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Addressing a Cover Letter with an unknown recipient?
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:04 pm
What's the best way to address a cover letter when submitting a résumé blind without knowing the name or the title of the person reading it? "To whom it may concern" sounds almost too cliche and formal, as does "Dear Sir or Madam". Can I leave it off altogether?
Obviously if I knew Bob Smith was the one reading it, I could come up with something. But what's the best way to answer one without sounding too bland and unoriginal
Obviously if I knew Bob Smith was the one reading it, I could come up with something. But what's the best way to answer one without sounding too bland and unoriginal
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:18 pm to fillmoregandt
quote:
without sounding too bland and unoriginal
I would go with:
quote:
Look Here Mother fricker:
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:18 pm to fillmoregandt
quote:
Can I leave it off altogether?
I probably wouldn't. I use sir/madam whenever I am writing to an unknown person, which happens several times a week. Having said that, my letters are to persons at large entities who could give a shite less what the salulation says.
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:27 pm to fillmoregandt
Sometimes you can be sneaky and call a company and ask who handles new applications or whatever you are sending in the letter for.
It might help the letter stand out if you are going for that.
It might help the letter stand out if you are going for that.
This post was edited on 12/10/12 at 2:29 pm
Posted on 12/10/12 at 2:41 pm to Bmath
quote:
Sometimes you can be sneaky and call a company and ask who handles new applications or whatever you are sending in the letter for. It might help the letter stand out if you are going for that.
That's what we are taught to do
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:15 pm to fillmoregandt
How about just "Greetings,"
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:22 pm to fillmoregandt
i always roll with "Dear Sir or Madam"...
so for it has worked 0% of the time.
so for it has worked 0% of the time.
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:31 pm to fillmoregandt
I wouldn't waste time with a cover letter. I work in HR/Staffing and have read zero cover letters. They annoy me - you're what I need or you're not.
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:33 pm to econ85
So you're saying just send the résumé without any explanation
Interdasting
Interdasting
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:38 pm to fillmoregandt
quote:
So you're saying just send the résumé without any explanation
If you're sending a resume unsolicited you should find out who the manager for that position is, and send to him and HR.
What type of work are we talking about?
Posted on 12/10/12 at 3:46 pm to theOG
quote:
i always roll with "Dear Sir or Madam"... so for it has worked 0% of the time.
Ya, but that's only 0% out of 80% of the time, so there is still hope.
This post was edited on 12/10/12 at 3:47 pm
Posted on 12/10/12 at 4:45 pm to Bmath
quote:
call a company and ask who handles new applications or whatever you are sending in the letter for.
Posted on 12/10/12 at 6:07 pm to fillmoregandt
"To Whom It May Concern" would be my generic recommendation.
(although my original typo "To Whom I May Concern" might actually be an attention getter )
I've received "Dear Sir/Madam" previously.
The combination of "Dear" with a generic salutation comes across as disingenuous to me.
If you can determine the first considering level of contact. E.g., name(s) obtained through Human Resources, use the name of a person(s) likely to first act on your letter. Address it to that individual. If there is more than one possibility, send multiple letters.
(although my original typo "To Whom I May Concern" might actually be an attention getter )
I've received "Dear Sir/Madam" previously.
The combination of "Dear" with a generic salutation comes across as disingenuous to me.
If you can determine the first considering level of contact. E.g., name(s) obtained through Human Resources, use the name of a person(s) likely to first act on your letter. Address it to that individual. If there is more than one possibility, send multiple letters.
This post was edited on 12/10/12 at 8:15 pm
Posted on 12/10/12 at 7:49 pm to fillmoregandt
"Dear Human of Either Gender"
Posted on 12/10/12 at 9:46 pm to fillmoregandt
Cover letters are old advice but honestly most HR departments completely ignore them. I've interviewed people for nearly ten years now and haven't seen a cover letter yet b/c HR tosses them. I wish they'd do a better job tossing some of the resumes but that's a different topic.
I can see where one might help if you're applying for a tiny firm where the owner makes all the decisions but otherwise you're wasting time. If you feel like you have to write one just say "To whom it may concern" or some such, if your resume doesn't stand out on its own the cover letter (much less your salutation) will not save you.
I can see where one might help if you're applying for a tiny firm where the owner makes all the decisions but otherwise you're wasting time. If you feel like you have to write one just say "To whom it may concern" or some such, if your resume doesn't stand out on its own the cover letter (much less your salutation) will not save you.
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