How to address a cover letter without a name: greetings that work, and how to find the name.
Using a name is best, but it isn't always possible. A specific, respectful greeting does the job; a stiff or generic one sets the wrong tone for the rest of the letter.
If you can find the hiring manager's name, use their full name after 'Dear'. If you can't, address the team or role instead: 'Dear Hiring Manager,', 'Dear Marketing Hiring Team,' or 'Dear Nurse Manager Hiring Committee,'. Avoid 'To Whom It May Concern' and 'Dear Sir or Madam', which sound dated and impersonal.
Illustrative examples to adapt
Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.
Greetings, from best to acceptable
When to use: Choosing a greeting.
Dear [First name] [Last name], Dear [Hiring manager's job title], e.g. Dear Customer Success Manager, Dear [Department] Hiring Team, Dear [Company name] Recruiting Team, Dear Hiring Manager,
Short email to find the name
When to use: When you can reach a recruiter or general inbox.
Hi [Recruiter or team], I'm applying for the [Job title] role ([job ID if listed]) and would like to address my cover letter correctly. Could you tell me the name of the hiring manager or team? Thank you, [Your name]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Where to find the name
| Source | What to look for |
|---|---|
| The job posting | A named contact or 'reports to' line |
| The company's website | Team pages for the department |
| The department head or team lead for the role | |
| A recruiter or general inbox | Ask politely, once |
| Someone you know at the company | Ask who leads the team |
The same line, rewritten
Illustrative example with placeholders.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | To Whom It May Concern, |
| Strong | Dear Marketing Hiring Team, |
Why it matters: The weak greeting could be on any letter to any organization. The strong one shows you know which team you are writing to, even without a name.
Mistakes to avoid
- Guessing a gender with 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam'.
- Misspelling the hiring manager's name.
- Using a first name only when the company's tone is formal.
- Addressing the letter to the company's CEO for an ordinary role.
Build yours
Questions people ask
Is 'Dear Hiring Manager' OK?
Should I use 'To Whom It May Concern'?
Should I use Mr. or Ms.?
What if there are several interviewers?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample uses a fictional person marked '(illustrative)' or a 'Your name' placeholder, and every employer, school, date and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details.
- What a specific employer screens for: always read the posting.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never copy a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no resume, letter or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.