How are we addressing cover letters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

In the cover letter, address it to the hiring manager BY NAME and use their physical address.

Much of the time, a job ad will name the title of who the position reports to. Go to the company website to find out who the supervisor is or (more likely) on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a pretty robust search engine. If you strike out, then call the company directly and ask the name of the supervisor you'd be reporting to. If, after all this, you still can't find a name, you can then add "Dear Hiring Manager" etc.

This is terrible advice. It makes you look like a stalker. Plus there’s a high likelihood you’ll address it to the wrong person. Calling the company to ask is total overkill and extremely weird. This is like boomer advice to walk into random offices and drop off a resume.

The only time this is acceptable is if the hiring manager’s name is ON the job posting, which it almost never is. If a contact is listed, it’s usually someone in HR with no decision making authority.

It's competitive out there (at least for higher level managerial positions). You need to stand out. Your cover letter is the only thing that separates you from other qualified candidates. Make it count!

It makes you stand out in a bad way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

In the cover letter, address it to the hiring manager BY NAME and use their physical address.

Much of the time, a job ad will name the title of who the position reports to. Go to the company website to find out who the supervisor is or (more likely) on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a pretty robust search engine. If you strike out, then call the company directly and ask the name of the supervisor you'd be reporting to. If, after all this, you still can't find a name, you can then add "Dear Hiring Manager" etc.

This is terrible advice. It makes you look like a stalker. Plus there’s a high likelihood you’ll address it to the wrong person. Calling the company to ask is total overkill and extremely weird. This is like boomer advice to walk into random offices and drop off a resume.

The only time this is acceptable is if the hiring manager’s name is ON the job posting, which it almost never is. If a contact is listed, it’s usually someone in HR with no decision making authority.

It's competitive out there (at least for higher level managerial positions). You need to stand out. Your cover letter is the only thing that separates you from other qualified candidates. Make it count!

It makes you stand out in a bad way.

Hmmm, which stands out more?

"Dear Hiring Manager,"

"Dear Ms. Doe"

[Anonymous]

Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't look at resumes from people who didn't bother with a cover letter. I like to see their writing skills, typos, if they've including anything about the organization/position or just posting a million resumes for every online job available.

To whom it may concern or dear hiring manager are fine.

So, you're old. We go it.

old but have the keys to the job you seek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

people who use the word loser usually complain to their loser friends why they don't get quality jobs and they continue to blame others as the bounce around mid level jobs that a temp can do.

[Anonymous]

I hate cover letters, but they are a necessary evil.

+1 to Hiring Manager

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

In the cover letter, address it to the hiring manager BY NAME and use their physical address.

Much of the time, a job ad will name the title of who the position reports to. Go to the company website to find out who the supervisor is or (more likely) on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a pretty robust search engine. If you strike out, then call the company directly and ask the name of the supervisor you'd be reporting to. If, after all this, you still can't find a name, you can then add "Dear Hiring Manager" etc.

This is terrible advice. It makes you look like a stalker. Plus there’s a high likelihood you’ll address it to the wrong person. Calling the company to ask is total overkill and extremely weird. This is like boomer advice to walk into random offices and drop off a resume.

The only time this is acceptable is if the hiring manager’s name is ON the job posting, which it almost never is. If a contact is listed, it’s usually someone in HR with no decision making authority.

It's competitive out there (at least for higher level managerial positions). You need to stand out. Your cover letter is the only thing that separates you from other qualified candidates. Make it count!

It makes you stand out in a bad way.

I work in legal recruiting and would say it shows you did your homework about the position and are genuinely interested. Also, your cover letter is your first writing sample and if you write a bad one with typos or grammatical errors, I'm going to assume that you would send crappy letters/emails to the clients and not move you to the next round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

people who use the word loser usually complain to their loser friends why they don't get quality jobs and they continue to blame others as the bounce around mid level jobs that a temp can do.

Except I have written cover letters in the past. I never got a job with a cover letter. And the three best jobs I had in my life did not require them. I got a 400k a year job without a cover letter. Meanwhile some 120K jobs require them and your left nut to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ALWAYS include a cover letter unless the ad says not to (or the online application portal doesn't allow).

In the cover letter, address it to the hiring manager BY NAME and use their physical address.

Much of the time, a job ad will name the title of who the position reports to. Go to the company website to find out who the supervisor is or (more likely) on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a pretty robust search engine. If you strike out, then call the company directly and ask the name of the supervisor you'd be reporting to. If, after all this, you still can't find a name, you can then add "Dear Hiring Manager" etc.

Most Federal agencies do not require a cover letter BUT SOME DO. Pay attention to the instructions on the ad.

Also, a good rule of thumb: the higher the management position, the more likely that the hiring manager will want to see a cover letter.

Finally, one page only. Have it address the qualifications aspect of the job ad as well as any particularly activities required of the position. Use other examples of your achievements and skills that you haven't included on your resume (or at least those that you want to emphasize).

Don't want to do this work? Then don't and take your chances.

I don't know. I am a hiring manager for some fairly high level positions. Our crappy internal software doesn't really present the cover letters easily, so I only go to them sometimes. The c.v. is what matters to me. I try to remember to read the cover before I interview.

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

people who use the word loser usually complain to their loser friends why they don't get quality jobs and they continue to blame others as the bounce around mid level jobs that a temp can do.

Except I have written cover letters in the past. I never got a job with a cover letter. And the three best jobs I had in my life did not require them. I got a 400k a year job without a cover letter. Meanwhile some 120K jobs require them and your left nut to apply.

I’m guessing you’re a poor writer and in a position that doesn’t require good writing, only good lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we still saying Dear Sir or Madam?

That sounds very antiquated. What's expected today?

I've always used "Dear Hiring Manager"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

people who use the word loser usually complain to their loser friends why they don't get quality jobs and they continue to blame others as the bounce around mid level jobs that a temp can do.

Except I have written cover letters in the past. I never got a job with a cover letter. And the three best jobs I had in my life did not require them. I got a 400k a year job without a cover letter. Meanwhile some 120K jobs require them and your left nut to apply.

I am sure that's all true. good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hiring Manager, or if you’re able to look up who the hiring manager is, Dear that person.

Dear Hiring Manager. I don’t use a name because I know its ready by more than one person,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cover letters are for losers and are requested by losers.

people who use the word loser usually complain to their loser friends why they don't get quality jobs and they continue to blame others as the bounce around mid level jobs that a temp can do.

Except I have written cover letters in the past. I never got a job with a cover letter. And the three best jobs I had in my life did not require them. I got a 400k a year job without a cover letter. Meanwhile some 120K jobs require them and your left nut to apply.

I’m guessing you’re a poor writer and in a position that doesn’t require good writing, only good lying.

You do know there are samples out there. Or I can pay someone.