Cover Letters and resumes can be the toughest part of properly accomplishing a job application these days, especially with the overload of advice, tips and information on the web today. It can be difficult to sort through all of the information and come out with a clear and successful cover letter.
It can also be a task to figure out what to include on your cover letter and especially when it comes to the minute details involved, like how to address a cover letter.
Deciding how to address a cover letter and the proper way to deliver a cover letter can be unnecessary factors of stress when applying to jobs. Let us help ease this added stress when it comes to addressing your cover letter.
The Essentials of How to Address a Cover Letter
Do not let creating a cover letter cause you stress. The process can actually be very painless and easy to do once you cypher through the excess noise and create you cover letter plan. We will just skim the basics of a cover letter here, because the main agenda of this article is describing how to address a cover letter.
The key components of a cover letter are to keep it short and sweet, remember that less is more, provide a clear message, request a singular action and end your cover letter on a strong note. You cover letter is your chance to let your personality shine as well as give the company an idea of why you are perfect for the desired position.
Be specific and clear.
Clarity is gold. If you are clear in your intention, desire and word choices, the hiring managers or whoever is making the hiring decision will definitely notice. No one wants to read a cover letter written in the mindset of someone who is not exuding confidence and motivation.
Address or No Address
How to address a cover letter is a highly talked about topic when it comes to the art of cover letters. Some say to never address a cover letter, some say to only address a cover letter if you know the exact name of the person you are contacting and some say to practice proper respect and always address cover letters.
What is the correct way, though?
We say there is more than one way. However, there are definitely guidelines to follow and general rules to stick with when it comes to how to address a cover letter.
DO address your cover letter if you have a name. If you do not have a name, try calling the company and asking whom the hiring manager or talent recruiter is. Get their full name and gender specification if you can.
Usually the reception department or administrative assistant can assist you with this information. Additionally, make sure that there is not a name attached to the job listing, application or resource from which you found the job listing.
This could save some time and effort to easily address your cover letter with the proper name. If you think you have the correct name, trying Google-ing the name and company to see what information you can find or confirm the name and title.
It Is A-Okay to Skip the Name
If you simply cannot locate the proper human to address your cover letter to, do not fret. It is totally okay to leave off a name and jump right into the meat of the letter. If you do not have a name, there are endless ways to begin your cover letter.
“Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear Human Resources Director” and “Dear Sit/Madam” are all viable ways to greet whoever will be reading your cover letter. However, these are overused, oversaturated and meaningless.
Do not use one of these monotone greetings if you would not say it in real life to someone’s face. Is that how you would greet a potential employer face-to-face?
Our guess is probably not.
Just remember, the people doing the hiring cypher through stacks and stacks of cover letters and probably read the phrase “To Whom It May Concern” a thousand times too many.
Spice it up! Utilize your uniquely you-ness to set yourself apart from the rest of the “Whom It May Concerns.”
Just skip the name and cold hello by jumping head first into the juicy, nectar-filled goodness of your cover letter. The part where you tell your (hopefully) future employers why you are the perfect fit for their open position.
A Title of Accurate Importance
When including titles on the address of your cover letter, make sure you are using the correct title. The importance of using an accurate table is more important in certain cases than others. Use your own discretion when it comes to titling names in cover letters.
For example, if you are applying to work for a doctor or medical group, at a law firm or perhaps under a professor or scholarly figure, definitely use the precise title name on your cover letter. These titles might include “Dr.,” “Prof.,” or “Sgt.”
If you are unsure of the title of whomever you are addressing your cover letter to, do some research. Just as the employer will do its research on you, they want to see that you care and are willing to put in a little elbow grease to be in consideration for the open position.
Do your research by utilizing the amazing resources located at your fingertips a.k.a. the World Wide Web. LinkedIn, Google and the company’s website will be your best friend when it comes to applying for jobs.
Not only do these resources help you find jobs, the help you find useful information to boost your chances of gaining the job. If you are unsure of a contact’s title, use one or all of these free resources to narrow down the contact’s appropriate title and full name.
The Importance of Correct Gender Titles
If you are including a name in the address of your cover letter, be sure to include the correct gender. Most people express the title or gender by way of “ma’am,” “Ms.,” or “Mr.,’ but consider that in today’s booming gender fluidity movement, that correct titles are substantially important.
Incorrect gender title might potentially throw you out of the category for getting the job.
We are not cutting any corners here when it comes to how to address a cover letter. One option if you do have the person’s name but do not have the person’s gender is to include the first and last name in the greeting without adding a title.
This gives you the opportunity to still make your greeting personal without becoming exclusive. Use the modern resources of today such as LinkedIn, to potentially find the person’s full name or preferred title.
You can also you the person’s title at the company to identify them on a cover letter. This is a wonderful option to avoid the hazards and uncertainty of adding a title, gender or unnecessary details to your cover letter.
Always Create an Email Subject Line
A key component of successfully addressing and delivering your cover letter and job application is to properly send submit your job application, resume and cover letter. Most all jobs are found and applied for online.
In today’s modern age of technology and digital interfaces, it is pretty safe to say that you will be submitting your cover letter in the form of an email. Let us save you some trouble and guarantee that your email is warmly received.
This means always including a strong subject line as the subject of your email. The subject of your email can determine whether your email gets opened or not, and chances are, if you do not include a subject line, your email is not getting opened.
Make sure to fill in the subject line of your email with the key information needed to determine if your email is important or not. Never leave the subject line blank. In fact, leave a clear and concise subject line that will entice the reader to open your email and figure out what you are all about.
Your ‘You-ness’ Sets You Apart
There is only one of you. There is no one else exactly like you. Use the incredible fact that you offer something completely unique and genuine – that the employer cannot help but call you to find out more about this uniquely-you person.
Think of your cover letter as a sales letter of your you-ness. Use a few key facts and values you possess to woo over the attention of the hiring manager and have them oozing with curiosity and interest in exactly what your you-ness entails.
Your cover letter is your opportunity to use your secret weapon – you! Because like we said earlier, you are the only you there is. Do not sell yourself short and create a cover letter that sells your value to every potential employer you contact.
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