10 “To Whom It May Concern” Alternatives

“To Whom It May Concern” used to be a safe bet. Now, it’s a red flag. This outdated phrase makes your application sound like it was written for no one in particular. It doesn’t make you look formal—it makes you look disconnected. Hiring managers aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for a signal that you tried. And the greeting is your first shot at sending that signal. If you can’t find a name, that’s fine. But there are better ways to start than a line that feels like it came from a dusty HR handbook. This guide breaks down smarter, sharper, more modern alternatives to help your cover letter start with intention and actually get read.

Why “To Whom It May Concern” Is Falling Out of Favor

The intent vs. the impression

Most people who use “To Whom It May Concern” mean well. It’s a formal phrase meant to show respect, especially when the recipient is unknown. But the impression it gives off often clashes with that intent.

Personalization is what you should aim for when writing a cover letter. When a letter starts with “To Whom It May Concern,” it feels like a one-size-fits-all approach. Even if your message is thoughtful, that opening signals you didn’t try to find the right person—or worse, that you’re copying and pasting your message across dozens of companies. That first impression matters, and this phrase tends to start you off at a disadvantage.

What hiring managers actually think when they see it

Hiring managers don’t need much time to judge an application. They scan fast, and when they see “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir,” the reaction is usually the same: next. It feels outdated. Impersonal. Like you’re addressing a faceless machine instead of a real person doing the hiring.

The bar isn’t high here. You don’t need to uncover someone’s birth certificate. But using a more targeted greeting shows effort—and effort signals interest. Even a general “Dear Hiring Manager” lands better than a phrase that belongs in the typewriter era.

It’s not wrong, but it’s rarely right anymore

Yes, “To Whom It May Concern” and “Dear Sir or Madam” are still technically acceptable in some forms of formal communication. But job applications aren’t just about etiquette—they’re about connection. And these greetings don’t build it.

They create distance when your goal is to build rapport. Worse, they can make your letter feel robotic, especially if the rest of your message is polished. If you're aiming to engage a real recipient, don’t start with a line that reads like a legal template. In most cases, it won’t ruin your chances, but it definitely won’t help them.

Before You Replace It: Can You Find a Name Instead?

Fast ways to uncover who’s hiring (without guessing)

If you want your cover letter to land, it helps to address it to the right person. Start by checking the job posting. Sometimes the hiring manager's name is right there, tucked in the contact email or job summary. Other times, it’ll mention who the role reports to—use that clue to reverse-engineer your salutation.

Still nothing? Look at the company’s “Careers” or “About” page. Some list their recruiter or department head. Even if you don’t find a name directly tied to the role, finding a job title or the person responsible for hiring in that department is often enough. “Dear Marketing Manager” sounds ten times better than a default greeting. If you’re writing a speculative letter or can’t trace the role back to anyone, aim for the next closest title and move on.

How to stalk smarter on LinkedIn, job boards, and company pages

LinkedIn isn’t just for networking—it’s a search engine for finding names. Search the company, filter by department, and look for titles like “Hiring Manager,” “Recruiter,” or “Team Lead.” You might not get a perfect match, but you’ll likely find the person reviewing resumes for that team.

Job boards sometimes list contact names in the fine print or metadata. Company pages, especially startups and midsize teams, often highlight department heads and team leads. Look for a full name and job title that connects to the role you want. If nothing turns up, scanning recent posts on their company feed can also surface the right contact.

When to stop searching and just move forward

There’s a point where digging further wastes time. If you’ve scanned the job listing, checked the company site, looked through LinkedIn, and still can’t find the recipient, stop. Don’t delay your application for a name you may never find.

Instead, use a smart, specific alternative that still shows effort. “Dear [Department] Team” or “Dear [Job Title]” gets the message across without pretending to know more than you do. The person reading your letter wants to see interest and initiative, not perfection. Keep your energy focused on writing a strong message.

The 10 Best Alternatives to “To Whom It May Concern” in 2025

Dear [First Name Last Name]

Still, the most professional and effective way to address a recipient, using their full name, is your best move when you have it. “Dear Jordan Reyes” shows you worked to find the right person. It feels direct, personalized, and respectful. Just double-check spelling and pronouns. If you're unsure of gender or honorifics, skip titles like Mr. or Ms. and use the full name only.

Dear [Job Title]

When names aren’t available, the next best option is to use the recipient's job title. “Dear Content Marketing Manager” or “Dear HR Director” feels focused and intentional. It shows you understand the company’s structure and who your letter is meant to reach. This is especially useful in organizations where roles are clearly defined and listed publicly.

Dear [Department or Team Name]

If the role sits under a specific team or department, address it directly. “Dear Customer Success Team” or “Dear Finance Department” adds a personal touch without requiring a name. It shows you understand where your role fits within the organization. It’s also a safe choice when applying through general inboxes tied to departments rather than individuals.

Dear [Company’s Name + Department]

This format combines specificity with brand awareness. “Dear Figma Design Team” or “Dear Spotify Talent Acquisition Team” shows you’re not copy-pasting applications across companies. You’ve made it personal. It works well when applying to larger companies where multiple teams might be hiring simultaneously.

Hello [Hiring Manager or Recruiter]

This greeting leans more casual but can still work in professional settings, especially in startups or companies with modern communication styles. “Hello Hiring Manager” or “Hello Recruiter” signals approachability while respecting hierarchy. Use it when you’ve seen the company’s tone elsewhere and know they lean informal.

