To Whom It May Concern Cover Letter
To Whom It May Concern Cover Letter
While it’s possible to use “To Whom It May Concern” in a cover letter, it’s generally not recommended—it feels impersonal and can make your application blend into the pile. Instead, invest a few minutes to uncover the hiring manager’s name or address the appropriate department directly for a more memorable impact.
Yet when you truly have no other option, our guide will show you how to turn that generic greeting into a strategic advantage—transforming a potentially forgettable opener into a concise, compelling introduction that positions you as the candidate they can’t ignore.
What Does “To Whom It May Concern” Really Mean?
A “To Whom It May Concern” salutation dates back to formal business and legal correspondence, where writers had no specific addressee. In modern job applications, it signals that you couldn’t identify a hiring manager by name—making it a catch-all greeting. While it avoids an incorrect name, it also admits you haven’t done the extra legwork to personalize your outreach.
Recruiter Preferences
“Using ‘To Whom It May Concern’ can work—if you tailor the rest of your letter.”
When Should You Use “To Whom It May Concern”?
When is “To Whom It May Concern” acceptable in a cover letter?
No Contact Name Provided
When the job listing omits any hiring manager’s name or department, you might not have a clear person to address. In these cases, a generic salutation like “To Whom It May Concern” is preferable to guessing wrong. If you can’t find a name on LinkedIn or the company site, this greeting signals respect for formal conventions without misnaming anyone.
Pro tip: Before defaulting to “To Whom It May Concern,” double-check the posting for hints (“Please send applications to careers@…”) or try a quick call to HR.
Mass Outreach & Networking
For alumni emails, large-scale PR pitches, or campus recruiting blasts, you often contact multiple departments or chapters at once. Here, “To Whom It May Concern” keeps your message inclusive—especially if you’re reaching out to an entire hiring team or student group. Just be sure the body of your letter speaks directly to the group’s needs (e.g., “As a fellow alum of XYZ University…”).
Historical or Legal Contexts
Certain formal requests—like grant applications, legal notices, or archival inquiries—still follow rigid business-letter etiquette. In these scenarios, “To Whom It May Concern” remains the gold standard because the recipient could be any authorized official. If you’re drafting a cover letter for a scholarship committee or government role, stick to the traditional form.
Understanding when a catch-all greeting still makes sense will help you choose the right approach—and avoid the pitfalls of an impersonal intro. If you need more alternatives for unknown recipients, check out our guide on How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name.
How to Professionally Write “To Whom It May Concern” in a Cover Letter
Formatting Your Greeting
When you truly can’t find a name, a well-formatted generic cover letter greeting is your fallback. Follow these guidelines to keep it polished and professional:
Use the correct casing and punctuation
Preferred:
To Whom It May Concern:
Avoid:
To whom it may concern,
Always follow with a colon, not a comma. The colon signals that a concise, respectful message follows.
Try one last search before defaulting
Scan the job description for hints (e.g., “send resumes to careers@…”).
Check LinkedIn or the company’s “About Us” page.
Call the HR or front desk to ask for the hiring manager’s name.
For more ideas on crafting memorable openings, see our guide on How to Start a Cover Letter.
Crafting a Compelling Opening Paragraph
A generic salutation like “To Whom It May Concern:” can still lead into a powerful introduction. Use this three-step formula to hook the reader right away:
Salutation
To Whom It May Concern:One-Sentence Hook
Start with your role and a standout achievement:
“As a certified project manager who streamlined five major software launches—saving 20% in time and budget…”Quick Value Proposition
Tie your success directly to the company’s needs:
“…I’m eager to bring my efficiency-driven leadership to Acme Tech’s next growth initiative.”
Example in full:
To Whom It May Concern:
As a certified project manager who streamlined five major software launches—saving 20% in time and budget—I’m eager to bring my efficiency-driven leadership to Acme Tech’s next growth initiative.
Alternative Greetings When You Don’t Have a Name
How do I address my cover letter to an unknown person?
When you’ve scoured LinkedIn, websites, and even called HR without success, it’s time to switch to a role- or team-based greeting. This shows you’ve done your homework on the company structure—even if not the individual’s name.
Who to address a cover letter to when there is no name?
Use a title or department that aligns with the team reviewing your application. It feels more tailored than a generic salutation and still avoids misnaming someone.
Alternatives & Examples:
Dear Hiring Manager,
Ideal for general corporate roles where “hiring manager” clearly signals the reader.Dear [Department] Team,
Works well for marketing, engineering, or customer-success roles (e.g., “Dear Marketing Team,”).Dear Search Committee,
Perfect for academic, nonprofit, or grant-review applications.
For a full breakdown of when and how to use each option, check out our guide on How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name.
Step-by-Step Example: May Concern Cover Letter Template
Salutation
To Whom It May Concern:
Opening Hook
I’m thrilled about the Senior Project Manager role at Acme Innovations because your recent expansion into AI-powered logistics closely aligns with my passion for leveraging technology to streamline complex operations.
Body Paragraphs
Achievement-Driven Highlights:
Led a cross-functional team to deliver a $2M software rollout two weeks ahead of schedule
Implemented an agile framework that boosted on-time delivery by 30% across five product lines
Trained and mentored 12 junior PMs, reducing team onboarding time by 40%
Company-Specific Insight:
Having followed Acme Innovations’ white paper on “Smart Supply Chains,” I appreciate your commitment to data-driven decision-making. My experience building real-time analytics dashboards directly supports your mission to cut delivery costs by 15% this fiscal year.
Closing & Call to Action
I’m confident that my track record of efficient project delivery and passion for AI logistics would make me a valuable asset to the Acme Innovations team. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can help you exceed your operational goals—could we schedule a 15-minute call next week?
Signature Block
Warm regards,
Alex Morgan
(555) 123-4567
alex.morgan@example.com
Pull Quote:
“A strong first paragraph makes even a generic salutation feel personal.”
For a more in-depth walkthrough, see our real-world “To Whom It May Concern” cover letter example with ChatGPT assistance at Cover Letter with ChatGPT.
FAQs
Can I use “to whom it may concern” in a cover letter?
Yes—when you genuinely lack a contact name and have no alternative greeting. Always double-check the job post, company site, or LinkedIn before defaulting to this salutation.
How to professionally write “to whom it may concern”?
Capitalize each major word, follow it with a colon, then launch directly into your opening hook.
Correct: To Whom It May Concern:
Incorrect: to whom it may concern,
How do I address a cover letter to an unknown person?
Use a role- or team-specific greeting instead of a catch-all. For example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
Dear [Department] Team,
Learn more in our guide: How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name.
Who do I address my cover letter to if there is no contact name?
Opt for the hiring manager’s title or the relevant department.
Example: Dear Marketing Team,
Who to address a cover letter to when there is no name?
For academic, nonprofit, or committee-driven roles, “Dear Selection Committee,” is a strong, respectful choice.
Who do I address my cover letter to?
Always try to find a name—search LinkedIn, the company’s “About Us” page, or call HR—before resorting to generic salutations.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, “To Whom It May Concern” can be a respectful fallback when you’ve exhausted every method of finding a name—but it shouldn’t replace smart personalization. By formatting your greeting correctly, leading with a powerful hook, and weaving in company-specific insights, you’ll turn a generic opener into a memorable introduction that stands out in any r
