"To Whom It May Concern" is the cover letter version of shouting "Hey, you!" across a room. It works, technically, but nobody feels addressed. When you don't have a name, you have better options. Here's what to write.
First, try to find the name
Two minutes of searching often beats any generic greeting:
- Check the job posting and the company's team or about page.
- Search LinkedIn for the team's hiring manager or recruiter.
- Look at the posting's contact email; sometimes it's a real person.
If you find it, use it: "Dear Alex Chen," or "Dear Ms. Chen," and move on.
The best greetings when you can't find a name
In order of preference:
- "Dear Hiring Manager," is safe, professional, and by far the best default.
- "Dear Engineering Team," when you know the department.
- "Dear [Department] Hiring Team," as a close third.
All of them beat the alternatives.
Greetings to avoid
- "To Whom It May Concern," is cold and dated.
- "Dear Sir or Madam," is stuffy and assumes gender.
- "Hello," or "Hi there," is too casual for most applications.
Don't let the greeting stall the whole letter
The greeting is one line. What matters more is a tight, tailored body and a confident closing at the right length.
Let Talorr write the rest
Once you've sorted the greeting, Talorr's cover letter generator drafts the tailored body and close from the job and your resume, so the hardest part takes a minute, not an afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I address a cover letter without a name?
- Use 'Dear Hiring Manager,' as the safest default. You can also address the specific team, such as 'Dear Engineering Team,'. First spend two minutes checking the posting, the company's team page, and LinkedIn, because using the real name is best when you can find it.
- Is 'To Whom It May Concern' still acceptable?
- It's technically fine but reads as cold and dated. 'Dear Hiring Manager,' is a stronger, more modern default, and addressing the specific team is even better when you can identify it.
