Should You Use ‘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.’ ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ is especially appropriate when you don’t know the name of the recipient and have done your part in trying to find it. However, it’s important to explore all outlets that may potentially provide you with an accurate name, as addressing the recipient by first and last name is always better than a generic greeting.

Use these steps when deciding how to address your cover letter:

1. Try to find the recipient’s name. The hiring manager’s name isn’t always readily available on the job posting. If this is the case, you’ll need to do your part in trying to find the name of the hiring manager, as addressing the reader by their full name establishes a personal connection and shows your commitment and interest in the job and company. Places to look for the hiring manager’s name include the company website, professional networking websites, the job post, or by looking at the email provided on the position listing. If you’re unable to find the name, you can call the front desk of the company and ask.
2. Address the recipient by their name correctly. If you’re able to find the recipient’s name, you’ll need to format it correctly on your cover letter. The most appropriate ways to begin a cover letter with the hiring manager’s name include [Dear First and Last Name] or [Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name]. Only use Mr. or Ms. if you are certain of the person’s gender. If your contact has a professional or academic title, you would use their abbreviated title in place of Mr./Ms. followed by their last name.
3. You’re unable to find the contact name. If you’ve searched in all the appropriate places and are still unable to find the recipient’s name, use a generic yet professional salutation like ‘Dear Hiring Manager.’ You can also address the department that correlates with the job you’re applying for or the director of the department. Avoid using salutations that are too impersonal such as ‘Dear Madam or Sir’ or ‘To Whom It May Concern.’

Learn more: 15 Words and Phrases to Never Include in a Cover Letter

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ as a salutation:

• Only use ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ as a last resort. Because this greeting is generic in nature, it’s only appropriate if you are unable to find the hiring manager’s full name. Some hiring managers may skip over cover letters that begin with a generic salutation, especially if their name is readily available with a little research.
• Personalize the rest of your cover letter. If you are using this generic greeting, be sure to customize the rest of your cover letter to show that you aren’t simply sending out a copy of the same cover letter to every company. Include information about why you are excited to work with that particular organization and what about the specific position you’re applying for attracted you.
• Use a professional email address. Always send your cover letter and resume using a professional email address. This is especially true if you are using a more generic salutation, as a hiring manager may be tempted to think that an unprofessional email and a generic greeting are signs of spam.

Learn more: How to Write A Cover Letter

Here are a few instances in which using the salutation ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ is appropriate:

• You can’t find the recipient’s name. As mentioned in a previous section, using ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ is most acceptable when you’re unable to find the recipient’s name. This is common when using a recruiting or employment agency to apply for positions.
• There’s a recruiting team. Some organizations hire several employees at once or are so large that there is more than one person reading the resumes and participating in the recruiting process. In this case, you’d likely be provided with a group email address rather than an individual’s email address, and using a generic salutation would be appropriate.
• You can’t tell the gender of the hiring manager. There are several names that are gender-neutral, such as Alex, Dylan, Blake, and Charlie. If the hiring manager has a gender-neutral name and you’re unsure of their actual gender, it’s best to use either their full name with no Mr./Ms. or a generic salutation.

There are several alternatives you can use in place of ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ on your cover letter. These include:

• Dear Recruiter
• Dear Recruiting Manager
• Dear HR Manager
• Dear [Department title] Manager
• Dear [Department title]
• Dear Hiring Team
• Dear Hiring Committee
• Dear recruiting Department
• Dear Sir or Madam
• Greetings
• Good Afternoon
• Dear [Job Title]
• To Whom It May Concern