If you are submitting a cover letter and resume to a company it is very important to know the name of the addressee and address him or her personally. I would say that before you move forward without the person’s name, you will want to call and find out who is the person responsible that will be receiving your resume.
If for whatever reason, you cannot find the name of the person who you should be writing to, then you will have to write a business letter with the following:
- Dear Sir or Madam
- To Whom It May Concern
- Dear Hiring Executive
- Re: Job Title You’re Applying For
The above salutations are some of the industry standards that are used when addressing someone whom you do not know their name. Truly, it is much more personable when you go the extra mile to learn someone’s name.
Importance of Knowing Names
Remembering a name not only creates instant familiarity and connection to the other person, it is also a subtle and effective compliment. It is more professional too than just simply going with the standard “To Whom it May Concern” and it makes it more personable especially since reading the “To Whom it May Concern” seems as though it is a typical copy and paste letter that could be sent to everyone.
Taking a look at the last salutation “Re: Job Title You’re Applying For”, you may want to use this one to respond to ads for jobs because there would be no way of you knowing who the primary point of contact would be (unless otherwise stated). You can also use it in the subject line of your email and combine it with the “Dear Hiring Executive” greeting.
If you can find out the contacts name, it will be the best thing for you to send a follow up email to your resume and cover letter. Otherwise, be sure to use one of the above salutations that are standard to use when you do not know the addressees’’ name.
Filed under FAQs, Writing a Cover Letter by on Nov 18th, 2011. Comment. 
