does online cover letter need address

Do You Need To Include Address On Cover Letter Online? (Career Advice)

As a job seeker, you’ll need to include an address on your cover letter. This is a simple part of the process and one that can help you gain a competitive edge over other applicants. Your contact information should be easy to find on any resume that you submit, but including it directly in your letter shows an employer that you’re organized and professional.

Table of Contents

Do You Need To Include Address On Cover Letter Online?

You might be wondering if you need to include your address on the cover letter. The short answer is “maybe.” If you work in a purely digital capacity, there’s no need to put your address because it won’t matter where you live. If you’re applying for a job that requires face-to-face communication or travel, then yes you probably do need to include it.

If you’ve never written a cover letter before, don’t worry! Here are our tips:

Include just enough personal information. You should always have a full name and contact info on hand when applying for jobs online just make sure not to give out more than what’s necessary in case someone wants to call or visit your home office (like if they want advice about something). 

The same holds for including an address; if possible keep this part brief so that other sites will still show up first when someone searches through their browser history later down the line.”

Including your address on a cover letter can make it easier for the employer to reach you for further communication. Our article on do cover letters need an address explains the importance of address in a cover letter.

Do You Include your Address On Cover Letter?

Many people have asked this question. Do you need to include your address on a cover letter? The answer is yes, but only if you are applying for a job that requires an address. If you don’t provide the company with an address, they can’t contact you.

If your cover letter is going to be uploaded in PDF format, then make sure that any addresses are included in their proper formatting. For example:

Mr. John Doe

123 Main Street

New York City 00000

What Should Be Included In Cover Letter?

While there is no standard format for cover letters, here are some tips to help you create a great one.

Include your name and address at the top of the first page. This information is usually included in the header area or footer of your letter. In addition to helping you get noticed by hiring managers, this information is also used for administrative purposes such as tracking applications and follow-up notes from hiring managers.

Be sure to include contact information such as phone number(s) and email address(es). If it makes sense for your particular job situation or industry sector, consider including social media handles too so that employers can reach out to you directly on these platforms. 

You should also include any other relevant contact details such as Skype usernames if available; however, do not include any unnecessary personal information such as home address or age (where it does not relate directly back to the employment search).

Whether or not to include an address on a cover letter can be confusing for many job seekers. Our article on including the address in a cover letter provides a clear understanding of why it is necessary and how to format it properly.

How Does A Cover Letter Look Like?

The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself, so it should be written in the same format as your resume. This means that you need to ensure that your cover letter and resume are formatted the same way. The best way to do this is by using Microsoft Word or other comparable word processing software that allows you to change the styles of your documents.

You may want to include some information about yourself in addition to what’s included on the official application form itself, such as how long it took you to get where you are now (and why), or how much experience you have with a certain type of job or industry.

What Is The Format Of A Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a document that introduces you to a potential employer. It tells them why you are the right candidate for the job, and it also gives them an idea of who you are as a person. It should be short but informative, giving them reasons why they should hire you over any other applicants. Here are some tips on how to write an effective cover letter:

Address it correctly-Addressing your cover letter incorrectly is one of the most common mistakes people make when writing these documents because it can leave a bad impression on hiring managers and recruiters alike if addressed incorrectly or not at all!

Use proper grammar-Make sure that your spelling and grammar checker has been run before sending out your resume; no matter how much experience or skill set someone may have, if their resume looks sloppy then chances are good that it won’t get past HR departments either

How to Write Cover Letter For a Job Application?

A cover letter is a document that you can use to introduce yourself and your skills to a potential employer. A good cover letter example should include the following:

A strong opening paragraph that grabs the attention of the reader

An explanation of why you are interested in working for them, and how you can help them achieve their goals

A summary of your relevant experience or qualifications

When it comes to creating a cover letter, there are some common questions that job seekers have. One of them is whether or not to put an address on it. Our article on do you have to put address on a cover letter provides a straightforward answer.

Do You Put Your Name On A Cover Letter?

It is always a good idea to include your name on the cover letter. You can also include other information such as your address, phone number, or email address. Make sure that you put your full name and contact information in one place so that it makes it easy for the employer to find them if they need to get in touch with you.

What Is The Difference Between A Resume And A Cv And Cover Letters?

The difference between a cover letter and a CV is in their purpose. A cover letter accompanies your resume, while a CV (curriculum vitae) contains more information about your work experience and education, including publications that you’ve authored.

The term “resume” has many different definitions depending on whom you ask. For example, some may say that the word “resume” should only be used to describe documents written by people who are applying for jobs outside academia; others will say that it’s fine to use both terms interchangeably in this context.

