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Topic: Name for Cover Letter
| Author | Message |
| amytana | Posted – 6/16/2008 2:42:07 PM | show profile | email poster I keep reading that I should address my cover letter to a person and not just a generic address like hiring manager, etc. but whenever I try to get the name of an actual person by calling the company I have been unsuccessful. I don't know how to find a name of someone! Any ideas? Thanks! Amy in Los Angeles |
| amytana | Posted – 6/16/2008 2:47:44 PM | show profile P.S. I have spent lots of time trying to unearth names off the internet...so basically- what to do if you can't find it online or by phone? |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/16/2008 4:25:48 PM | show profile If you're applying for a job, don't worry about it, just write, 'Hi there,' and then your cover letter in the body of your e-mail. That is less stuffy and artificial than 'dear hiring manager' or 'to whom it may concern' and it fits with the tone of email. Whatever you do, don't attach it or it won't be read. Keep it short and sweet and mention a point or two that shows you are perfectly qualified for the job so they'll race to look at your resume. Good luck, Pam |
| Scottie | Posted – 6/16/2008 5:20:30 PM | show profile I have to disagree. "Hi there" sounds like you're talking to your BFF on Facebook. I think it's an inappropriate business greeting and I say this as someone who doesn't feel women need to wear pantyhose (see other thread) and is okay with "Dear John" as opposed to "Dear Mr. Doe." I would question the judgment of someone who wrote "HI there" in business correspondence. In a similar vein, I was thinking of doing some personal business with a young woman whose email address turned out to be sexyfrenchkitten. That killed the deal for me. I didn't want to hand over the keys to my house with someone who thinks that's an acceptable email address. |
| observer | Posted – 6/16/2008 6:13:46 PM | show profile comment to the above poster... i had a similar situation with a woman whose resume we were interested in but her e-mail was h20kitty@___.com. Although, she might be good for morale, we decided that she might not be the best for the position. |
| jobhunter08 | Posted – 6/16/2008 6:16:06 PM | show profile If I cannot locate a name, I use "to whom it may concern", if anyone has a better thing to use I'm totally open though. Scottie- But was she a "sexy french kitten"? That is the question... |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/16/2008 6:19:56 PM | show profile Scottie, Totally disagree with you. This is an email application for a job. Hi there is fine....email is relatively casual....and no one pays attention anyway because they know that you don't have a name. My point is just that an email cover letter is more casual than a formal business letter. If you don't feel comfortable with it, use something else. It really doesn't matter as long as your letter is professional and well written and makes the reader (me) want to race to read your resume. I get hundreds (yes hundreds) of email cover letters all the time that say 'Hi there' and I've never taken offense! I just want to know if you're qualified for the job. |
| Scottie | Posted – 6/16/2008 6:58:14 PM | show profile Re sexyfrench kitten, I don't know if she really was a sexy French kitten as I cancelled the meeting once I saw that. Oh well, I suppose sexyfrenchpussy would have been way worse. Foodlit, I wouldn't be offended and it wouldn't cause me to reject an otherwise solid application, I just don't think it's a good advice to tell people to write "hi there." Yes, email is a more informal medium and I do agree that the traditional business letter will likely go the way of the eight track, but how about "hello" for this era of change? |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/16/2008 7:44:56 PM | show profile Hello works well. It does depend on the role you're applying for too and level. I agree that 'Hi there,' could be too casual...but I think media and art related roles are more casual that others....go with what seems appropriate. |
| Chitownwritergal | Posted – 6/17/2008 3:38:17 PM | show profile I am not sure that there is much difference between "hello" and "Dear Hiring Manager," except the latter sounds more formal--and, in my mind, more appropriate when one is introducing herself via cover letter and resume to a person of authority. Am I off base? Could my adressing cover letters to the hiring manager be the reason I am not getting called in for interviews? My point is: This is the small stuff. But I think someone who gets offended at the formality of an address in a cover letter is being unreasonable. |
| Chitownwritergal | Posted – 6/17/2008 3:39:24 PM | show profile I meant "addressing," of course. High school French messed with my English, apparently. |
