How you start a cover letter matters, as you want to make a good impression. When you have the hiring manager’s name, you should address a cover letter using “Dear” and their full name (e.g., “Dear Manny Smith,”).
How to address a cover letter without a name, on the other hand, requires a bit more thought. Consider addressing your letter to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear Product Team,”) or to a specific title (e.g., “Dear Product Manager,) if you can’t find a name.
Published on
February 7, 2025
by
Kate Santoro, BS.
Revised on
May 7, 2026
A cover letter is a brief letter sent with your resume as part of a job application. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and highlight your most relevant experience and qualifications.
How to address a cover letter depends on any instructions in the job posting and the information you have available. Addressing it correctly is important, as it shows professionalism and attention to detail.
Research into large-scale job applications shows that candidates who include personalized cover letters get up to 50%+ more interview callbacks than those who don’t have one at all.
Key takeaways
Addressing a cover letter correctly helps create a strong first impression and signals professionalism and attention to detail.
Whenever possible, it should be directed to a specific person, such as “Dear Mr. Smith” or “Dear Jane Doe,” to make the application feel more personal and tailored.
If the recipient’s name isn’t available, appropriate alternatives include “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear [Department] Team,” or “Dear Hiring Committee.”
Outdated greetings like “To Whom It May Concern” are best avoided, as they can come across as impersonal and less engaging to recruiters.
Published on
February 7, 2025
by
Kate Santoro, BS.
Revised on
April 16, 2026
A cover letter is a one-page letter you send to a potential employer when applying for a job. The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume by introducing yourself and explaining why you are the ideal candidate for the role.
When writing a cover letter, it’s important to keep your content as concise and engaging as possible. It’s also important to use a good cover letter format so that your letter makes a great first impression.
Cover letter format includes two elements:
The sections to include in the letter
The look of the cover letter (font, spacing, etc.)
TipTo instantly craft a perfectly formatted and polished cover letter, try QuillBot’s free AI cover letter generator. Just input your resume and the job description, and let AI do the heavy lifting.
Key takeaways
A professional cover letter format helps you present your qualifications clearly and make a strong first impression on hiring managers.
A standard cover letter is typically one page, uses a clean and readable layout (e.g., 10–12 pt font, left-aligned text, and single spacing), and focuses on the most relevant experience for the role.
It generally includes a header with contact information, a personalized greeting, an introduction stating the role, 1–2 body paragraphs highlighting key achievements, and a closing that reinforces your interest and invites the employer to follow up.
Published on
February 7, 2025
by
Kate Santoro, BS.
Revised on
May 7, 2026
A cover letter is a brief, customized document you send to potential employers alongside your resume. They may also be necessary when applying to universities, fellowships, internships, and scholarships.
Writing a cover letter does not have to be time consuming. Use QuillBot’s cover letter generator to instantly synthesize your skills and experiences into a polished cover letter.
Key takeaways
A cover letter is a brief, one-page document (usually 4–5 paragraphs) sent with a resume to introduce yourself and explain why you’re a strong fit for a specific role.
It connects your key skills and experiences to the job description, giving employers context that a resume alone can’t provide.
A strong cover letter clearly states the role you’re applying for, highlights relevant achievements with examples, and ends by reinforcing your interest and value to the employer.
Published on
February 4, 2025
by
Kate Santoro, BS.
Revised on
March 10, 2026
Strong is an adjective that means “having power or being physically robust,” “able to withstand great force,” “able to endure hardship,” and “very intense.”
Some synonyms for strong are:
Powerful
Muscular
Mighty
Sturdy
Durable
Tough
Rugged
Resilient
Tenacious
Potent
Overwhelming
Acute
Using different synonyms for “strong” can change the tone of your sentence completely. QuillBot’s Humanize AI tool can help fine-tune your wording so your writing captures your intended meaning.
Published on
January 30, 2025
by
Kate Santoro, BS.
Revised on
November 4, 2025
Roll call is the correct spelling for the noun that refers to the act of taking attendance. Rolecall is a misspelling of rollcall and is always incorrect.