Cover Letter Salutation: Tips and Examples

A cover letter salutation is the greeting that you use at the start of a cover letter. When you are writing a professional cover letter to include with your resume for a job application, the salutation you use should be a formal one. Since it is the first thing the recipient sees when they read the cover letter, it should be appropriately respectful and use the correct title and name. While it is customary for formal greetings for cover letters to begin with Dear, it can also be acceptable to use Hello.

Learn more: Discover companies hiring by location, job title, and industry 

It is essential to follow the right etiquette for writing formal cover letter greetings. Here are a few dos and don’ts to consider when writing a greeting on a cover letter:

Dos for a greeting on a cover letter

• Do address the recipient by their title
• Do use the last name of the recipient
• Do use proper punctuation

Don’ts for a greeting on a cover letter

• Don’t leave the salutation line blank
• Don’t be overly familiar
• Don’t use only the first name unless you already know the recipient and are on first-name terms

When writing cover letter greetings, here are a few things to avoid:

1. Avoid using a casual salutation. When sending a professional letter, it is essential to adopt a formal tone. If you are too casual in your greeting, it might make a poor impression on the recipient. They might assume that you are unaware of the etiquette required in a professional environment.

2. Avoid using the wrong title for the recipient. It is possible to make a mistake here if the recipient has a gender neutral name, so be extra careful. If you use the wrong title, it is an indication that you did not bother to research the recipient and the company adequately. When you include the error-filled cover letter with your job application, the recruiter might wonder how serious you are about working with them.

3. Avoid using the wrong name for the recipient. People don’t like being called by the wrong name or having their name misspelled. Additionally, getting the name wrong or misspelling it can suggest a lack of research and a lack of attention to detail. The recruiter might decide not to give further consideration to your job application.

Follow these tips to help you with your cover letter openings:

1. Research the company. Before beginning the cover letter, take some time to collect information about the company. You can visit the company website and get an idea of their corporate structure. You can also check job-related online forums and find out what other job-seekers say about their experiences in sending job applications to the company.

2. Research the recipient. It is essential to know who you are addressing. You need to know what the recipient’s position is in the company, what title you should address them by, and their name and last name. Some companies include profiles of their top executives and managers on their company websites, which you can access for the information. You can also search online on social media or job networking sites to get more details.

When using the names of people from other cultures, make sure that you get their names and last names correct. If you are unable to find the recipient’s name, address them by their work title.

3. Take a formal approach. Setting a professional tone is crucial for making the right impression on the recipient. For professional cover letters, dear is the correct salutation to use. Many people also use Hello to begin cover letters.

4. Use a standard format. You should capitalize the first letter of each noun and place a comma or a colon after it.

5. Check for spelling mistakes. An error at the very start of the cover letter will not bode well for your chances of securing a job interview. The recipient might take a dim view of it and decide that you are not a suitable candidate for their company. So, it is advisable to use a spellchecker and, also, to read the salutation at least twice to make sure that all the spellings are correct. Be especially vigilant about getting the recipient’s name right.

Like the cover letter opening, the cover letter closing should be correct, concise, and unambiguous. Here are some tips to help you close the cover letter in the right way:

1. End on a confident note. You could write that you hope to discuss with them soon about applying your skills to the job position.

For instance, you might say: ‘I believe that my programming skills will be an excellent match for the web developer position that you have advertised. I look forward to speaking with you in-depth soon about my extensive experience in web development. I have included my contact information. Please feel free to reach me by phone or email at your convenience.’

2. Thank the recipient. Since they have taken the time from their busy schedule to read your cover letter, you need to show your appreciation and thank them for their consideration. You could write: ‘I appreciate the time you have taken to read my application letter. Thank you very much’, ‘Thank you for taking the time to read my application letter‘, or ‘Thank you for your time and consideration‘.

3. Be formal in the cover letter closing. As with the cover letter opening, it is essential to remain professional at its end too. Some commonly-used closing salutations include Regards, Best Regards, and Sincerely. Never use a familiar expression such as See You, Yours, Bye, and Take Care when ending professional cover letters.

4. Use your full name. The recipient needs to know who is writing to them. You can put your name and last name in the next line after the closing salutation.

5. Include your contact details. In separate lines below your name, write your telephone number, email address, and website address if you have one. By readily providing your contact information, you can make it more convenient for the recipient to get back to you with their response.

6. Use standard formatting. When writing your name, capitalize the first letters. Do the same for the start of each sentence. Avoid using exclamation points, emoticons, or text-message abbreviations. Keep in mind that you are writing a professional letter.

7. Proofread the cover letter closing. A grammar error or a spelling mistake at the ending could ruin the impression you have made in your cover letter so far. So, as you did in the case of the cover letter opening, use a spellchecker. Read the closing a couple of times to make sure that everything is correct.

To be extra sure, you can ask a family member or friend to proofread both the cover letter opening and closing for you. Being attentive to these types of details is essential for getting a positive outcome from your job application.

Using the appropriate greetings on cover letters can help make a positive impression on recruiters. It might persuade them to consider you as a serious contender for the available position. Here are some salutation examples to help you decide what is the best greeting for a cover letter:

When you know the recipient’s name:

• Dear Mrs. Smith
• Dear Ms. Smith
• Dear Mr. Smith
• Dear Dr. Smith
• Dear Professor Smith
• Hello, Mrs. Smith
• Hello, Ms. Smith
• Hello, Mr. Smith
• Hello, Dr. Smith
• Hello, Professor Smith

When you don’t know the recipient’s name:

• Dear Sir or Madam
• To Whom It May Concern
• To The Hiring Manager
• To The Human Resources Manager
• To The Company [Use the Company Name] Recruiter
• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear Human Resources Manager
• Dear Company [Use the Company Name] Recruiter