cover letter address to hr

Here’s How to Address Your Cover Letter to HR (It’s Not “To Whom It May Concern”)

Jan 28, 2020 | Cover Letters

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There are a few factors you need to examine when deciding how to address a cover letter to HR. This article will walk you through how to decide who to address your cover letter to, how to write a formal salutation to them (plus what to do if you can’t find the right person), and what constitutes a proper cover letter heading.

Who Do I Address My Cover Letter To?

Some job postings are kind enough to list the person to whom your application will be sent. In this case, you’re all set! You have the staff member’s name and can address the person formally now. 

However, if the name isn’t listed up front, head to the company website to find the name of the hiring manager. Most companies have some sort of “ About Us ” or “Who We Are” page, and this page tends to list the higher-ups if not the full staff. More comprehensive sites may allow you to search by program or department. Some “ Contact Us ” pages also contain further information on staff and should at least offer a phone number to help you find out.

If you’re not finding the hiring manager’s information within the site, take a step back to your search engine and type in the name of the company next to “hiring manager.” It’s worth a try since this may pull up the correct link for you, bypassing the process of exhaustively searching through the website itself. 

If that didn’t turn up any results, head over to the job seeker’s best friend: LinkedIn. Search LinkedIn for the name of the company and “hiring manager.” You might find recruiters and “talent acquisition partners” as well. One of these people may be the one who will read your application, and even if not, you can still reach out to them to find out who will. 

Research, research, research. If you still aren’t completely certain of who the hiring manager is, use the name of the closest applicable person as you address the cover letter.

This could be someone in a senior HR position or even the head of the department you’re applying to. In any case, this is better than not using a name at all!

How to Properly Address a Cover Letter to HR 

When you begin to write, be sure to get the correct spelling and gender of the name of the hiring manager (or whoever you’re writing to.) Names are easy since you can copy and paste them, but if the staff member’s gender is unknown, make the effort to find out. (No one likes being misgendered!)

The experts are in agreement: if you do not know the person’s gender, leave off the salutation and simply use their full name. However, when possible, you do want to use “ a formal full name salutation ,” eg. “Dear Ms. Anna Peregrine,” or “Hello, Mr. Armend Fazlic.” 

The word “dear” is still the most popular, and adding formality shows respect. 

(PSA: “Ms.” is always the safest option for female hiring managers unless you know for a fact that they are married.)

If you’ve found a name and can address them formally by this point, great! Start working on the content of your cover letter, making sure that you don’t make it too long or fall into common mistakes.

If you can’t find any of the necessary information online, though, you can always take a more active approach and call the company to request the name of the hiring manager. 

Avoid “To Whom It May Concern” on Your Cover Letter

Feeling good about your cover letter? Good! You should be! You’re on track to being hired.

But wait, you still can’t find what you need? Don’t sweat.

In the case that the company’s website is incomplete and you can’t get a hold of the information over the phone, use a formal greeting to the position of the person you believe will read the cover letter. Address the letter to the best title for the unidentified staff member. (For example, “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear Human Resources Director,” or “Dear Talent Acquisition Lead.” )

At Let’s Eat, Grandma, we advise not using the general cover letter greeting “To whom it may concern.” This language is too generic. (We aren’t fans of “Dear Sir or Madam” for similar reasons, plus it sounds too old fashioned for 2020. Indeed agrees with us .)

Alternative Cover Letter Greetings With No Name

Even if you are sending out application after application, take the time to research the HR department for specifics if you are serious about getting a job at that company. But if you truly couldn’t find anyone, you’ll be okay with a cover letter salutation with no name.  

Just don’t be vague. Even “Dear Hiring Manager” is better than “To whom it may concern,” on a cover letter, though the more specific the position is, the better.

What’s the Proper Cover Letter Heading?

Congratulations! You’ve successfully addressed your cover letter. The opening salutation of your cover letter may seem like a small detail, but acknowledging the correct person goes a long way.

Next up, you’ll want to perfect your cover letter heading! You’ve probably seen examples of cover letters with lengthy details of your contact information and the company’s at the top, like this:

We believe that you don’t need all of that. 

Cover letters are meant to explain why you’re a good fit for the position, and if the hiring manager is only going to skim the letter, why bulk up the page with irrelevant information? HR isn’t going to visit your house in person or use snail mail to communicate about the job, so cut that content.

Adding your email address and phone number either beneath your signature at the bottom or including them along with your City, ST in a subtle header like this is more than sufficient.

