How to Address an Cover Letter
When you are sending an email cover letter it is important to include a subject line, your signature, and to address the email to the person who is hiring for the position, if you have a contact. Here are tips on how to address an email cover letter.
Subject Line of Email Message
List the job you are applying for in the Subject Line of your email message, so the employer is clear as to what job you are interested in:
Subject Line: Job Title - Your Name
How to Address an Email Cover Letter
If you don’t have a contact person at the company you can either leave off the saluation from your cover letter and start with the first paragraph of your letter or use a general salutation.
There a variety of cover letter salutations you can use to address your email message. Employers who responded to a recent employer survey conducted by Saddleback College preferred:
Dear Hiring Manager (38%)
To whom it may concern (26%)
Dear Sir/Madam (18%)
Dear Human Resources Director (9.5%)
Leave it blank (8%)
Once you have chosen a salutation, follow it with a colon or comma, a space, and then start the first paragraph of your letter. For example:
Dear Hiring Manager:
How to Address a Cover Letter for a Non-Gender Specific Name
If you do have a name, but aren't sure of the person's gender, an option is to include both the first name and the last name in your salutation:
Dear Sydney Smith
Dear Taylor Dolan
Body of Email Cover Letter
The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, and why the employer should select you for an interview.
Conclusion
If you have attached your resume, mention it in this paragraph. Then conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.
Closing
Including a closing, then list your name and your email signature.
Best Regards,
Your Name
Signature
Include your name, full address, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn Profile URL, if you have one, so it is easy for hiring managers to get in touch.
FirstName LastName
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Email
Cell
LinkedIn