Can You Start A Cover Letter With Hello? (Let’s Find Out)

Cover letters are an important part of the job search. They can tell you what to include and how to format your letter. But if you’re wondering whether you should start your cover letter with “Hi,” know that there are plenty of ways to introduce yourself on paper!

How To Write A Cover Letter That Gets Noticed
Takeaways
Addressing your cover letter properly is important to make a good first impression.
Always try to address the letter to a specific person if possible.
If you don’t know the recipient’s name, use a general salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
Avoid using generic salutations like “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” if possible.
Use a colon after your salutation in most cases, but a comma is appropriate when using a personal name or a general salutation.
Take the time to research the company and the person you’re addressing the letter to.
Tailor your salutation to the company culture and the level of formality.

Can You Start A Cover Letter With Hello?

You can start a cover letter with “hello”, but you should make it clear who you are and what you want. You don’t need to be too formal in your greeting you just need to make it clear from the start that you understand what the employer is looking for and that you have relevant experience.

The greeting is typically at the top of your cover letter, before any other text. You may also see it in another part of your cover letter or resume after information about yourself (such as when listing contact information). 

In these cases, use an H1 header tag for titles such as “Hello”, “Good day”, and so forth. This makes sure people scanning through documents will notice them immediately!

Your cover letter is often the first impression a potential employer has of you. Therefore, it’s essential to make it count. For expert advice on the importance of cover letters, check out our article on why cover letters are important and ensure you’re giving yourself the best chance possible.

How Do You Start A Letter Of Introduction?

The first thing to remember when writing a letter of introduction is that, just like the opening of any other type of letter, it must start with a greeting. If you’re introducing yourself and someone else, it would be appropriate to address each person in the salutation using their name.

For example:

Dear Mr. Smith,

Dear Ms. Jones:

If you’re providing an introduction for one person only and want to mention who introduced you in your salutation (for example, if you’re writing on behalf of another colleague), then mention this person’s name too. For instance:

Dear Mr. introduced me because she thought we’d have similar interests and experiences as readers and writers respectively so I thought it might be nice if we could meet up sometime soon for coffee or lunch!

How Do You Start A Formal Letter?

When writing a formal letter, you should use a formal salutation and closing. A cover letter is an introduction to your resume. You may want to consider using the word “dear” instead of “to whom it may concern” when writing this type of letter.

A cover letter can be very formal or informal depending on who your audience is and what industry they work in. It’s usually best to start with an opening greeting like “Dear Mr./Ms.,” followed by some variation of “I am applying for the position.” If you need help with this part, check out our article on how to write the perfect opening paragraph in your cover letter!

You should always end a business-related email with something that tells people why they should care about what you have written or what action they should take next (e.g., “Sincerely,” “Thank you” or something else).

Starting a cover letter can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can make a strong first impression. Learn more about how to start your cover letter with confidence with our expert advice on starting a cover letter with a greeting and nail that opening line.

What Should You Not Include In A Cover Letter?

Avoid including a photo or scanned copy of your resume. It’s not necessary and might be detrimental to the way you’re perceived by the hiring manager.

Don’t include your salary requirements in the cover letter. This is a topic that should be discussed during an interview, not in an email or on paper beforehand.

Avoid personalizing the email address at all costs! No one wants to see “joe@gmail” or “joe@hotmail.” Instead, use something professional like joe_smith@examplecompany.com (and make sure it’s not too long). Get creative with this if necessary!

Avoid listing out references for any potential employer who isn’t asking for them specifically—it’s just unnecessary clutter and will only make you look unprofessional if they don’t need any reference information from you anyway!

If there is some reason why someone needs references from me but hasn’t asked for them yet then I’ll just add that information later once I know how many people need it.”

How Do I Email My Resume And Cover Letter Attachment?

Once you’ve written your cover letter and resume, it’s time to send them off. The most important thing here is to make sure that you’re sending the right documents to the right person—not only will it save time on everyone’s part, but it also shows that you’ve made an effort!

To do this, find out who is hiring for the position and search for their name on Google. Once they show up on page one of the results, scroll down until you see their email address listed next to “Contact” or “Social Media.” Copy that address into a new email message (I recommend Gmail), then attach both your cover letter and resume as PDFs.

Don’t forget capitalization matters! It might seem like a small detail but proper capitalization makes a big difference. Address each recipient individually by typing out their name at the beginning of each sentence or paragraph; if necessary, end sentences with periods instead of semicolons; use commas where appropriate (but not too many).

When Writing A Cover Letter What Should You Not Do?

What should you not do?

Don’t make the cover letter too long. The purpose of a cover letter is to get an employer’s attention, not to tell them everything about your life. You should be able to write a short, concise letter that describes why you are interested in the job and what makes you great at it.

Don’t include a resume (unless requested). Your resume is there for specific reasons; if asked for one, then by all means attach your CV! But don’t go out of your way by sending one without being asked to do so first it’ll just drag on their decision-making process unnecessarily.

Don’t include salary requirements or references with your application unless specifically requested by an employer/company beforehand (which happens rarely).

While it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to inject a bit of personality. Using personal pronouns can make your letter more engaging and memorable. For guidance on how to use personal pronouns in your cover letter, check out our article on using personal pronouns in cover letters and make your application stand out.

What Are The Parts Of A Covering Letter?