You can even use the same 2-line header from the top of your resume! This will help the hiring manager identify your cover letter when it’s printed, as well as making you look more professional with matching documents.

Acknowledge the hiring manager and the position you’re applying for, and then jump into why the company should hire you!

Want to see an example cover letter for your industry? Check them out here.

You’re also welcome to contact us here with your cover letter questions . Find out how we can rewrite your cover letter (and more) to put your best foot forward for your upcoming job search.   Schedule a call with us  to find out how our professional writers can help rework your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to land you that dream job.

Not landing interviews? Get a free resume critique from one of our top writers to learn why.

3 Human Resources (HR) Cover Letter Examples for 2023

• Human Resources Cover Letter
• Human Resources Manager Cover Letter
• Human Resources Director Cover Letter
• Write a Human Resources Cover Letter

As an HR professional, you know how to make employees and the corporation happy, especially when you bring in new talent. But even though you know the ins and outs of the hiring process, getting hired yourself is tricky. 

It’s maddening to fill out hiring paperwork and assess other candidates’  job skills  all day only to head home to perfect an  HR resume , cover letter, and application for yours truly. 

We understand that getting hired isn’t easy—even if you’re familiar with the process. Our guide, complete with three HR cover letter examples, will walk you through how to write a cover letter that will land you an interview and, hopefully, your dream job.

Human Resources Cover Letter Example 

USE THIS TEMPLATE

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Block Format

Why this cover letter works

• Find a way to link the company to you. Derek does this by demonstrating values both he and the employer share, like his belief that employee relationships are at the heart of HR.
• You can tell a short story, laugh at the witty  HR job ad , explain how you found the company, or state your enthusiasm for the high-impact position. 

Human Resources Manager Cover Letter Example

• Don’t be afraid to use a narrative style in your cover letters when it’s applicable, especially if you’ve had a good experience with the company.
• Aidan starts his cover letter with a story about how he visited PLANTA and later states how he’s looking forward to “enjoying some amazing vegan meals.”
• Remember what you’ve written in your body paragraphs when writing your conclusion and support your points. Don’t overthink it.

Human Resources Director Cover Letter Example

• In your cover letter, address what the company offers, such as amazing software or a killer hotel experience, and express your wish to experience more of what makes them unique.
• If you decide to implement this technique, pay attention to tone and word choice. You never want to make it sound as if the company was poorly managing its employees, even if that was the case. 
• For example, Julian explains Cedar Garland’s need for updated procedures for experienced employees and how The National Hotel needed modernized programs for payroll. 

Build your human resources resume for a complete application

Before we dive into the specific ways you can write your cover letter, don’t let  writing your resume  slip through the cracks. We make it simple with  professional resume templates  just like this one.

Human Resources Resume

Need a resume to pair with your human resources cover letter?

or download as PDF

Write a Winning Human Resources Cover Letter

Writing a stunning human resources cover letter is difficult, so let’s break it down into three simple factors: research, details, and presentation.

Step 1: Research the organization and its needs

As an HR professional, you know that reading generic cover letters is exhausting and annoying. They fail to show initiative or explain how the candidate will help you once they get hired. 

So, in your cover letter, show you care about the company and can help them reach its goals.  But you’ll only know what to write once you know what the business wants.

Start by reading the  human resources job description  to get a feel for their personality. Then scan their website to find their mission statement, vision, and goals. 

Assure the employer that you can deliver the results they desire by addressing their unique concerns and applying your relevant qualifications.

Step 2: Share the details about one or two accomplishments

As you know, reading redundant paperwork is a complete snooze-fest. So, your human resources cover letter can’t be a repeat of your resume, or the recruiter will be snoring before they hit the second paragraph.

Think of your cover letter as a presentation. Pick one to two of your accomplishments that echo the job description’s requirements and give the full scope of those experiences. You could:

This example stays focused on one goal or talent (photography/videography). Although the candidate could have just focused on responsibilities, they focus instead on  how  their efforts helped the company.

• Address your work and successes in revamping the onboarding process for seasonal hires
• Share how you listened to employees and made lasting changes via surveys, check-ins, evaluations, etc. 
• Talk about how you decreased the employee turnover rate

Step 3: Convey the right tone and a clear message

Your cover letter should strike a balance between unique and professional, personal but not sentimental. Easier said than done, right?

Start by limiting your cover letter to one page .  Then you can start modifying your message. Present a logical argument with enough ethos (credibility) and pathos (emotion) to sell anyone on your skills. 

