How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name: Guide with 10+ Examples

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When competition is fierce, even small details can tip the scale.

While surveys suggest that 26% of hiring managers say addressing them by name “goes a long way”, the problem is, you won’t always have access to a hiring manager’s name.

In those cases, knowing how to keep your letter professional, polished, and still relevant becomes critical.

In this guide, we’ll break down practical ways to handle cover letters when you don’t have a name, along with formatting tips, examples, and strategies to avoid common pitfalls.

Read on to get an insight into the following FAQs:

• How do you write a cover letter if you don't know the hiring manager?
• How to format the cover letter address correctly?
• Who to write a cover letter to without a contact?
• Which method of delivering a cover letter is not appropriate?
• What are the practical ways to find the hiring manager’s name?
• Additional tips to write a cover letter without name

Who Should You Address a Cover Letter To?

When no specific name is listed, the goal is to make your salutation as accurate and professional as possible—without guessing. Here’s how to decide:

• If a hiring manager is named in the job description: address the cover letter directly to them.

• If no hiring manager is listed: use the relevant department head or team name (e.g., “Dear Marketing Hiring Team”).

• If a recruiter is named as the contact: you can address the letter to the recruiter or keep “Dear Hiring Manager” as the salutation and reference the recruiter in your opening line.

• Avoid addressing CEOs or founders: they rarely manage the recruitment process and your application is more likely to be screened by the hiring team.

This approach keeps your greeting targeted and professional without straying into awkward or outdated options.

Also Read: How to address a cover letter?

How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name?

A cover letter for a job is not similar to a letter to a friend.

The purpose of a cover is to impress the hiring manager with your professional expertise to score an interview.

But addressing cover letters with no name may get rejected by the recruiters.

We understand how important it is to know how to write a cover letter without a name as per these statistics.

Also Read: How to write a cover letter?

Here are some steps on how to address a cover letter without a name:

1. Address the Cover Letter with “Dear Hiring Manager”

It is the most common way to address a hiring manager with no name and is considered as best practice.

It allows the hiring manager to quickly focus on the main body of the cover letter, instead of rejecting the cover letter right away.

2. Address the Cover Letter to the Team

When in doubt, you can address the whole team so that anyone from the team can receive your cover letter and respond accordingly.

It can be the hiring manager, assistant, or anyone from the department who may interview you during the job application process.

You can phrase it as:

• Dear Recruiting Team
• Dear Project Manager Hiring Team

Also Read: What can a cover letter explain that a résumé cannot?

3. Maintain Professional Approach

Maintain a professional approach and avoid informal phrases or words such as "Hello!", "Good Evening/Morning", or "Hi!"

Keep it simple and professional by using the term, "Dear" followed by the designation.

For Example:

• Dear Hiring Head
• Dear Recruitment Supervisor

4. Use Neutral, Role-based Salutations

Keep salutations professional and inclusive. When a specific name or title isn’t confirmed, use neutral, role-based options.

Use:

• Dear Hiring Manager,

• Dear [Department] Hiring Team,

• Dear [Department] Hiring Committee,

• Dear [Company] Recruiting Team,

• To the [Department] Hiring Manager,

Avoid:

To Whom It May Concern,

• Dear Sir or Madam,

• Hello/Hi/Greetings,

• First-name-only (“Dear Maya,”),

• Military or unrelated ranks (e.g., Sgt.),

• Guessing gender or marital status from photos

Also Read: How to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn?

How to Write the Academic Title in the Cover Letter Address?

You can write the academic title in full form.

For Example:

• Dear Doctor Green,
• Dear Professor Geller,

Alternatively, you can use the abbreviation of the titles as well.

For Example:

• Dear Dr. Murphy,
• Dear Prof. Goodwin,
• Dear Sgt. Moore,
• Dear Principle Alan,

How to Format and Place the Cover Letter Address

Getting the placement right makes your cover letter look professional and easy to follow. Follow this order:

• Start with your contact information in the heading (name, phone, email)
• Write the date below the heading
• Leave one line space and add the hiring manager’s name (if known)
• Add the company name and address
• Leave one line space and include the position you are applying for (optional but helpful)
• Leave one more line space, then add your salutation

For example:

Jordan Applicant
123 Main Street
Boston, MA 02118
jordan.applicant@email.com | (555) 123-4567

October 3, 2025

Taylor Morgan
ABC Corporation
456 Business Road
New York, NY 10001

Re: Application for Marketing Associate

Dear Taylor Morgan,

Email vs PDF: Salutation & Format

Writing an email cover letter address is fundamentally similar but with some tweaks.

If you are sending a digital cover letter, you need to start with a professional subject line.

For Example:

John Doe: Application for Video Editor Position, Ref: Anthony Moore

Then add your cover letter salutation based on the same rule.

Add a line space and then start your cover letter by adding the necessary information that gives an insight into your professional experience and skills.

Example:

Subject Line: John Doe: Application for Project Manager Position, Reff: Charles Moore

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am a 5+ years experienced project management professional…

Acceptable No-Name Salutations

Also Read: What are the benefits of using a cover letter builder?

Salutations to Avoid (& Why)

Also Read: How to draft a professional message to the hiring manager?

How to Find the Hiring Manager's Name?

How do you write a cover letter if you don't know the name?

Well, you can simply address your cover letter as, "Dear Hiring Manager". But if you feel the need to add the name of the hiring manager then there are ways to do so.

Finding the hiring manager’s name is the best way to address a cover letter.

So, before calling it quits, let us look at some ways to find the hiring manager’s name.