Here are the main parts of a covering letter:

The introduction – where you introduce yourself and talk about how you found out about the job. You can also use this section to address any specific information that is relevant to your application, such as why you left a previous position or what kind of salary or benefits package you’re looking for. This is also where most people put their contact details!

The body – where you explain why YOU are the best person for the job (or at least one of them). You should write about your skills and experience that make you suitable for this role. 

It might be helpful to think about what would impress someone if they were reading through hundreds of applications-so think hard on how they could benefit from having YOU work there! Make sure not to give away all the information-remember an employer will want some mystery, so leave something interesting without revealing too much detail. 

Also, include something specific related specifically back to this particular company/position; do some research beforehand so there’s no repetition on top of everything else already mentioned above in point 1 above 🙂

In An Essay What Does Double Spaced Mean?

When it comes to essays, double spacing is crucial. The reader must be able to read the text without having to squint or strain their eyes that’s why you need enough space between sentences for them.

You can also leave extra room between paragraphs, as well as at the beginning and end of a paper: this allows for easy navigation for your reader. There is no need for this extra spacing in other types of writing though; in fact, it may distract from the content of your piece!

When you’re writing a cover letter, however, there’s no need for double-spacing since these documents are shorter and have more white space than papers do (since they are not supposed to fill an entire page).

The language and tone you use in your cover letter can make all the difference in how you’re perceived by potential employers. While it’s essential to maintain professionalism, using “I” statements can help emphasize your achievements and highlight your strengths. For more information on how to use “I” statements in your cover letter, check out our article on using “I” statements in cover letters and make your application shine.

When Writing A Paper Are Numbers Spelled Out?

Numbers should be spelled out in text, except when they represent tables, figures, equations, and references.

Examples:

  • I will look at the three cases of the single-sample t-test.
  • There were 21 cases of XYZ syndrome in my study population. And this is how many were female (10). The mean age at diagnosis was 35 years old. But it varied quite a bit between ages 18 and 70.

What Is The Last Paragraph In A Cover Letter Called Why Is It Important For Your Job Search?

You can also use this paragraph to ask for an interview. This is often the case if you’ve sent your cover letter and resume to a job board or potential employer. If you haven’t heard back from them, including a request for an interview might get their attention.

Or, if they do contact you, it can help emphasize your skills and qualifications even more so than the previous paragraphs did.

If there are gaps in your employment history (for example, if you took time off to raise children), this is a good opportunity to explain why they exist and how they might benefit the company or job seeker.

How Much Should You Charge For Writing Services?

How much you should charge for your writing services depends on several factors: the type of service, the customer, and how well you can negotiate. 

If you’re just starting in the freelance writing world, it’s best to start with a low price and negotiate up. While there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to pricing yourself out of a job (or so I’m told), here are some general guidelines as to what other freelancers have said they charge:

Ghostwriting a book or memoir: $50 per hour (if you’re working with an established writer) or $35 per hour if not

Writing blog posts about travel experiences: $15-$20 per post; this can vary depending on what type of content is being produced (e.g., editorial vs promotional) and how long each article takes to write

It can be challenging to strike the right tone in a cover letter, but including the word ‘love’ might not be the best approach. While it’s important to express enthusiasm for the job, using the word ‘love’ can come across as unprofessional. For more information on how to strike the right tone in your cover letter, check out our article on using the word ‘love’ in cover letters and make sure your application hits all the right notes.

There Are Some Rules To Cover Letter Writing, But They’re Not Strict

Cover letters are important, but they’re not the most important part of your application.

Cover letters are supposed to help you get an interview by explaining why you want the job and how your experience aligns with what the company needs. They’re a way for you to introduce yourself and your qualifications and should be unique to each job you apply for. (Don’t send out a cover letter that’s the same everywhere.)

If someone has told you that it’s against some sort of etiquette rule or otherwise bad form to start a cover letter with “Hello,” don’t believe them! There are some rules about what goes in a good cover letter, but strictly speaking, there are no hard-and-fast rules about where on that blank page all this information can go.

Conclusion

Remember, you can always ask for feedback from someone who knows about cover letters and resumes. If you have any questions about the process or anything else related to your job search, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that can help you improve your cover letter salutation:

How to Address a Cover Letter (With Examples): Hubspot provides examples and tips on how to address your cover letter effectively and professionally.

Cover Letter Salutations: Examples & Tips: The Balance Careers offers a comprehensive guide on cover letter salutations, including how to address your letter when you don’t have a name.

How to Start a Cover Letter: 25 Introduction Examples & Tips: Zety provides tips and examples for starting your cover letter off on the right foot, including advice on cover letter salutations.

FAQs

What are some common cover letter salutations?

Some common cover letter salutations include “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,” or “Dear [Department Name] Hiring Team.”

How do I address a cover letter when I don’t know the recipient’s name?

If you don’t know the recipient’s name, you can use a general salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

Is it appropriate to use “Ms.” or “Mr.” in a cover letter salutation?

Yes, it’s appropriate to use “Ms.” or “Mr.” in a cover letter salutation if you know the recipient’s gender.

Can I use “Dear Sir or Madam” in a cover letter salutation?

While it’s not ideal, “Dear Sir or Madam” can be used as a last resort when you don’t have any other information about the recipient.

Should I use a comma or a colon after my cover letter salutation?

In most cases, it’s appropriate to use a colon after your cover letter salutation. However, if you’re using a personal name or a general salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager,” a comma is more appropriate.