Then adjust your tone. Your cover letter can be funny, heartfelt, or candid—but moderation is key. Let the job description help you choose your content, your words, and how you phrase your message. Most of all, shoot for a tone that matches the company. 

Present a logical argument with enough ethos (credibility) and pathos (emotion) to sell anyone on your skills. 

Don’t despair if this is difficult; next up is revision, where you can fix any errors and tweak the content. Now is also a perfect time to let someone else read your cover letter to recommend improvements. 

Outlining Your Human Resources Cover Letter for Success

Starting any project with a blank slate is intimidating, so use this HR cover letter outline to get you started on the right foot!

How to start a human resources cover letter

Your contact info:  Give employers a helping hand and provide your contact information right from the get-go. List your name, number, email, and physical address right at the top of your cover letter template. 

• Formatting : If you’re using a block format, only include your physical address, and save your name for the signature.

Date:  Even in a virtual letter, you should include a date. It makes your cover letter look more professional, and it gives the hiring manager a timeline for your application.

Just make sure the date on your cover letter reflects the day you submit it, especially if you re-work your cover letters based on previous submissions.

• Formatting : Write out the full date, e.g., January 5, 2023.

Inside address:  Your address isn’t the only one that matters; also include the inside address, aka the employer’s address. It should have the hiring manager or recruiter’s name, their title, and the company’s physical address. This shows the employer you’ve researched their company and know to whom you’re speaking. 

If the company doesn’t list its address or has multiple locations, check sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and the company’s website (you can also check Google Maps).

Min Ju Ha, Director of Talent Acquisition 50 Eggs Hospitality Group 7350 Biscayne Blvd  Miami, FL 33138

• Formatting : Each part of the address should be on a new line. Double space between the inside address and greeting. 

Greeting:  A polite greeting is always in vogue, so start your human resources cover letter with a formal, yet personal, salutation. Use the tried-and-true “dear,” followed by “Ms.” or “Mr.” and the hiring manager’s last name to avoid ruffling feathers (some businesses don’t appreciate casual introductions).

Finding the person in charge of hiring can be a pain, but people love to be addressed by name, so it’s worth it to spend the time to make a great first impression. Worst case scenario, address either the whole HR team (“Dear HR Hiring Team”) or the department head (“Dear HR Manager”). 

• Formatting : After your greeting, you’ll need either a comma or a colon; a colon is the preferred business option, but if the business is more casual, you can get away with a comma. Let the job description guide you.

How to write your human resources cover letter

Body:  This is the hardest part to get right, but we have you covered. First, focus on cutting your letter down to three to four short paragraphs.

Within those paragraphs, express your enthusiasm for the job, your qualifications, and your desire for future discussion. 

Opening paragraph:  Remember the last time you read a book that started like, “I am writing to inform you of my purpose, which is to write a really good book?” Yeah, us neither. Yet, most people begin their cover letters with similar statements that are polite but boing, like this: 

I read your job post on LinkedIn, and I am eager to apply. This human resources director position sounds like a perfect fit for my experience, and I know I can help your department reach its goals. My years of experience in human resources and management makes me an ideal candidate.

This information might not be  wrong , but it’s vague and generalized—and like 95% of other cover letters in the stack of applications. A good opening is unique and exciting while still being formal. It should address the company and express personality immediately, like this opener: 

Central New Mexico Community College’s core values of connection, compassion, and inspiration resonate with my values as a human resources professional. Your unique value-based approach has unsurprisingly made CNM one of the top 5 community colleges in the U.S. That, combined with your defined vision plans, inspired me to apply because my work would make a concrete difference for students and staff.

From the start, this candidate explains what they appreciate about the company and how they align with its beliefs and goals. 

Paragraphs 2-3:  These paragraphs should provide evidence for your qualifications and dig deep into your achievements; it’s time to define your part of the project and how you turned it into a success. 

However tempting, don’t try to tackle a job’s worth of success. Your letter will just sound cluttered and unfocused. Instead, focus on one accomplishment at a time, and provide plenty of details about that experience. 

I also have experience solving complex employee relations issues. As the HR manager with Cygna Labs, positive mediation was roughly 50% of my role. I investigated complaints, ensured compliance with legal employment requirements, and developed new policies and procedures. By the end of my position, our retention rate had increased by 45%, our human capital return on investment had improved by 23%, and the number of promoter-level NPS scores had increased by 42%.

Although 50% of their role focused on other tasks, this candidate only mentioned mediation/resolution and their successes with such.

