How to start a cover letter without knowing the hiring manager's name

Try to find the name first — it's often findable

Before defaulting to a generic greeting, spend five minutes trying to find the actual name. Check the job posting itself for a listed contact, look up the company's LinkedIn page for a "Talent Acquisition" or "HR" team member, or check the company website's team/about page for the relevant department head. A correctly named greeting stands out immediately compared to a generic one, and it signals genuine interest in the specific role.

If you truly can't find a name, avoid "To Whom It May Concern"

This phrase reads as dated and impersonal to most modern hiring managers, and it doesn't actually solve the problem — it just replaces a real name with the most generic possible substitute. There are better options that sound current and still professional.

Better alternatives, ranked from most to least specific

• "Dear [Department] Hiring Team," — e.g. "Dear Marketing Hiring Team," — specific to the actual team without requiring an individual's name.
• "Dear [Company Name] Hiring Team," — a reliable, professional default that works for almost any application.
• "Dear Hiring Manager," — the most common modern default; direct, professional, and widely accepted.
• No greeting line at all, just a strong opening sentence — increasingly common and acceptable, especially for short, email-style applications.

Any of these read as more current than "To Whom It May Concern," and none of them risk the awkwardness of guessing a name incorrectly.

What if there are multiple possible names and you're not sure which one is right?

Guessing wrong is worse than using a generic greeting — it can come across as careless rather than personalized. If you're not confident you've found the correct person, it's safer to use "Dear Hiring Manager" or the department-based version than to guess and risk an incorrect name.

Should you call the company to ask directly?

For most roles, this isn't necessary and can occasionally feel like an unnecessary interruption for a receptionist or small team. It can be worth it for a smaller company or a highly targeted application where you're already planning to make direct contact — but for most standard applications, a well-chosen generic greeting is a perfectly professional default.

Keep the rest of the letter personalized even without a name

A generic greeting is far less noticeable if the rest of the letter is clearly specific to the company and role — naming the company, referencing something specific about the position, and avoiding a template-sounding opening paragraph. The greeting line matters much less than the substance of the two paragraphs that follow it.

FAQ

Is "Dear Hiring Manager" still acceptable in 2026?

Yes — it's the most common modern default when a name genuinely can't be found, and it reads as professional and current, unlike older phrases like "To Whom It May Concern."

Should I guess the hiring manager's name if I'm not fully sure?

No — an incorrect guess can come across worse than a generic greeting. Use a department- or company-based greeting instead if you're not confident.