cover letter to whom it may concern alternative

9 “To Whom It May Concern” Alternatives In Cover Letters

By Christina Colclough

Last updated: April 25, 2024

It would be great if you could find contact information about your hiring manager or potential employer; the rest of your cover letter intro would be a breeze to write. 

However, since such info is not always available, you need a backup plan for your greeting. To Whom It May Concern is a common go-to, but for jobs where they appreciate the effort, this option might not cut it. 

Let’s find other ways to say To Whom It May Concern that make your job inquiry stand out better.

In this article:

9 alternatives to to whom it may concern that works great.

Instead of To Whom It May Concern , you can say Greetings, Good Morning/Good Afternoon, Dear Hiring Manager, Dear [Department], Dear [Role], Dear Mr/Ms [Last name], Hello/Hi, Dear [Company Name] Team, Dear [Name of Referral Source] (if you have a referral).

Some should be used with caution, however. 

1. Greetings,

Compared to To Whom It May Concern, Greetings sound more approachable without losing professionalism (like Hello or other overly casual greetings). Its brevity also helps keep the focus on the main content of your letter.

After thoroughly researching Acme Corp’s innovative work in sustainable architecture, I am writing to express my strong interest in the Marketing Manager position advertised on LinkedIn.

2. Good Morning/Good Afternoon,

This one is a tad friendlier than the impersonal To Whom It May Concern and a quick, safe choice if the job posting has a very short deadline. 

Sometimes, applicants might have already had some informal contact (e.g., a phone screening) but haven’t gotten a name. In that case, Good Morning/Good Afternoon can be a more natural continuation of the conversation.

Good Morning,

I’m writing to express my enthusiasm for the Social Media Manager position at Acme Corp. Having followed your company’s innovative work for a while now, I believe…

3. Dear Hiring Manager,

It’s always safe to assume there’s a hiring manager responsible for the role. Dear Hiring Manager directly addresses the intended recipient without unnecessary guessing and also conveys your respect for the hiring process. 

Dear Hiring Manager,

The Social Media Manager position advertised on LinkedIn immediately caught my attention. With my 5 years of experience in digital marketing…

4. Dear [Department],

This option is great if you want a professional greeting that still shows you have done your research. It demonstrates your basic understanding of the company’s structure, which is particularly well-suited for job descriptions emphasizing collaboration within an entire department.

Dear Marketing Department,

I’m excited to learn about the Social Media Manager position advertised on LinkedIn. With a proven track record of increasing project efficiency…

5. Dear [Role/Department Head],

Mentioning the job title showcases your initiative in research and understanding the company’s needs. 

It works well for positions with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, as it tailors the opening to the specific expertise you’re offering. Plus, there’s a clearer touch of personalization here compared to the broader Dear Hiring Manager , especially in smaller companies.

Dear Engineering Manager,

Having recently been impressed by Acme Corp’s pioneering work in sustainable building materials, I’m eager to contribute my skills as a Structural Engineer to your team. My 7 years of experience in civil engineering have been…

6. Dear Mr/Ms [Last name], 

Suppose you have a credible source for a last name (e.g., a mutual connection). In that case, this greeting is more specific and shows effort on your part. The gender-neutral “Mx” also feels more inclusive, according to non-binary respondents I have surveyed.

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Having consistently exceeded sales goals by 25% in my previous role at ABC Company, I’m confident I can bring valuable skills and experience to the Marketing Manager position.

7. Hello/Hi,

Hello or Hi are decent alternatives. However, they should be used cautiously, preferably for startups or highly creative companies with a casual work environment. Remember to research the company culture first before deciding on this greeting.

Never use them for professional settings or when the timing is uncertain; Hello/Hi implies you expect the unknown recipient to be reading it right away, which isn’t always the case.

I came across the Social Media Manager position advertised on your website, and it immediately piqued my interest. Having 5 years of experience in digital marketing with a passion for sustainable fashion, I believe I could be a great fit for your team.

8. Dear [Company Name] Team,

Opt for this fantastic option when you cannot find any information about the recipient (even their department). The greeting still acknowledges the company you’re applying to and feels slightly less generic than To Whom It May Concern. 