Closing paragraph:  Don’t quit while you’re ahead—finish strong with a closing paragraph that summarizes your values, qualifications, and eagerness for an interview. This can sound like a lot, but rest assured, it can be done.

Start with a sentence summary of what you value based on the work experience you’ve described and how that adheres to the company’s values. Next, describe what you hope to accomplish in the position. Lastly, thank the employer and reassure them of your willingness to talk further. 

Just remember: you are an ideal candidate, but you shouldn’t sound like this:

As you can see, I have done everything you require (and more) at my previous jobs, which makes me the perfect candidate for this position. I know I can handle all employee relations responsibilities and ensure complete compliance as I have done at every HR job so far. Please give me a call or email at your earliest convenience; I look forward to making your day at my interview. 

Even if all this was true, it’s self-centered and doesn’t address the company at all. Instead, remind the employer of what they stand to gain when they hire you. Further establish how your goals align with theirs and what you’ll do for their HR department. 

I strive to improve the lives of employees by implementing modern practices and offering practical solutions to common problems. As your HR director, I desire to develop new training programs, ensure compliance, and increase employee engagement/satisfaction. Thank you for considering me for this position, and I hope to experience your restaurants first-hand soon.

This candidate explains their competency and their goals without sounding brash. It’s a delicate balance, but we know you can find it!

• Formatting : Single space in your letter but double space between paragraphs. 

Signature:  All that’s left is to sign off and say “thank you” if you didn’t in the closing paragraph. Use a professional closer along with your name. 

Derek Annais

• Formatting : If you’re presenting any hard copies of your human resources cover letter, quadruple space at the bottom to leave room to sign your name. 

Enclosure(s):  Many people don’t know about this section, but it’s important. It lists the other documents you’re submitting, reminding employers there’s more to come. It also helps them keep track of what you’ve included. 

HR positions usually require a job application and a resume, but some also require a supplemental questionnaire or references. Carefully scan the job description and application to make sure you provide everything requested.

Enclosures: Resume Application

• Formatting : Use the singular or plural form of “enclosure” depending on how many documents you’re enclosing. Most of the time, it will be plural, but you should check it every time.

Is Your HR Resume on Par with Your Cover Letter?

Now that you’ve written your human resources cover letter, you’ll likely want to hit “submit” immediately. But don’t forget you still need to  outline your resume  and polish it to shine.  

You have a great persuasive argument, aka your cover letter, but you still need a document that quantifies your work experience, aka your resume. When combined, they paint a glowing picture of your career.

Want to know how to make your HR resume just as impressive as your cover letter? A look at our  resume examples  will give you the boost you need, and you can even edit this HR resume directly. 

Human Resources Director Resume

Need a resume to pair with your human resources director cover letter?

If you’ve already started, try out our  resume checker  to get AI-powered advice to make your resume the best it can be. 

Now go snag the dream job you’ve always wanted!

Essential Tips on How to Address a Cover Letter

Even the easiest thing in a cover letter, such as greeting your employer, can become the first challenge to stand in your way . How to address the cover letter if you are not sure who is about to read it?

At this starting point, many job applicants already manage to make their first and biggest mistake – they do not research. At times when you are open to so many resources, finding such information is the easiest thing to do. Just take a few moments and find out the names and gender of the company’s HR managers. Eventually, your research skills will be highly estimated by the manager.

But how to address a cover letter with no name provided? Is it fine to use a generic greeting or should it be none at all? Your cover letter helper from Resume Writing Lab will guide you through several acceptable options.

Call the Office

Imagine that there wasn’t any name mentioned on the job listing, nor were there any hints on the company website.

What you can do for sure is to find the company’s phone number and make a call. This way, you can personally find out the name of the hiring manager who will read your letter for sure.

Now, if this option wasn’t successful enough, you are left with two other ones: excluding the greeting phrase at all or using a general salutation. In any case, try to stay away from common cover letter greeting mistakes .

Cover Letter without a Name

A lot of job seekers wonder how to address a cover letter without a name. General cover letter greetings should be your very last option on the list. They are very generic and most of them do not even require knowing the person’s gender.

According to a recent Saddleback College survey with more than 2,000 companies taking part in it, there are 4 most appropriate greetings that employers would prefer to see in the candidates’ cover letters.

Certainly, this is not a good reason to fire the employee. However, you might not get a chance to attract the employer in the first place if you don’t greet them properly.

