what should you address in a cover letter

Make a positive first impression by addressing your cover letter to the right person. An appropriate salutation is specific and sets the tone for the rest of your cover letter, demonstrating your attention to detail and making your job application stand out.

Here’s who to address your cover letter to and how (with examples)—plus what to do if you can’t find the hiring manager.

You should address a cover letter to the hiring manager of the job you’re applying for, or the HR manager of the company. A basic cover letter salutation (or greeting) uses the hiring manager’s first and last name and includes a “Mr.”, “Ms.”, or other relevant professional title before their name.

Just pick the right salutation and the right address cover letter format. In this guide, you'll learn: Who to address a cover letter to. How to address a cover letter without a name. Addressing a cover letter—format + examples. How to dodge the worst cover letter address mistakes.

When addressing a cover letter via email, include a subject line with your name, desired job title, company name and job ID, if available. Your cover letter should also include the company’s address, company name, number and street, city, state and ZIP code.

Here we explore why it's important to know how to address a cover letter, steps to take when addressing both physical and emailed cover letters, and several examples of different ways to address your cover letter.