Job-Hunting Tools:

  Search for Jobs
  Corporate Job Sites
  Order a New Resume

  Career Tools:

  Content Index
  Career Resources
  Career Tutorials
  Job-Search Samples
  College Planning
  Job/Career Bookstore
  Search this Site

  Career Categories:

  Career Networking
  Personal Branding
  Resumes and CVs
  Job Interviewing
  Salary Negotiation

 

Dynamic Cover Letters
Job-Search Cover Letter Tutorial

 

Page 54 of the Cover Letter Tutorial: More Information

 

Tracking Down Name of Hiring Manager to Avoid Cover Letter Mistake:

 

#1 -- Not addressing letter to a named individual.

 

Your guiding principle should be that whenever it is possible to find out the name of the appropriate individual with hiring power, that's whom you should address your letter to. The only time it is acceptable to address your letter to a title is when there is absolutely no way to find out the name of the person with hiring power for that job.

 

The ideal person to whom to address your letter is the person with hiring power for the specific position you seek. The second best choice is the president of the company or another high-level executive who oversees your area. This high-level executive will likely pass your letter on to someone else, but the someone else will give your letter more attention because the honcho executive asked that the letter be handled. The last choice is the personnel or human-resources department. That department is not the best destination for your letter because its job is to screen applicants out. So, try to get the name of the hiring manager for your ideal position, but if you can't, obtain the name of someone else with hiring power.

 

How to find out to whom to write the letter? Call up and ask. Call the company switchboard and ask: "Could you please tell me the name of the hiring manager for [name of advertised position]?" If the receptionist is not forthcoming with that information, ask for the name of the department or division head or company president.

 

Another method for tracking down the name of the hiring manager is you utilize your network. Ask folks if they know anyone who works for the employer and make contact -- asking for the name of the hiring manager. Use all resources, including networking sites such as LinkedIn and others.

 

 

Lost? Check out the Map to the Cover Letter Tutorial... or go to the home page of the Cover Letter Tutorial for Developing Stunningly Effective Job-Search Cover Letters.

 

 

Have you checked out the rest of the great free career and job-related tutorials offered on Quintessential Careers?

 

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

 

 

 

Find a New Job

What:

Where:

jobs by