The honest order of preference:
- The hiring manager's name if you can find it (best).
- "Dear Hiring Team" or "Dear [Company] Team" (great fallback).
- "Dear Hiring Manager" (fine, slightly impersonal).
- "Dear [Department] Team" (e.g. "Dear Engineering Team") — works.
What to avoid:
- "To Whom It May Concern" — outdated.
- "Dear Sir or Madam" — outdated and exclusive.
- "Hi there" — too informal for most roles.
- Made-up names — risky.
How to find the hiring manager's name
LinkedIn search:
- "[Role title] [Company]" — find current people in that role.
- "[Hiring Manager / Director] [Department] [Company]" — the level above the open role.
- Check the team page on the company's website.
The recruiter who posted the job:
- LinkedIn job posting often shows the poster.
- Greenhouse / Lever pages sometimes name the recruiter.
- Email signatures from any prior contact.
Mutual connections:
- LinkedIn shows shared connections — ask if anyone can give you the name.
What if you can't find the name
Use "Dear Hiring Team" or "Dear [Company] Team." It's the modern, gender-neutral, professional default. Recruiters don't penalize this.
When to use a first name
- Tech and modern offices: first names are common.
- Traditional industries (law, finance, medicine, government): use the full name with title (Dr., Ms., Mr.).
- When in doubt, use the full name.
What if the company has explicit instructions?
Some applications say "Address to [Specific Person]" — follow that. Others say "Use Dear Hiring Manager" — follow that. The instructions trump general convention.
The bigger pattern
Salutation matters less than the substance of the letter. Don't spend 20 minutes searching for a name when the letter itself is generic. Tailor the content before optimizing the salutation.
Sorce auto-generates tailored cover letters — including the salutation — per application. 40 free swipes a day, AI agent applies.
For more: how to make a cover letter, cover letter without a name, how to end a cover letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I use 'To Whom It May Concern'?
- No. It's outdated and signals you didn't try to find a name. 'Dear Hiring Team' or 'Dear [Company] Team' is better.
- How do I find the hiring manager's name?
- LinkedIn search: '[role] manager [company]' or look at the team page. The recruiter who posted the role is sometimes the easiest find.
- Should I make up a name to seem confident?
- No. If you guess wrong, you've started the letter with a mistake.
- Is 'Dear Sir or Madam' acceptable?
- Outdated and exclusive. Use 'Dear Hiring Team' instead.