Greetings [Team or Committee Name]

“Greetings Product Review Committee” or “Greetings Editorial Team” strikes a balance between warm and professional. It works well for roles in marketing, comms, design, and other creative departments where tone matters. It's polished but avoids sounding stiff, especially when you don’t know the specific recipient.

Dear [Role You’re Applying For] Search Committee

Ideal for academic institutions, nonprofits, or formal organizations, this greeting fits structured hiring processes. “Dear UX Designer Search Committee” or “Dear Faculty Hiring Panel” shows that you understand how these teams are assembled and want to acknowledge their collective role in the process.

Attention: [Team or Title]

This greeting works if you're submitting a form, a business inquiry, or a letter that’s part of a broader intake system. “Attention: Legal Department” or “Attention: Payroll Manager” is direct and functional. Use it when your goal is clarity and routing more than connection.

Good Morning [Team or Recruiter]

This option adds a bit of personality without losing professionalism. “Good Morning Recruiting Team” can work in emails or outreach when you’ve observed the company using friendly communication. It softens the opening without being too informal. Avoid using it for formal letters or in conservative industries.

Skip the Greeting Entirely (Sometimes It Works)

In short, punchy email cover letters, sometimes the best move is to open with a bold hook and drop the greeting. If you’re writing for a startup role, responding to an informal job post, or applying through a platform where personalization is difficult, dive straight into your opener. Just make sure the body of your email or message sounds like it was written for a specific job.

Which One Should You Use?

Matching the greeting to the industry

Different industries have different expectations. If you're applying to a law firm, finance role, or corporate position, stick with a more formal greeting like “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Job Title].” It aligns with the tone those industries expect. On the other hand, if you're in tech, media, or creative fields, you can often get away with a more relaxed tone. “Hello [Team Name]” or even skipping the greeting entirely can land well in spaces where hierarchy is less rigid.

Choosing based on how formal (or chill) the company feels

The company’s tone gives you clues. A buttoned-up About page, traditional department labels, and stiff language in the job description suggest sticking with a formal greeting. But if the company blog feels conversational, their LinkedIn presence is playful, or the job post uses phrases like “fast-paced and fun,” you’ve got room to be more human. Just don’t confuse casual with careless. Less formal communication still needs to sound intentional.

Still unsure? Go with effort over ego

If you're on the fence, lean toward the option that shows you tried. It’s not about being clever—it’s about respecting the recipient. A thoughtful greeting, even if it's not perfect, signals interest in the job and awareness of who you’re speaking to. That small bit of effort can separate your application from a hundred others that felt copy-pasted. In most cases, what matters isn’t getting it exactly right—it’s showing that you gave a damn.

A Few Cringe-Worthy Openers to Avoid

“Dear Sir or Madam”

This phrase is a relic from another era. Using “Dear Sir or Madam” or any variation like “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam” reads as stiff, outdated, and tone-deaf in most modern workplaces. It assumes gender where you don’t need to, and gives off an old-fashioned vibe that doesn’t do your application any favors. If you aim to sound respectful, there are better, more relevant ways to do it.

“Hello Team” or “Hi There” with no context

Greeting a hiring manager or recruiter with “Hello team” or “Hi there” feels vague and overly casual, especially if there’s no effort to specify which team you’re speaking to. Less formal communication can work in some industries, but only when it’s still thoughtful and directed. Generic openers like these often come across as lazy or copied and pasted.

Any version of “To Whom It May Concern” with typos or lowercase

If you’re going to use “To Whom It May Concern,” at least write it correctly. A lowercase “to whom it may concern,” a missing colon, or clumsy spacing makes a bad phrase worse. It signals a lack of attention to detail—and if you're trying to stand out, that’s the wrong impression. This greeting already needs strong justification; errors make it look careless.

Dear [Wrong Company Name]

There’s no faster way to lose credibility than addressing your letter to the wrong company. This mistake usually happens when copying a template and forgetting to update the greeting. It tells the organization you didn’t double-check before hitting send, which calls the rest of your application into question. Always match your salutation to the company you're writing to, and never assume small details don’t matter. They do.

What to Do If You’re Still Not Sure

Your greeting isn’t everything, but it sets the tone

A great greeting won’t land you the job, but a careless one can start you off on the wrong foot. The opening line of your cover letter sets the tone and signals whether you’ve put effort into the details. When you start strong, it gives hiring teams a reason to keep reading. When you don’t, they assume the rest of your application might be just as vague. Treat the greeting as a chance to show intention and respect, not a formality to gloss over.

When in doubt, personalize something (even if it’s small)

You won’t always find a specific person to address, and that’s okay. What matters is the effort. Referencing the right department, job title, or team shows that you cared enough to look into who might be reading it. Even something like “Dear Marketing Team” or “Hello Design Hiring Committee” is better than sending a generic letter to no one. The more you tailor your greeting, even without a name, the more likely it is to connect with the recipient and reflect well on you.

(Pro tip: An AI cover letter tool can help you instantly personalize your greeting and the entire letter to match any job you apply to without sounding generic. Pair it with a resume keyword scanner and job tracker tool, and you can optimize every part of your application from the first line.)

Conclusion

The greeting might only be one line, but it sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s the first signal of how much effort you’ve put in and whether you actually care about the job or just clicked apply. Choosing the right opener doesn’t require perfection, just intention. Show that you researched, respected the reader, and made the smallest detail count. You don’t need a name to make it personal. You just need to avoid sounding like your cover letter was written by a robot. In a sea of generic intros, the one that shows effort is the one that gets read. If you need help getting every detail right, consider signing up for Huntr today and start tailoring your applications with precision.