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Cover letters

DCFC79
DCFC79 Posts: 40,644 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
edited 24 August 2012 at 12:56PM in Employment, jobseeking & training
Whats the best way to start a cover letter when you dont actually know the person but they're name is in the job ad ?

I was thinking of addressing it to the person named in the ad but ts that ok to do ?
How should I end it ?
Would it be ok to use Dear First Name Surname ?
«1

Comments

  • anamenottaken
    anamenottaken Posts: 4,198 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DCFC79 wrote: »
    Whats the best way to start a cover letter when you dont actually know the person but they're name is in the job ad ?

    I was thinking of addressing it to the person named in the ad but ts that ok to do ?
    How should I end it ?
    Would it be ok to use Dear First Name Surname ?

    Dear Ms Surname/Family Name
    (or use whatever title is given or is appropriate for the first name)

    End Yours sincerely
  • 1940sGal
    1940sGal Posts: 2,393 Forumite
    If you know the person's name, address it as 'Dear Mr//Mrs/Ms X X'. If you want to make sure, it wouldn't hurt to call the company up and ask who to address it to. I always try to do this as it shows you've done a little research and took the time to make it that bit more personal.

    If you use their name, end the letter with 'Yours Sincerely', if you go for 'Dear Sir/Madam', end it with 'Yours Faithfully'.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Dear Ms Surname/Family Name
    (or use whatever title is given or is appropriate for the first name)

    End Yours sincerely

    Seems I was wrong in what I was thinking

    Thanks
  • anamenottaken
    anamenottaken Posts: 4,198 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    1940sGal wrote: »
    If you know the person's name, address it as 'Dear Mr//Mrs/Ms X X'. If you want to make sure, it wouldn't hurt to call the company up and ask who to address it to. I always try to do this as it shows you've done a little research and took the time to make it that bit more personal.

    If you use their name, end the letter with 'Yours Sincerely', if you go for 'Dear Sir/Madam', end it with 'Yours Faithfully'.

    Here's a pedant writing -

    The complimentary close uses an initial capital for the first word only, not both.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    1940sGal wrote: »
    If you know the person's name, address it as 'Dear Mr//Mrs/Ms X X'. If you want to make sure, it wouldn't hurt to call the company up and ask who to address it to. I always try to do this as it shows you've done a little research and took the time to make it that bit more personal.

    If you use their name, end the letter with 'Yours Sincerely', if you go for 'Dear Sir/Madam', end it with 'Yours Faithfully'.

    Thanks

    I know who to address it to as the ad says to send the Cover letter and CV to so and so. Also emailed her to ask if they were still recruiting.
  • 1940sGal
    1940sGal Posts: 2,393 Forumite
    Here's a pedant writing -

    The complimentary close uses an initial capital for the first word only, not both.

    Now that is pedantic :p haha
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks 1940sGal and anamenottaken,
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have to say that I am possibly over familiar but I address it to them by their first name. We are after all talking about future colleagues here and I'd hope most companies are on first name basis these days rather than calling your managers by their surnames etc.
  • I have to say that I am possibly over familiar but I address it to them by their first name. We are after all talking about future colleagues here and I'd hope most companies are on first name basis these days rather than calling your managers by their surnames etc.

    IMO that is over familiar.
    I'd call a potential future colleague/boss by their surname before I was formally introduced to them at interview by their first name.
    #TeamCarter :heart:
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    IMO that is over familiar.
    I'd call a potential future colleague/boss by their surname before I was formally introduced to them at interview by their first name.

    Yes so would I when meeting an employer for first time, they sometimes say to call them by they're first name once im introduced.
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