Those are Dear Hiring Manager (40%), To Whom It May Concern (27%), Dear Sir/Madam (17%), and Dear Human Resources Director (6%). Only 8% of the surveyed HR managers would prefer seeing no salutation at all.

Gender-Neutral Names

It happens though that some of the persons’ names do not show a particular identity. In this case, instead of using gender-revealing titles, you should just use the person’s full name . For example, Dear Charlie Blake, Dear Jordyn Baker, etc.

But again: knowing the person’s full name and the company he/she works for at the moment, is enough for making research on social media.

The only thing you need to do is to open the person’s LinkedIn or Facebook profile picture – quite easy, isn’t it?

Also, if you keep a LinkedIn profile, be sure to learn how to set a LinkedIn background photo yourself!

Titles to Use in a Cover Letter

If you know both the name and the gender, it’s already a great win. However, here you should be careful as well, namely with the titles in your greeting.

Not always it would be ok to use Mr. or Ms. as a salutation. For instance, if your HR manager is a doctor or has a Ph.D. degree, such titles as Dr. and Prof. are more appropriate to use.

Also, pay attention to female titles since they can be tricky too. If you are not sure about the marital status of the female employer, use a generic Ms. instead of Miss. or Mrs . – you will never be wrong.

Final Words:

Always double-check if you wrote the person’s name correctly. Such a tiniest mistake can be a decisive factor that will cost you a lot more than 2 minutes of spell-check.

Everything you need to know about addressing your cover letter

Starting a cover letter can be the hardest part

Uncertain how to start a cover letter? You're not the only one. And yet, the way you address this key part of your application is of the utmost importance.

Research shows that there is just a 17% chance that your cover letter will be read at all. Because of this, you have to get it right from the start. Here, we break down everything you need to know about addressing your cover letter, from what information you need to the mistakes that could get your application binned.

Who should you address your cover letter to?

When determining how to address your cover letter, the biggest question to ask yourself is who will be reading it.

The answer? The HR manager. 

By the time an application makes it into the hands of an HR manager, it's probably already passed the desk of the recruiter or HR contact. As the HR manager only receives the shortlist of applications, they have more time to spend actually reading each one, which is why it's more likely that the HR manager will read your cover letter as opposed to the recruiter or less involved HR worker. 

Since the HR manager is the person who will be reading your cover letter, they are the person you should address it to.

There really is no better first impression to your application than to address your cover letter directly to the person who is doing the hiring. It shows you've done your research, have high attention to detail, and are prepared to go the extra mile.

So, how do you address a cover letter? You'll want to keep it professional by using the HR manager's full name and adding a formal salutation. 

How do you find out the name of the HR manager?

In this wonderful digital age in which we live, there are several ways to learn the name of the HR manager. Get ready to put on your sleuth hat and start investigating.

The job description

The best place to start is the job listing. Scroll to the bottom and look for the section for applying. Some job ads will mention the name and email address of the HR manager in this section. For example: "Please send your CV and cover letter to Jane Smith at [email protected]."

If the advertisement doesn't mention a name and the email address is generic, the next place to look is within the description itself. Often, a job listing will mention who the role reports to. For example: "You will report directly to the marketing manager." Once you have the job title of the HR manager, you're halfway there. 

The company website

If you haven't had any luck finding a name via the job description, the next point of call is the company's website. Smaller companies will often have a "Meet the Team" page, which will give you the name and job title of each staff member. Alternatively, look for an "About" page, a company directory or a contact page that might give you an insight to the company structure, relevant job titles, or HR manager's name. 

Head to LinkedIn 

When in doubt, LinkedIn is your best friend. Log into your account and search for the company to find their page. Once on the company page, click on "See all employees" and scroll down the list to find the name of the relevant department manager, HR manager. or an HR contact. 

Call the company

If you want to be 100% certain, there's no harm in calling the company and asking the Receptionist. Simply mention that you are putting together your application for the vacant position and would like to address it to the correct person. Nine times out of 10, they will be able to assist. 

The wrong ways to address a cover letter

You know you should address your cover letter to the HR manager. Now, what kind of language should you use to do so? Here are some approaches you should avoid because they lack professionalism.

"Hey" or "Hi"

You're not texting your mate. When you're addressing a cover letter, the last thing you want to do is get overly familiar with them. Greetings such as "Hey," "Hi," and even "Hello" are strikingly casual. You should only use them when you know someone or are in a social environment. 

Needless to say, your cover letter is neither the time nor the place for these greetings. When you start a letter this way, it's unlikely that the employer or recruiter will read the whole thing. Your lack of professionalism and awareness is likely to lose you the opportunity before you've even received it.

