No, you should not use “To Whom It May Concern” in a cover letter. This greeting is outdated and impersonal.
Ideally, you should address a cover letter to the specific hiring manager, using “Dear” and their full name (e.g., “Dear Kira Maddox”).
When you have to address a cover letter without a name, use “Dear” and the team name (e.g., “Dear Sales Team,”) or a generic title (“Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Before sending your cover letter, make sure to use Quillbot’s Grammar Checker to catch any spelling and grammar mistakes.
Read this FAQ: Should I use To Whom It May Concern in a cover letter?
You can use “Dear Hiring Manager” on a cover letter, but only when you must address a cover letter without a name.
It’s better to use the full name of the hiring manager (e.g., “Dear Leni Giorgio,”) if possible. Check the job posting, company website, and LinkedIn—or contact the company—when looking for this information.
Regardless of whether you address a cover letter with or without a name, check that it is error-free with Quillbot’s Grammar Checker.
Read this FAQ: Should you use dear hiring manager on a cover letter?
A complimentary close comes directly before your signature and/or name in a letter (e.g., “Sincerely yours,”). They’re usually followed by a comma.
If writing a formal letter, check for any guidelines about how to sign off. For example, modern cover letter format says to follow your complimentary close with a comma and typed name, but other types of letters may require a signature.
Choose a complimentary close that’s appropriate for the tone of your letter. For example, “See you soon” is fine in an email to a friend, but isn’t appropriate for a cover letter, where “Best regards” is a better option.
A Quillbot grammar check can make sure your complimentary close is spelled correctly.
Read this FAQ: What is a complimentary close?
A salutation is a greeting (e.g., “Hello” and “Good morning”).
In writing, a salutation is the opening of a letter. Salutations are used in formal letters, informal letters, and emails, although they may look a bit different depending on the context.
For example, “Dear” is a good salutation to address a cover letter to a hiring manager or recruiter. Cover letter format recommends using the salutation, the person’s full name, and a comma or colon (e.g., “Dear Tessa James:”).
In an email to a friend, “Hi” may be a more appropriate salutation (e.g., “Hi Jim,”).
Quillbot’s Grammar Checker can make sure your salutations are free of spelling errors.
Read this FAQ: What is a salutation?
Start a cover letter greeting with a formal or semi-formal salutation. “Dear” is a good option for starting a cover letter.
To address your cover letter to a specific person, use the person’s full name (e.g., “Dear Diane Smith,”). Avoid gendered titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.”
To address a cover letter without a name, direct it to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear People Team,”), or to a generic position (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Regardless of who you’re sending your letter to, make sure it’s error-free by using Quillbot’s Grammar Checker.
Read this FAQ: How do you start a cover letter greeting?
When sending your resume and cover letter via email, introduce yourself and make it clear what job you are applying for.
Keep the email brief and professional and use a clear subject line. You should concisely state why you are a good fit and mention that your resume and cover letter are attached.
Whenever possible, you should address the cover letter and the email to the same person.
Finally, make sure your application email stands out for the right reasons. The Quillbot cold email outreach tool can help you quickly create tailored, professional letters that highlight your strengths and align with the role.
Read this FAQ: What should I write in an email when sending a resume and cover letter?
A cover letter for an internship should be the same length as a cover letter for any other type of job. The ideal cover letter length is a single page with 300–400 words or three to four paragraphs.
In the one-page cover letter for the internship, include a heading, greeting, introduction, one or two body paragraphs, a conclusion, and a signature.
In the body paragraphs, explain why your coursework or previous work experience qualifies you for the internship.
When you’re revising and editing a cover letter for an internship, Quillbot’s free Paraphraser can help you use concise and effective word choices.
Read this FAQ: How long should a cover letter be for an internship?
An electronic cover letter should be about 300 words long. When you’re attaching a cover letter to an email or uploading it to an applicant tracking system, the cover letter length should be a maximum of one page.
Within a single page or 300–400 words, the cover letter should have a heading, greeting, introduction, one or two body paragraphs, a conclusion, and a signature.
When you’re editing a cover letter, Quillbot’s free Paraphraser can help you achieve the ideal length.
Read this FAQ: How long should an electronic cover letter be?
No, cover letters shouldn’t be double-spaced. A cover letter is a type of formal or semi-formal letter, and double spacing is not necessary.
Standard cover letter format calls for single spacing, except when you need an extra space between elements (e.g., between the salutation and first paragraph).
Remember to review your document layout and content before sending a cover letter.
Quillbot’s free Grammar Checker can help you make sure your cover letter is free of spelling and grammar errors.
Read this FAQ: Should cover letters be double spaced?
Cover letters do matter, as long as they are highly customized and the job posting asks for one.
A cover letter is your chance to show off your personality and highlight relevant experience when applying for a job. Each cover letter should be tailored to a specific job application.
Moreover, some companies use AI to run primary screenings on candidates. Incorporating keywords from the job listing into your resume and cover letter can help you pass these.
Use Quillbot’s Grammar Checker to catch any spelling and grammar errors before sending. Making sure your cover letter is error-free is one way to ensure it has a positive impact.
Read this FAQ: Do cover letters matter?