In some cases, for a very small company where everyone might be involved in hiring, the greeting will work in your favor and is more accurate than targeting a specific department or person. Better, there are no gendered assumptions here.

Dear Acme Corp Team,

I’m writing to express my keen interest in the Graphic Designer position advertised on LinkedIn. Having honed my design skills for 5 years…

9. Dear [Name of Referral Source] (if you have a referral),

Leveraging your referral’s connection is the quickest way to get your application noticed; I myself tend to spend more time on resumes with a strong referral source. This strategy also provides more valuable context for the hiring manager and vouches for your skills and personality. 

Dear Sarah Jones,

Hi Sarah, this is [Your Name] from our conversation at the recent marketing conference in Hanoi. I’m writing to express my keen interest in the Social Media Manager position. As we discussed at the conference…

Can You Still Use To Whom It May Concern Cover Letter ?

To Whom It May Concern isn’t the most recommended option for a cover letter opening in today’s professional landscape. However, there are rare situations where it might be marginally acceptable, such as for small companies where everyone might be involved in hiring (though you should consider Dear Team even then). 

How to use: 

Center align the phrase on a separate line after your address information. Remember to leave a single line space between To Whom It May Concern and the body of your letter. 

And do you capitalize “to whom it may concern”? My answer is Yes. The first word, all nouns, and titles are typically capitalized in formal salutations; this case is no exception.

Is It Okay To Skip The Salutation Altogether?

A casual work environment might consider this omission acceptable, but I personally don’t recommend it. Even if your extensive research fails to reveal any contact information about the recipient, a simple Dear Company Name team is better than nothing.

You might also like: How Long Should A Cover Letter Be? 7 Powerful Ways To Close A Cover Letter How To Start A Cover Letter Greeting? Who To Address Cover Letter To

My article has covered what to use instead of To Whom It May Concern. Even when you fail to gather any contact information about the person responsible for the hiring team, a Dear Company Name or even Hi/Hello is better than skipping the greetings altogether. Write to me if you still need advice for future job applications!

Christina J. Colclough

Dr Christina J. Colclough is an expert on The Future World of Work and the politics of digital technology advocating globally for the importance of the workers’ voice. She has extensive regional and global labour movement experience, is a sought-after keynote speaker, coach, and strategist advising progressive governments and worker organisations.

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14 common cover letter phrases and what you can use instead

When you’re working on a cover letter, it’s very difficult to keep your writing fresh throughout the whole document.

It’s all too easy to repeat the same word twice across multiple paragraphs without even realizing you’ve done so. And unfortunately, this can be the sort of thing that hiring managers will mark against you — especially in positions that require a strong written ability.

So, we’ve put together this helpful list of words that might appear in your cover letter along with some synonyms to use instead. Let’s transform you from a strong people manager with a strong background in building strong teams into a more well-rounded candidate, eh?

In most situations, there’s likely to be a more suitable way to say ‘eager’. Here are some options for you:

• “I’m eager to hear from you” —> “I look forward to exploring my fit for this role with you”
• “I’m eager to join a company like yours” —> “Joining a company I respect is important to me”
• “I’m a marketing graduate eager to find my first role” —> “I’m a marketing graduate looking to grow as a professional”

On its own there’s nothing wrong with the word ‘excited’, but you shouldn’t be saying it 17 times throughout your document. If that happens, here are some synonyms you can use instead:

• “I’m excited to apply to you” —> “I had to apply as soon as I could”
• “I’m excited to progress my career with you” —> “This would be the next natural step in my career”
• “I’m excited about expanding my skills in the role” —> “This role is an ideal place for me to expand my skills”

3. Experience

It’s very easy to say ‘experience’ too frequently in your cover letter, so try these alternatives to keep things varied:

• “My experience with cloud systems makes me” —> “My expertise in cloud systems makes me”
• “I’m looking to build more experience in marketing” —> “This position would help me become a more complete marketer”
• “I’m experienced with leading teams and setting goals” —> “Working as a team leader at [company name] has made me comfortable managing direct reports and setting goals”
• “I’m a great fit for this role because of my experience in sales” —> “My background as a senior salesperson makes me a natural fit for this role”

4. I am confident

The issue with “I am confident” isn’t that it’s likely to get overused — it’s just not necessary in most cases. Here, we’ll show you:

• “I am confident I have the background needed to succeed in your sales team” —> “I have the background needed to succeed in your sales team”
• “I am confident that my customer service experience will prove vital in the role” —> “My customer service experience will prove vital in the role”

5. I believe

‘I believe’ is the same as ‘I am confident’; you don’t usually need it:

• “I believe I have the background needed to succeed in your sales team” —> “I have the background needed to succeed in your sales team”
• “I believe that my customer service experience will prove vital in the role” —> “My customer service experience will prove vital in the role”

6. I have experience

It’s perfectly fine to start a sentence with ‘I have experience’, just don’t use it in every single one. Use these alternatives instead to avoid sounding like a broken record:

• “I have experience in social media and paid ads” —> “I’m well-versed in social media and paid ads”
• “I have experience in startup companies” —> “I’ve come to thrive in a startup environment”
• “As requested in the job description, I have 2 years of experience in hospitality” —> “I’m a qualified hospitality professional with 2 years of relevant experience”
• “I have experience in similar positions to what you’re hiring for” —> “I’ve previously worked as a [job title] so would pick up the responsibilities quickly”

7. Interest

You might be looking for synonyms of ‘interest’ for a couple of reasons. Either you’re using it too often, or it’s sounding overly formal. We can help with both:

• “I’m writing to express my interest in this position” —> “I’d like to apply to your [job title] position”
• “I’m interested in reading and spending time in nature” —> “I enjoy reading and spending time in nature”
• “My interests include reading and spending time in nature” —> “Outside of work you’ll find me reading or spending time in nature”

According to your cover letter, you love the company you’re applying to, the job itself, and the opportunity to learn. But just how many **things can you love in a job application? Keep your writing fresh with these substitutes:

• “I love what your company does to support its employees” —> “I respect how your company supports its employees”
• “I love to work in a team” —> “I work best when collaborating with others”
• “I love working in a small company because I can see the results of my work” —> “Seeing the results of my work inspires me to keep improving”

9. Opportunity

How can you apply to a job opportunity without constantly saying ‘opportunity’? With these synonyms, of course:

• “I would excel in this opportunity” —> “I would excel in this position”
• “I had to apply to this opportunity” —> “I had to apply to this vacancy”
• “Thank you for the opportunity to join you” —> “Thank you for your consideration”

10. Passion

People can get a bit too passionate with their use of this word — not to mention it’s a weaker choice than some of the alternatives. Shake it up with these contenders:

• “I’m a passionate marketer who’s ready for a new challenge” —> “I’m a dedicated marketer who’s ready for a new challenge”
• “I have a passion for helping others through my work” —> “Helping others through my work energizes me”
• “I have a passion for deploying quality-of-life improvements” —> “I find deploying quality-of-life improvements to be immensely satisfying”

If you’re skilled in everything, doesn’t that dilute the word’s meaning? Here are some other ways to talk about your skills:

• “I have skills in paid marketing and social media” —> “Paid marketing and social media are my top strengths”
• “I’m skilled in Photoshop” —> “I’m an expert in Photoshop”
• “I’m a skilled people manager” —> “I’m a capable people manager”

The same goes for ‘strong’. If everything is a strength of yours, then the hiring manager is going to question how much weight that word holds with you:

• “I’m a strong marketer” —> “I’m an exceptional marketer”
• “I have strong knowledge of Premiere and other video editing software” —> “I have in-depth knowledge of Premiere and other video editing software”
• “I would be a strong addition to your team” —> “I would be an immediately-contributing member of your team”

13. To whom it may concern

Unless you’re applying in an exceptionally formal industry, then it’s time to ditch ‘To whom it may concern’. If you know the name of the hiring manager, then address your cover letter to them directly. If you don’t know their name, there are still plenty of alternatives:

• Dear hiring manager

14. Yours sincerely

Here’s another cover letter phrase that’s outdated. Unless you’re applying in a formal industry, then end your cover letter with a more modern sign off, like:

• All the best
• Best wishes
• Kind regards

If you’ve found the synonym you were looking for but still need help with your cover letter, we have some other resources to guide you:

💡 Full cover letter guide

🎓 Writing a cover letter for an internship

All that’s left to say is the very best of luck with your application! We’re all rooting for you here.

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