
So, other than “To Whom It May Concern” and “Dear Sir or Madam,” what can you use? If you scour the company website and find the secretary won’t return your calls, you still don’t have to resort to using “To Whom It May Concern.” There are a whole host of greetings you could use as an alternative when you don’t know your recipient’s name.īefore we get into them, though, here’s one more you should avoid: “Dear Sir or Madam.” Now might be an excellent time to practice your charm! What Should You Use Instead? Of course, if you’re sending a letter like that, you’re likely in sales. If you’re trying to send a prospecting letter, secretaries and assistants may be more guarded about information.

Most of the time, they’ll give it to you without question.

Simply say that you’re interested in a position with the company and hope to get the hiring manager’s name. You don’t even need to lie or make up a story. It’s not very hard to call and speak to an assistant or secretary. Call and Askįinally, if you can’t find the right person’s name on the company website or within the job listing, you can always go the old-fashioned route: Call and ask them directly! More often than not, they’ll be willing to help you. Ask them who the hiring manager is and be honest about why. LinkedIn is excellent for this since it will show your secondary connections’ names you don’t even have to ask!īut even if you only have a friend of a friend who works for the company, it may be worth it to shoot them a direct message on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We live in a digital age, so if you can’t find a name on the company website, chances are you can find it through a friend of a friend online. It’s pretty easy to browse a website quickly, so make sure you take this step before resorting to a generic greeting.

Check the Company WebsiteĬompany websites typically have an “About Us” section or a “Meet Our Team” page that may give you names of key positions, including human resource reps, hiring managers, and upper-level management. If that’s the case, you might have to dig a little deeper, but you shouldn’t stop searching yet. Many companies choose not to list their hiring managers’ or owners’ names because they don’t want job-seekers and sales reps to reach out directly. If you’re sending a prospecting letter, you might find your potential client’s name in a city directory or address book. If you’re applying for a job, you might get lucky and find the hiring manager’s name on a job posting. Here are a few steps you should take before resorting to a generic “to whom it may concern” greeting.
#Letter to whom it may concern how to
How To Find a Nameįinding someone’s name, whether it be for a prospecting letter or to send a resume, is far easier today than it was in the past. Salespeople send prospecting letters before making real-life introductions in most cases, but if they can address it to a person by name, they tend to get a better response. The same holds true if you’re sending a prospecting letter as you might in real estate or some other form of sales. During that research, you can usually come up with the name of a hiring manager. Doing your research shows that you really want the job and are willing to put in extra work. That’s because, ideally, you thoroughly research a position before applying for it.
#Letter to whom it may concern professional
So, recruiters, job coaches, and others in the professional world usually advise that job-seekers stay away from it. It’s overly formal and often shows a lack of initiative.

In general, “To Whom It May Concern” is an outdated term. And we’ll discuss a whole list of possible alternatives for you to use in your next letter.īy the time we’re through, you’ll know exactly how to use “To Whom It May Concern” and perhaps more importantly, when not to! When Not To Use “To Whom It May Concern” We’ll cover when it’s okay to use and when it’s not. In this article, we’ll discuss the generic “To Whom It May Concern” salutation. This does not change our opinion but does help support the site. This post may have affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission on purchases through the links (at no extra cost to you).
