How To Address a Cover Letter Without a Name
A cover letter is a one-page letter that introduces you to a potential employer. The purpose of a cover letter is to show why you’d be a great candidate for a job.
How you start a cover letter matters, as you want to make a good impression. When you have the hiring manager’s name, you should address a cover letter using “Dear” and their full name (e.g., “Dear Manny Smith,”).
How to address a cover letter without a name, on the other hand, requires a bit more thought. Consider addressing your letter to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear Product Team,”) or to a specific title (e.g., “Dear Product Manager,) if you can’t find a name.
How to address a cover letter without a name
There are different ways to address a cover letter without a name, and you should choose the one that best matches your context.
Despite the option you use, good cover letter format requires two elements when addressing your cover letter:
- Start your salutation with “Dear,” a salutation that is polite without being overly formal.
- Follow your salutation with a comma or colon.
Consider company size, role level, and culture when choosing how to address a cover letter without a name. This helps determine the right recipient and whether a formal or informal tone is appropriate.
| Addressee | When to use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A specific job title | You can determine (or guess with reasonable doubt) who will likely read the letter. (Often, this is the owner of the open role.) | Dear Marketing Manager,
Dear Content Manager, |
| The name of the relevant team or department | You’re not sure of the title of the person who will read the letter, but you know the team it should go to. | Dear Sales Team,
Dear Customer Support Team, |
| “Hiring Manager” as a generic title | You’re not sure which team or role would be relevant to the opening. | Dear Hiring Manager, |
| The company | You’re applying for a role at a very small company—like a new startup—where the whole team may be involved in the hiring process. | Dear Startup ABC Team,
Dear Small Agency XYZ Team, |
| The committee or panel | You know that a selection committee is overseeing the hiring. (This is more common for academic, government, and nonprofit roles.) | Dear Selection Committee,
Dear Hiring Panel, |
Chris doesn’t know the name of the person who will read his cover letter, but he knows that Lexora has a Content team.
He therefore chooses to address his cover letter with “Dear Content Manager,” as he’s fairly certain the head of the Content team will be involved in his application process.
You should also avoid gender-specific titles, unless you specifically know what pronouns someone uses and what title they prefer.
Don’t use:
- “To Whom It May Concern,” which is outdated
- “Dear Sir or Madam,” which is outdated and gender-specific
- “Dear Mr. or Ms.,” which is gender-specific
- “Ladies and Gentlemen,” which is outdated and gender-specific
- “Esteemed Hiring Manager,” which sounds too formal and insincere
- “Hey” or “Hi,” which is too informal for a cover letter
Always check that you’ve spelled everything correctly before sending a cover letter. QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can make sure your cover letter is free of spelling and grammar mistakes.
How to find the hiring manager for a job
Before you address a cover letter without a name, try to find the hiring manager for the job.
Review the job posting
Sometimes the posting says who to address the cover letter to. If this information is included, it usually appears near the top or bottom of the posting. If you found the posting on LinkedIn, check if it’s linked to a recruiter’s profile.
Search on LinkedIn
Visit the company’s profile and browse the “People” section to find the hiring manager for the role. Look out for people in the relevant department or titles like “Hiring Manager” or “Talent Acquisition Specialist.”
Make sure to look at the section titled “Posts.” This may give you enough context to determine who the hiring manager is.
Google the job and company
The posting may appear on other job boards or the company website with additional information about the hiring manager.
Review the company’s other social networks
Although LinkedIn is the most commonly used network for job postings, people sometimes post job openings on Instagram or TikTok. Check recent posts, stories, and highlights.
Check the company website
The “About” or “Meet the Team” page of the company website may list key employees or at least the department that’s relevant to the role.
Reach out directly
Call or email the company and explain that you’d like to apply for an open role and want to make sure you address your cover letter to the correct person. Reach out to Human Resources if possible, and if not, to the general company email or phone number.
Networking with current employees can also give you a sense of if you and the company would be a good fit.
Whenever you contact anyone at the company, make sure to keep things concise, polite, and professional so that you make a good impression.
Frequently asked questions about how to address a cover letter without a name
- How do you start a cover letter greeting?
-
Start a cover letter greeting with a formal or semi-formal salutation. “Dear” is a good option for starting a cover letter.
To address your cover letter to a specific person, use the person’s full name (e.g., “Dear Diane Smith,”). Avoid gendered titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.”
To address a cover letter without a name, direct it to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear People Team,”), or to a generic position (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Regardless of who you’re sending your letter to, make sure it’s error-free by using QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- Should you use dear hiring manager on a cover letter?
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You can use “Dear Hiring Manager” on a cover letter, but only when you must address a cover letter without a name.
It’s better to use the full name of the hiring manager (e.g., “Dear Leni Giorgio,”) if possible. Check the job posting, company website, and LinkedIn—or contact the company—when looking for this information.
Regardless of whether you address a cover letter with or without a name, check that it is error-free with QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- Should I use To Whom It May Concern in a cover letter?
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No, you should not use “To Whom It May Concern” in a cover letter. This greeting is outdated and impersonal.
Ideally, you should address a cover letter to the specific hiring manager, using “Dear” and their full name (e.g., “Dear Kira Maddox”).
When you have to address a cover letter without a name, use “Dear” and the team name (e.g., “Dear Sales Team,”) or a generic title (“Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Before sending your cover letter, make sure to use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to catch any spelling and grammar mistakes.
