If you can't find the hiring manager's name, the modern defaults:

  • "Dear Hiring Team" — warm, gender-neutral, professional.
  • "Dear [Company] Team" — works if the company is small enough that "team" feels right.
  • "Dear Hiring Manager" — fine, slightly more formal.
  • "Dear [Department] Team" — "Dear Engineering Team" — works for specific roles.

Skip these:

  • "To Whom It May Concern" — outdated.
  • "Dear Sir or Madam" — outdated and gendered.
  • "Hi there" — too informal for most roles.

How long to search for a name

10 minutes max:

  1. LinkedIn search: "[Role title] [Company]" — find people in that role today.
  2. LinkedIn search: "[Department head] [Company]" — find the level above.
  3. Company website team page.
  4. Recruiter info on the job posting.

After 10 minutes of nothing, default to "Dear Hiring Team."

When to spend more time

  • Dream role. Worth 30 minutes of digging.
  • Connection-based. If a mutual connection might tell you the hiring manager, ask.
  • Smaller companies. Founder/leadership names are often public.

What not to do

  • Make up a name. If you guess wrong, you've started the letter with an error.
  • Use placeholder text like "[Hiring Manager]" — yes, this happens. Always proofread.
  • Skip the salutation entirely. Cover letters need an opener.

The bigger pattern

The salutation matters less than the body. Don't spend an hour on the address when the letter itself is generic. Tailor the content; default the salutation.

Sorce auto-generates tailored cover letters per application — including the right salutation. 40 free swipes a day, AI agent submits.

For more: who to address a cover letter to, how to make a cover letter, how to end a cover letter.