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To whom do I address my letter?

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Whenever possible, address your letter to a specific individual, usually the person in charge of interviewing and hiring. Doing so will give you a greater chance of having your application packet read and not filed away automatically.

Here are some ideas on how to get the name of a specific person:

  • Look in the job ad for the contact person.
  • Call the company for more information.
  • Research the company's website for the person in charge of the department you are applying to, or a person in Human Resources.

If you cannot find the name of that person, you may address your letter to a group. For example:

Dear Hiring Professionals:
Dear Selection Committee:

If you find the name, but cannot decipher the gender of the person, you may greet that person using their full name instead of their last name. For example:

Dear Amy Kincaid: (For Amy Kincaid)
Dear Pat Thompson: (For Pat Thompson)