6 alternatives for a better cover letter salutation!

Applying for employment has never been easier in several ways. Job seekers can apply to several jobs in minutes thanks to the convenience of ‘one-click to submit’ job applications on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed.

That isn’t to say you shouldn’t.

While it may be tempting to simply upload a pre-saved CV and submit it, it is critical to tailor your application to each position. Most positions receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, so it’s vital that you stand out – and your cover letter is one method to achieve so.

There is a hierarchy of alternatives to consider when writing a cover letter salutation. Consider it a funnel, with the most specific option at the top and the least specific option at the bottom, depending on what information you can uncover. The name of the individual who is hiring is at the top. A general salutation to the recruiting manager appears at the bottom.

Make every attempt to adhere to these rules to stand out from the crowd.

In the best-case scenario, the recruiting manager’s name is mentioned in the job description. Most of the time, the most you’ll get is something along the lines of “this role reports to the Director of Communications.” If that’s the case, look for a staff directory on the company’s website or LinkedIn or Twitter.

Some businesses purposefully do not publish a staff directory, making it difficult to locate this information. Use the name only if you’re convinced you’ve got it right. If this is not the case, proceed to the next level of the hierarchy.

For many jobs, the department to which the job belongs is obvious. While the head of the sales department may not be the one who hires, they are almost certainly in charge of whoever is — even if only indirectly. By addressing your letter to the department head, you’ll demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to find out whom you should send it to.

This information is sometimes provided openly in the job description or is otherwise obvious. If you’re not sure, check out the company’s website. The finest results may be found in the website directory or contact information.

Are you unsure of the department head’s name? Continue to the next stage.

While this is a bit more generic, it still communicates that you are familiar with the team you will be working with. Although “Dear Sales Department” may seem strange, it is preferable than addressing to a black hole.

Many firms now have specialized talent acquisition or recruiting departments in charge of the hiring process. You won’t work directly with these people during the hiring and on boarding process (unless you’re applying for a recruitment role), but you will work with someone in charge of talent. Look up the name of the recruiter who is in charge of filling the post.

If you can’t find the recruiter’s name, you can address your cover letter to the company’s recruiting department instead. To indicate you aren’t just duplicating the same cover letter, include the company’s name and the right words for their hiring team (such as “Dear Recruiting Department” or “Dear Talent Acquisition”).

Because most open positions are handled by a team of people, including someone from recruitment and one or a few people from the hiring department, you can address your cover letter to the entire hiring team. To provide a little more specificity, including the role for which you are applying. For example, instead of “Dear Hiring Team/Committee,” “Dear Communications Specialist Hiring Team/Committee” is preferred.

If you need more insights on the same, get in touch with professional resume writers.