A to whom it may concern cover letter is written when one does not know the name of the person to who the letter must be addressed. In this Buzzle article, we give you tips to write such a letter.
A cover letter is an introductory letter that is attached with the resume or curriculum vitae. It explains in brief why the employer should be interested in your profile, and it would make it easy for them to decide to go ahead with you and give you a chance to prove that you are best suited for the job. That is what the basic purpose of attaching a cover letter with your resume. A to whom it may concern cover letter is nothing but a cover letter that is not addressed to a particular/ specific person, where you don’t know the name of the contact person and therefore you address it generally. Although this cover letter is associated with hiring and job interviews, it could also be a part of other business writings wherein you require to draft a letter to a company or a government organization. It could either be to seek some information, or it could be to address an issue and where, along with the cover letter, you also attach the documents relating to the content of the cover letter.
It is important to know the general rule that needs to be followed when writing a business letter. When you address a letter ‘To whom it may concern’, it leaves an impression that you are not really keen or interested in writing the letter. In such cases, your letter might not be considered sincere and important. Hence, it is imperative that you try all the possible ways of acquiring or finding out the name of the concerned person who actually needs to be contacted for the reason you are writing the letter.
Cover Letter Template
Demonstrated below is an example of how to draft a ‘to whom it may concern’ letter, wherein the name of the specific person is unknown.
Name of the Addressee Designation of the Addressee Name of the Organization (It could also be a personal address) Date Name of the Department Subject / Reference: In brief, state the purpose of writing this letter Salutation: As you don’t know the name of the specific person to whom you should ideally address the letter, the salutation should be ‘To whom it may concern’. Another salutation that you could use is Dear Sir/ Madam but, as it sounds more confusing, using such a salutation is not advisable. First Paragraph: The first paragraph is always an introductory paragraph where you need to introduce yourself followed by specifying the reason of writing the letter. Also state how you came to know about the job openings, or from where you came to know about the organization. Second Paragraph: The second paragraph should state your qualifications, skill, and experience. State the reasons the company should hire you, or how would you prove to be an asset to the company if given an opportunity. Last Paragraph: This is where you thank and appreciate the addressee for their valuable time in reading your letter. Do remember to state the name of the documents enclosed with this cover letter. For example: CV, copy of certificates, etc. Yours sincerely, |
Remember to sound professional when writing such business letters, and include all the business letter writing etiquette as it has a crucial role in letter writing and leaves the right impression on the reader.