"Dear Team"

When you address a cover letter this way, it means you are speaking to the entire team you are hoping to join. But the whole team will not be the ones who decide whether or not to hire you.

In actuality, you're writing to one or two individuals ‒ the people who have hiring power within the company. Addressing the entire team comes off as an attempt to cover all your bases without putting in the work to research.

"To Whom it may Concern"

You may have been taught this one in school, but that doesn't mean it's right. The working world has come a long way and it's time we started to update the lingo we use to match that. For instance, if you're applying for a modern role, such as one in a marketing or a digital field, this greeting won't align with their culture.

"Dear Sir or Madam" 

You may not know the gender of the HR manager, but that doesn't mean this opening will cut it. Plus, you are ignoring the fact that the person you're writing to could be non-binary and use they/them pronouns. This greeting is many people's go-to when they're addressing a cover letter, but much like "To Whom it may concern," this one is overly formal and outdated. 

What do you do if you just can't find a name?

Sometimes, no matter how much you research, you just can't figure out exactly who you should be addressing your cover letter to. So, other than avoiding the bad addresses listed above, how should you go about it?

To start, it's always better to aim higher up the food chain than lower. If you're able to find a list of executives, address your cover letter to the head of the appropriate department. 

Alternatively, opt for the most appropriate job title. For example: "Dear Marketing Manager" or "Dear Office Manager," depending on the department the position would fall under.

Making the best impression

Your cover letter is the part of your application where you can offer more detail to an HR manager and show why you're the best fit for the job. If you start it off on the wrong foot, you may discourage an employer from reading the rest of your letter and truly considering you as a candidate. But with research and professionalism, you can make a strong impression.

To match your cover letter, you need an impressive CV. See if yours makes the grade by getting a free CV review .

This article was updated in October 2020. It contains work written by Charlotte Grainger .

Recommended Reading:

What should a cover letter include? Start with these essentials

Do recruiters actually read cover letters anymore?

Cut these clichés from your cover letter

Related Articles:

What File Format Is Best for Your CV? Pros + Cons

Teamwork skills on your CV: How to show you're a team player

How to navigate a sabbatical on your CV

See how your CV stacks up.

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How to Address a Cover Letter

Don't know how to address your cover letter in the most respectful and appropriate way? See the best tips on what business etiquette dictates and how to get points as a good candidate.

Making a great first impression is imperative to becoming the #1 candidate for the job. The first impression, as we found out in our previous articles, comes from the cover letter. An appropriate salutation secures the right tone for the rest of your cover letter and wins the recipient’s favor. By directing your cover letter to a specific person you simulate a dialog, a conversation, where you’ve been yielded the floor. Stop cranking out templatized impersonal covering letters — they end up in the discard pile!

In this article, we’ve drawn up an explicit guide on “how to” and “who to” for addressing a cover letter when applying for a job opening.

Addressing a Cover Letter: Why is it Important?

Imagine you’re a hiring manager. It’s an average day at work — your company is looking for a Sales Manager . You brew your daily cup of strong coffee and check your inbox. The inbox displays 200+ incoming emails from applicants for the job opening.

You open one email and it reads

The first idea in your head will probably be something like:

“Another cliched cover letter. I bet this applicant’s been sending this cover letter to dozens of companies. I’ll leave it for the end.

You open the next one and it starts

Easy, easy! My name is Rachel, I’ll have you know!

You’re not in the best mood already, right? Would you give a chance to an applicant who calls you “Sir”? Bet you won’t.

To make things worse, these examples are real-life cases. You can ask hiring managers and recruiters from different companies and they all will say that they read letters like this time and time again. Moreover, they will definitely tell you even more ridiculous stories from their experience.

Let’s move to our article and consider the best options for addressing a cover letter for a job and the mistakes to avoid.

Options for Addressing a Cover Letter

Our experts strongly suggest that job seekers address their cover letters using the recruiting manager’s name. Now, this is not always possible for various reasons, so what’s the next best thing? We’ll show you how to address a cover letter for an online application the right way in any situation.

Use the Hiring Manager’s Name

Always make the effort to find who to address cover letter to. How do you find the info?

You can say something like:

“Hello, my name is Theodore. I’m applying for the content writer position at your company. Do you by any chance know the name of the hiring manager responsible for the position? It would be much appreciated.”

You might think that this is a waste of time, but going out of your way to find the recruiter’s name really shows that you put in the effort to apply and have a genuine interest in working there.