Read the Job Description Thoroughly

Always read the job description carefully!

Usually, the hiring manager’s name or the title of the reporting manager is given in the job description or under the job description.

For instance, “The digital marketer will report to the Marketing Manager.”

You can use the title to then find their name on the company website or LinkedIn.

Sometimes the job description includes the hiring manager’s email address.

For Example: “Send your cover letter and resume to johndoe@hiration[dot]com".

You can find the hiring manager’s name in the email address.

Visit the Profile of the Job Publisher

Sites like LinkedIn or AngelList have this unique feature to show you the name of the one who posts the job.

You can go to their profile to see if they are the hiring manager and include their name in the cover letter.

Call the Company Front Desk

Calling the company is the easiest way to find the hiring manager's name. But, job candidates reserve it as the last option.

• Call the company desk
• Tell them that you are applying for a “vacant position” in their company and would like to know the hiring manager’s name.

Here’s an example of the script:

“ Hi, my name is Alex, and I’m currently applying for the video editor position in your company. Would it be possible for you to provide me the name and email ID of the hiring manager so that I can address the cover letter properly?”

Do a Quick LinkedIn Search

According to LinkedIn, 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn as part of their hiring process. That means, if you search for the hiring manager of a certain company on LinkedIn, there is a high chance for you to find their name.

Many job descriptions specifically tell the reporting manager’s title in the job description. Then you need to address the cover letter to the reporting manager.

The process of finding the reporting manager’s name is similar.

• Go to LinkedIn
• Search the job title and company name
• In the search result, you can find the profile of the designated person
• Sometimes, there might be more than one similar position for a big company so you need to narrow your search by location to find the reporting manager

Also Read: How to Make the Best Use of LinkedIn Search Feature?

Network with People

LinkedIn is the best way to find and connect with people who have connections in the company you are applying for. If you can create a good rapport with these professionals, you can ask for a reference.

It is an easy but time-consuming process.

• Search the company name and see the professionals active on LinkedIn
• Start engaging with their content and leave thoughtful comments
• Send them a personalized connection invite after engaging with their content for a couple of days
• Do not ask for a reference abruptly; instead, start building a rapport with them by sharing helpful industry information, blog, article links, videos, etc.
• If possible, move the connection offline and meet in person
• After you develop a good rapport with the professionals, you can ask for a reference or introduce yourself to the hiring manager

Also Read: How to Connect with People on LinkedIn?

Tips for Addressing a Cover Letter with No Name

Always Use a Formal Address in the Cover Letter

Whether you know the hiring manager’s name or not, always keep the address formal in the cover letter. Even if the company has an informal culture, do not use any casual address unless you are a part of the organization.

Avoid Using “To Whom It May Concern”

This salutation is too generic and does not address anyone at all; however, according to a survey, 17% of hiring managers prefer this salutation over others.

But the problem is 83% of hiring managers don’t prefer it.

So we suggest that you avoid it altogether.

Avoid Addressing the Cover Letter to the Recruiters

A recruiter’s job is to sort the resumes based on skills and experience and pass them to the hiring managers. They don’t generally read the cover letter.

So, it’s a waste of opportunity if you address the cover letter to the recruiter.

Instead, always address the cover letter to the hiring manager.

Ensure That You Are Addressing the Cover Letter to the Right Person

Online information is not updated regularly. Often, the concerned persons leave the job, but their email ID is still there on the website.

So, who to address cover letter to if unknown? Or you are unsure? It is best to carefully research the hiring manager’s name and crosscheck if you have any doubts by calling the company directly.

Do Not Mess up the Hiring Manager’s Name

There is a saying that “The first impression is the last impression.”

Try to make an excellent first impression by writing the hiring manager’s name using the correct spelling.

Don’t Stress Too Much

If you have the relevant skills and experience for a job, addressing a cover letter to the wrong person might not be a big deal. So, if you can’t find the hiring manager’s name and wondering how to address a cover letter without a name, just write “Dear Hiring Manager.”

Make Sure the Cover Letter is Short and Easy to Read

You should not make the cover letter more than 400-500 words long. It will make it difficult to read.

A short and crisp cover letter will intrigue the hiring managers as compared to a long one.

Also Read: How long should a cover letter be?

Cover Letter Without Name Sample

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FAQs on "How to Address a Cover Letter Without Name?"

With that, we have answered all of your questions on “how to address a cover letter without a name?”.

Addressing a cover letter to an unknown person should not be difficult if you can keep some points in mind on how to go about in this situation. Here are a few FAQs that will help you gain a quick recap:S

1. How to address a cover letter to an unknown person?

A. In cases where you are wondering how to address a cover letter without name, you can opt for "Dear Hiring Manager," or "Dear {Company Name} Recruiting Team,".

2. How to address a cover letter without a name for an internship?

If no hiring manager is listed, keep it professional and neutral. Use “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “Dear [Department] Internship Hiring Team,” (e.g., “Dear Marketing Internship Hiring Team,”). This shows you’ve tailored the letter to the internship program while staying formal.

3. How to address a cover letter to a large company?

For large organizations, avoid generic greetings like “To Whom It May Concern.” Instead, address your letter to the most relevant team or department: “Dear Human Resources Hiring Team,” or “Dear Finance Department Hiring Committee.” This signals you understand how hiring works in bigger companies, where multiple managers may review your application.

Hiration provides you with a personalized 360-degree ChatGPT-powered career service platform for all your professional needs - from building a shortlist-worthy resume and cover letter to optimizing your LinkedIn profile, preparing for interviews, and more!