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paulo · Newbie Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Is it OK to use “Dear Sir or Madam?” or “To whom it may concern” in the cover letter if I know the name of the person who will be dealing with my application? I work for a company in the sales department and am applying for a post in the accounting department. I know the person who will be dealing with the application but since this is strictly professional matter I do not want to look unprofessional by putting the name. Some colleagues told me it will help if I put his name. I am confused. What shall I do?###

lexa10881 · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:39 am Post subject: Personal address/cover letter

It is best to use the person's name whenever possible, as it makes you look more interested and like you have done the research on the position. Use a respectful address when you do it, such as "Dear Mr. James Smith:" if that is the person who will be directly handling the application. At least address them by their last name, and you do not want it to sound unprofessional. For example, if you know the HR person goes by Jimmy still address it to Mr. James Smith or Mr. Smith.

Good Luck to you!

http://www.cvtips.com/how_to_write_a_cover_letter.html

yanna · Expert Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 102 Career Advice: +0/-0

Use everything else besides "To whom it may concern" because it sounds too impersonal and it makes you look not so interested in the job or the person dealing with the hiring process. It is OK if you don't use his/her name, but at least be sure if it's a female you're addressing to or a man. So "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" is ok, as well as "Dear Hiring Manager".
Also, it's not wrong to place their names either "Dear Mr. X" is a good formulation Wink

http://www.cvtips.com/how_to_write_a_cover_letter.html

redwald · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject: Avoid 'To whom it may concern."

Paulo, Yanna's 'Dear Hiring Manager" is a good one! Wouldn't we all like to meet a 'dear' of a hiring manager? Perhaps such a salutation would inspire his or her kinder impulses and the manager will appreciate this important title being respected.

The trouble with 'to whom it may concern' is that it always makes people think of lawyer's offices or funerals, or both. On seeing this salutation, one is inclined to withdraw just a little, thinking, "Uh Oh....what now?" From a young man seeking work it definitely comes off a bit 'odd' and you probably do not wish to make such an impression right at the start. People have become sensitive these days about "odd people;" one never knows what they might do next.

I've always used 'Dear Sir or Madame," in cases where I cannot guess the name of the recipient, generally abbreviating to 'Mme." to which you can simply add an 's' for the plural. It's a little quaint but it's perfectly proper and polite and manners mean a lot to an employer because they seem to be so rare in our busy modern society. It shows that you are literate, also getting more rare, and so long as you don't follow with a letter that looks like it was written a hundred years ago, this little bit of formality will be appreciated.

KA · Expert Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 235 Career Advice: +2/-0

If you know the name, I sugget you use it. If you don't you can use Dear Sir/ Madam:

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