with something like “our company” before talking about our achievements etcetera.
Conclusion
If you want to achieve success in your job search, it’s important to start by building a strong cover letter.
A good cover letter will introduce you and your qualifications to potential employers and help seal the deal on an interview. If you’re looking for some expert advice on how to write a stand-out cover letter, check out this post for some great tips on how to make your first impression count!
Further Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about writing effective cover letters, check out these additional resources:
The Balance Careers: How to Address a Cover Letter: This article provides guidance on how to address a cover letter, including tips for using the right salutation and avoiding common mistakes.
Indeed: 5 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples): This article offers tips and examples for starting your cover letter in a way that will grab the reader’s attention and make a strong first impression.
Novoresume: How to Start a Cover Letter: Tips & Examples: This article provides practical advice and examples for how to start your cover letter in a way that highlights your qualifications and makes a strong case for why you’re the right candidate for the job.
FAQs
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. It provides an opportunity to introduce yourself to the employer, highlight your qualifications and experience, and explain why you’re the right candidate for the job.
Why do I need a cover letter?
A cover letter is an important part of your job application because it allows you to showcase your qualifications and make a strong case for why you’re the right candidate for the job. A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting an interview.
How do I address a cover letter?
When addressing a cover letter, it’s important to use the appropriate salutation. If you know the name of the hiring manager, address the letter to them directly. If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, use a generic salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager.”
What should I include in a cover letter?
A cover letter should include an introduction that explains why you’re applying for the job, a body that highlights your qualifications and experience, and a closing that expresses your interest in the position and your willingness to follow up.
How do I make my cover letter stand out?
To make your cover letter stand out, focus on highlighting your most relevant qualifications and experience, using a tone that’s professional yet engaging, and tailoring your letter to the specific job and company you’re applying to. Additionally, starting your letter with a strong hook can help grab the reader’s attention and make a positive impression.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.