Use the Recipient’s Title In Your Address

Dear Dr. House, Dear Maj. Payne, Dear Prof. Hulk,

Although finding the name of the hiring manager is always preferred, it’s not always possible. What should you do in these occasions? HR professionals have answered this question for you. In a recent study done by Saddleback College, which surveyed 2,000 hiring managers, the majority of the polled specialists liked to see “Dear Hiring Manager” if the name is unknown. Starting your cover letter , write the role you’re applying for and “Hiring Manager” in the recipient info section.

Hiring Manager for the Engineer Position

From: John Doe

11301 West Olympic Boulevard Apt. 100

Los Angeles, CA 90064

(212) 245-7154

[email protected]

To: Hiring Manager for the Engineer Position

XYZ Worldwide Inc.

28 Second Avenue, NY

(212) 244-7701

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m writing to you to express my interest in the Engineer position that

is open on your company website with the job ID #10120.

What should you do when you have the name of the hiring manager but aren’t sure of the person’s gender? The answer is simple — include both the first name and the last name in your greeting.

- Dear Taylor Johnson,

- Dear Cory Morgan,

Mistakes to Avoid When Addressing a Cover Letter

Oftentimes, candidates write cover letters half-heartedly and make silly mistakes. You would probably assume that the majority of applicants mishandling cover letters are students because of the lack of experience, but it’s not a matter of experience. It’s a matter of underestimation. Inexperienced internal students sometimes write their applications for an internship much better and more professional than overqualified workers with a vast experience handle their cover letters for a job at a big company. It all depends on how the candidate celebrates this document and realizes the impact of a well-thought-out cover letter.

What's the Proper Format for a Cover Letter Address?

Get Cover Letter expert writers suggest using a traditional business letter format when writing a cover letter for employment. Keep in mind, that while the business style cover letter rules and requirements are pretty strict, there is still room for a free hand and individual approach.

Start with a header that includes the sender’s name, address, and contact info. Add date above or below the sender’s section. Skip 1 line after the sender section.

The recipient’s info section includes the recruiting manager's name, official title and company name, full address, including city, state and zip code, and phone number. Skip 1 line after the recipient section.

Write an appropriate salutation: “Dear Mr. Doe,”, “Dear Cpt. Donovan,”, “Dear Hiring Manager,”. Don’t forget a comma after your greeting and leave 1-2 blank lines before you get down to writing the introduction.

Introduce yourself and get straight to the point of your job application.

From: [Your Full Name]

[Street, City, State, Zip]

[Phone Number]

To: [Recipient’s Full Name]

[Recipient’s Company Name]

[Recipient’s Phone]

[Recipient’s Email]

Dear [Recipient],

First/Introductory Paragraph

Body: Qualifications, Interests, Background, Sales Pitch

Closing paragraph

Farewell words e.g. Best Regards,

[Your Full Name]

Want to know what to write in the rest of your cover letter? See our “ Complete Guide To Writing an Impressive Cover Letter That Gets You Hired”

Now you know how to address a cover letter to a company in any situation you face during your job search. Follow the rules and recommendations from our professional guide and craft outstanding cover letters. If you have specific questions about how to address someone in a cover letter, feel free to contact us for some extra tips and advice. Still doubting yourself or unsure and can’t get past writer's block? We’re here for you. Our company has been providing professional CV and cover letter writing services for thousands of clients from the US and overseas. As of today, over 130,000 cover letters have been successfully built with the help of our online service; thousands of our clients have landed jobs. We are here to assist with your career ambitions and help you land your dream job. Don’t miss a chance to become one of those delighted people!

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Human Resource (HR) Executive Cover Letter Example

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HR Executives' major role is to hire the best talents into their organization and satisfy the existing employees. They are mostly responsible for human resource functions in an organization. So, as you are going to apply for a very responsible job, you as an HR candidate should be brilliant personnel with a brilliant human resource executive cover letter to win the job.

Sample Human Resource (HR) Executive Cover Letter

Hr executive cover letter example (text version).

Patrick Blanton, Thunder Rd, San Jose, CA, 95134. 556-97-1234 [email protected]

Whitney Markey, Hiring Manager, Midwest HR LLC, Fresno, CA, 76102.

RG: Application for the position of HR Executive

Dear Whitney,

I would like to apply for the position of human resource executive at Midwest HR, LLC and I am writing this letter to show my sincere interest to join your company immediately. With my 5+ years of management experience, necessary skills and qualifications, I am sure that I will be a great choice for you to appoint me as an HR executive in your organization.

