My niece is ready to start sending out resume's and most give a number to fax the resume. I strongly believe in cover letters, but I'm in a quandary about them if you don't know to whom it's going. Addresing it "To Whom It May Concern" seems old-fashioned and impersonal. "Dear Sir" seems wrong since obviously all the recipients are no longer men. How would you address the cover letter?

 

I think Dear Sir/Madam is good. And you are right about cover letters. They can make or break a resume submission. Good luck to your niece!

 

You can always call the number if provided and ask for the name of the head of HR..... if a web site is provided you can always look for points of contact and then ask.....If all else fails, go to the place and get a name....... I'm with Martha, I don't like to whom it may concern either....

 

Good ideas. We'll probably do as Deb suggests.

The problem is most of these only give a fax number -- no company name nor phone number -- so you can't do any research.

 

Dear Hiring Manager,
Dear Human Resources Manager,
Dear Hiring Partner,
Dear [fill in the name of the department] Hiring Manager.

 

If I can't find the name of the boss of the position OR the name of the search committee chair OR the name of the HR director (in that priority order), I always start with

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the best thing since bread was first sliced...

(with suitable modifications to the first sentence). HPH

 

Dear Sir or Madam:

Some rather highly paid employment consultant that I used many years ago, now, *insisted* on this for a cover letter.

Dave

 

DrC, I'm sure there's no modification needed to the first sentence in your case!

Thanks all. Good suggestions.