The greeting is the salutation at the beginning of a cover letter attached to a resume when applying for a job. When writing a cover letter or sending an email to apply for a job, it is important to include an appropriate greeting at the start to set the tone of your message, which should be professional and suitable.
Greetings to Avoid in a Cover Letter
Using casual greetings such as “Hi” and “Hello” can make your message seem unprofessional. Save these casual greetings for personal emails and refrain from using them in a cover letter unless you are very well acquainted with the recipient. These greetings are simply too informal – and not the most professional way to start the conversation if you are looking to secure a job.
“Hi” is only appropriate in casual correspondence with people you know well. For example, if you are checking in on a close friend to see if they have heard about a job opening at their company. “Hi” is only suitable in casual correspondence and should primarily be used for people you know well but can be used in very informal circumstances.
On the other hand, starting your message with “To Whom It May Concern” may come off as very impersonal and make the hiring manager think you do not care enough to know who you should address. The only time to use “To Whom It May Concern” as a greeting in a cover letter is when you simply cannot find the specific person you are writing to.
You should, of course, make every effort to find the name of the contact in the specific department you are interested in. When making an inquiry with a company about unadvertised jobs, this greeting may be the most appropriate one.
When You Have a Contact Person
Below is a list of examples of greetings in cover letters and other employment-related correspondence when you have the contact name.
Dear Mr. Jones
Dear Ms. Brown
Dear Riley Doe
Dear Dr. Havn
Dear Professor Lawrence
When You Do Not Have a Contact Person
If this information is not provided in the job advertisement and you cannot find it on the company’s website, you may be able to call the company and ask to be referred to the human resources department (if they have one), explaining that you will be applying for a job there, and request the name of their hiring manager.
Every effort should always be made to find the name of a contact to use in your message. It leaves a good impression on the hiring manager if you have taken the time to use their name, especially if you had to put in some effort to find it.
LinkedIn is also a great tool to find the name of the hiring manager. You can search for the company you are applying to using two or one words describing the person hiring for the job. Scroll through the list until you find someone that matches the criteria. This approach may help you identify the right person to reach out to.
Many companies do not mention a contact name when posting jobs because they have a team of recruiting staff who sift through cover letters and resumes before passing them on to the hiring manager in the appropriate department. They prefer to keep the hiring manager anonymous until they reach out to you for an interview.
The organization may also not want to reveal the identity of the hiring manager to avoid receiving emails and phone calls from applicants, especially if they expect to receive a large number of job applications from potential candidates. So, do not worry if you cannot find someone to direct your message to. It will be forwarded to the correct department and recipient.
Note: If you do not have a person to contact in the company, leave the greeting out of your cover letter and start with the first paragraph of your message or, better yet, use a general salutation.
Examples
General Greetings
When using a general greeting, convert general names to uppercase letters.
Dear Hiring ManagerTo Whom It May ConcernDear Human Resources ManagerDear Sir or MadamDear [Company Name] Hiring Professional
When to Use “Dear” in a Cover Letter
It is appropriate to use “Dear” in most cases, such as when the potential employer is someone you know well, or they are a coworker. Follow these tips to choose the right greeting:
- For people you know well by first name, you can use only the first name.
- For colleagues or business partners, use the first name if you have met them more than once and spoken to them using their first name.
- For potential employers, use Mr., Ms., or Dr., unless instructed otherwise. Even if you know a woman is married, it’s best to use “Ms.” instead of “Mrs.,” as the latter can be offensive in some cases.
- If you’re unsure of the proper greeting, err on the side of caution and use Mr./Ms./Dr. [Last Name] or Mr./Ms./Dr. [First Name, Last Name].
How to Write a Cover Letter Greeting
Standard business correspondence formatting requires that you write your contact’s name, the company name, and the company address after providing your contact information and the date of your letter.
The official greeting/ salutation follows: “Dear [Contact Name].” If you have a specific person to contact in your letter, include their title and last name in the greeting (for example, “Dear Mr. Franklin”). If you are unsure of the reader’s gender, mention their full name and avoid the title (for example, “Dear Jamie Smith”). Follow the greeting with a comma or colon, leave a blank line, and then start the first paragraph of your letter on the next line.
Closing Your Cover Letter
Your letter’s greeting has the potential to enhance your chances of getting an interview. To boost your prospects, make sure your cover letter maintains a professional appearance and provides relevant information, including your qualifications for the job. Choose an appropriate closing, and always thank the reader for their time and consideration.
Example of a Cover Letter
Below is an example of a cover letter greeting. Download the cover letter template with the greeting (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or see below for more examples.
©TheBalance 2018
Download Word Template
Example Cover Letter with Greeting (Text Version)
Alex Applicant
123 Main Street
Any Town, California 12345
555-555-5555
alex.applicant@email.com
September 1, 2018
Brett Lee
Nursing Manager
Saint Ansgear Hospital
123 Business Road
Business City, New York 54321
Dear Mr. Lee:
I am writing to apply for the Nursing Assistant position, as advertised on the Saint Ansgear Hospital website. As a trained nursing assistant who takes pride in working with patients and staff, and helping people, I would be a great addition to your nursing team.
I completed the nursing assistant program in June 20XX, and I also have a nursing assistant certification from New York State. I have worked part-time in Dr. Ellen Muller’s primary care office in Smithtown, New York, for the past year, so I have experience working with patients. Additionally, I am diligent in my responsibilities and have a flexible schedule that allows me to work whatever hours you need.
I have attached my resume for your review of my education and experience. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Signature (for hard copy letter)
Alex Applicant
Sending Your Letter
When sending your letter via email, include your reason for writing in the subject line of your message:
Subject: First Name Last Name – Nursing Assistant Position
Clarify your contact information in your signature instead of in the body of the message:
Sincerely,
Best regards,
First Name Last Name
Your email
Your phone number
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/cover-letter-salutation-2060313
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