In my previous employment, I was able to make employees feel comfortable and motivated them to work hard which resulted in increasing the efficiency of employees by 15%. As an individual, I have the most required skills for an HR executive not only strong analytical skills, problem-solving skills and decision-making skills, but also empathy. I am a college graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration which made me think I am a great and qualified candidate for the position. And also I am highly skilled in ERP payroll software and HR management systems such as Bitrix24, Conrep and BizMerlin.

I guarantee myself as a diligent and focused individual with attention-to-detail and strong verbal and written communication skills. If I get this opportunity it will be a milestone in my life to work in a well-renowned company like yours, which was once a dream of mine. If you feel like I am the one who you are looking for, please feel free to contact me at any time in the day at 556-97-1234 via phone or at [email protected] via email.

In the end, I would like to thank you for the time and consideration, and I hope to meet you to explain in detail what I have to offer more for your company’s success.

Patrick Blanton.

Get Custom HR Executive Cover Letter

As stated, this article provides a unique cover letter sample and tips to write a cover letter for the HR Executive field. However, you can also create your own cover letter by downloading cover letter samples here for free. And if you require a professional to write your cover letter, you can request a custom cover letter in multiple formats for $4.99

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Human Resource (HR) Executive Cover Letter Tips

You must have good knowledge of writing cover letters as you are going to apply for an HR position. And also, if you don’t have an impressive cover letter specifically targeted to the HR Executive job, you will be in danger of losing your job opportunity. So it’s always important to know great cover letter tips that can be helpful to make your job search a success. Here are the most important tips to make your HR cover letter stand out from the crowd.

Tip #01 – Address to the right person and the right company

Addressing the wrong person when writing a cover letter will be a serious issue. Therefore, you need to address the cover letter to the exact person who will read it.  You may find the name of that person by contacting the company, or by research.

Tip #02 – Start with an enthusiasm

Show your passion and excitement for being an HR executive in the company by showing your knowledge of that company and the work environment. Tell the recruiter by providing some proof that you have done the company research. By this way, you can let the recruiter feels that you are a passionate candidate.

Tip #03 – Prove yourself as a best HR Executive

It’s great to tailor your cover letter specifically to the job advertisement. What you can do for this is personalize the cover letter with keywords and key phrases from the job description. Then also try to mention specific skills to your cover letter so you can use your expertise to impress the recruitment manager. Here’s the list of skills most in demand for an HR executive role.

• Accountability skills
• Customer service skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Organizational skills
• Performance management
• Presentation skills
• Project management skills
• Time management skills
• Familiarity with Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)

Tip #04 – Use Action Verbs in your Human Resource Executive Cover Letter

When you write your job description with the key accomplishments don’t forget to start those with some powerful action verbs . And you must be wise enough to place the correct action verb in the right place. Further, you can make your cover letter stand out by quantifying your performances and results. This is one of the best ways to impress a typical recruiter. Here is the best set of action verbs which you can use in an HR executive cover letter.

• Coordinated
• Facilitated
• Interviewed

Tip #05 – Grab the recruiter’s attention with a great postscript

Many of the candidates do not include a postscript in their cover letter, even though it is a brilliant hack. Postscript is a brief paragraph that you should write at the bottom of your cover letter. That may be something which increases your value or else something about you can give the employer in return for having you the job.

The aim of writing a postscript is to draw the recruiter’s interest in us. As far as hiring professionals are interested in reading this, there is a higher possibility of getting a successful job sooner for applicants than for others who do not have a postscript in the cover letter.

Tip #06 – Choose a professional font

When you apply for a Human Resource Executive position, you can submit your cover letter while retaining your professionalism. So always create your cover letter with one of the suggested resume fonts like Calibri, Lato, Open Sans are some of the best fonts that can be used in your cover letter.

Though now you have a full understanding of how to write a perfect cover letter, it is equally important to know how to craft a perfect resume . for an HR executive position.

Download Free HR Executive Cover Letters

Find the available free templates and download Gdoc, Word (docx) or PDF files for free.

Now you know how to make a perfect cover letter for an HR Executive job. Now it’s your turn to learn the expert cover letter tips . and shorten your job search cycle.

Looking for a custom cover letter? Get unique one crafted specially for you from Cresuma experts

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HR Executive Resume Example

Want to see cover letter examples for other job positions and industries, head over to Cover Letter Samples 2023