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Your cover letter's greeting sets the tone for everything that follows. Get it right, and you're already ahead of 60% of applicants who default to generic salutations. Get it wrong, and you might lose the hiring manager's attention before they even read your first paragraph. 

The most effective cover letter greeting addresses a specific person. "Dear Ms. Johnson" or "Dear Mr. Chen" immediately shows you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in this particular position—not just mass-applying to every job posting you can find. 

•  Check the job posting for contact information
• Browse the company's website team or leadership pages
• Search LinkedIn for the department head or HR manager
• Call the company's main number and politely ask for the hiring manager's name
• Look at recent company press releases or news articles

Sometimes, despite your best detective work, you won't find a specific contact. Here are your best alternatives, ranked from most to least effective:

"Dear Hiring Manager" - Professional and direct. This works well for most situations and shows you understand who will be reading your letter.

"Dear [Department] Team" - Use this when applying to a specific department. For example, "Dear Marketing Team" or "Dear Engineering Team." It's personal without being overly familiar.

"Dear Talent Acquisition Team" - Perfect for larger companies where you know applications go through a dedicated recruiting department.

 "To Whom It May Concern" - This phrase screams "generic application." It's outdated and suggests you couldn't be bothered to research the company.

"Dear Sir or Madam" - Equally outdated and unnecessarily formal for most modern workplaces.

"Hello" or "Hi"** - Too casual for most professional settings, unless you're applying to a very informal startup environment.

 Get the Title Right: If you find a name, make sure you use the correct title. When in doubt, "Ms." is generally safe for women, while "Mr." works for men. If you're unsure about gender, use their full name: "Dear Alex Johnson."

Double-Check Spelling: Nothing kills credibility faster than misspelling the hiring manager's name. If you're unsure about spelling, it's better to use "Dear Hiring Manager."

Match the Company Culture: Research the company's tone. A creative agency might appreciate a slightly more casual approach than a law firm.

 Internal Applications: If you're applying for an internal position, you can be slightly more casual: "Dear Jennifer" instead of "Dear Ms. Smith."

Referrals: When someone referred you, mention it immediately: "Dear Ms. Johnson, John Smith suggested I reach out regarding the Marketing Coordinator position."

 Your greeting might seem like a small detail, but it's your first impression. Taking the extra five minutes to research and personalize your greeting shows attention to detail, genuine interest, and professionalism—qualities every hiring manager values.

Remember, a great greeting opens doors, but it's what follows that gets you hired. Use RoboApply's tools to craft the perfect cover letter from greeting to signature.