To add to the confusion of terminology, some job postings use either word cover letter or resume to refer to both documents! To add even more confusion into the mix: There are also two types of CVs: chronological and functional

Why Are Cover Letters Important In The Hiring Process?

A cover letter is an opportunity to tell the employer why you’re the best candidate for the job. It’s an opportunity to showcase your personality, work ethic, and writing skills. In short, a cover letter can help you stand out from other candidates.

You want your cover letter to be relevant and concise so that it doesn’t take up too much space on their desk but still has enough information about who you are as a person and how you can help them achieve their business goals (and yours!)

A well-crafted cover letter can make a difference in getting hired for a job. Our article on does a cover letter need an address explains why including an address is necessary and offers tips on how to include it properly.

What Are The Main Components Of A Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a letter that accompanies your resume or CV. It is a formal document and should be addressed to the person who is in charge of the position you are applying for. The main components of a cover letter are:

A statement about why you are writing

An explanation about how you heard about the job opportunity

An introduction to yourself, including your skills and experience relevant to this position

When applying for a job, it’s essential to understand the requirements for the cover letter. Our article on does cover letter need company address provides insights into why including a company address is necessary and how to format it correctly.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when writing a cover letter. But the most important thing is to make sure your cover letter is tailored for the job you’re applying for, and that it shows off your skills and experience in an engaging way. If you follow our tips above, we think it will be much easier for you to create a winning application!

Further Reading

How to Write a Cover Letter : A comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter, including tips on formatting, tone, and content.

How to Write a Cover Letter (UK) : A guide on how to write a cover letter tailored to the UK job market, with tips on formatting, tone, and content.

How to Address a Cover Letter : An article that explains how to address a cover letter, including tips on how to find the hiring manager’s name and how to use appropriate titles.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It provides additional information about your skills, qualifications, and experience, and explains why you are the best candidate for the position.

Why is a cover letter important?

A cover letter is important because it allows you to highlight your relevant skills and experience that may not be immediately evident from your resume. It also provides a way to show your enthusiasm for the position and the company.

Should I always include a cover letter?

It’s generally a good idea to include a cover letter with your job application, as it can help you stand out from other candidates. However, some job postings may specifically state that a cover letter is not required.

What should I include in a cover letter?

In a cover letter, you should introduce yourself, explain why you are interested in the position and the company, highlight your relevant skills and experience, and thank the hiring manager for considering your application.

How long should a cover letter be?

A cover letter should typically be no more than one page in length. It should be concise, focused, and highlight your most relevant qualifications and experience for the position.

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.

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How to Address a Cover Letter: Tips + Examples for Every Type

Learn how to address a cover letter under different circumstances and how to find a contact to send the letter to when you don’t have a name.

When you're applying for a job or contacting an employer speculatively, the format of your cover letter will vary depending on whether you have a named contact and the reason for your letter. It's important that you address a cover letter properly as it's the first thing the reader will see, so you should strive to make a good first impression with it.

In this article, you'll learn what a cover letter is and why it's important along with tips on how to address different recipients for various types of cover letters.

What is a cover letter and why is it important?

A cover letter is a document sent in conjunction with your resume or application for a job opening. A great cover letter expresses your reason for applying and pulls together all the main evidence supporting why you're the best person for the job, as outlined in your resume, application, and any other supporting documents.

Each cover letter you write is highly tailored to the position you’re applying for and the hiring company. It should address essential criteria and elaborate on important points in your resume. Consider your cover letter to be your sales pitch. A great cover letter will be an invitation for a recruiter to read your resume or application.

Who do you address a cover letter to?

Your cover letter should be addressed to the person responsible for recruitment. If you don’t know the name of the person, there are ways to find out. Getting this can be the difference between your letter being read or lost in the pile, so follow the guidelines below to make sure you address your cover letter most effectively.

Addressing a cover letter with a name

If you have a name for your recipient, this is the best start. It means the letter will likely be delivered to the appropriate person, rather than get lost or sent to someone without the decision-making power you require.

A cover letter is a formal document, and so it should be addressed as such. The most professional way to do this is with “Dear.” For example:

Dear Mr. Miller,

Dear Ms. Jones,

Dear Dr. Lopez,

If you don’t know the person’s gender or preferred pronouns, you can use their first name. For example: “Dear James Miller.” Follow the salutation with a comma. 

What about "Mrs."?

Traditionally, "Mrs." was used to address married women who took their partner's surname after they tied the knot. Today, though, it's less common in professional settings and likely best to avoid, unless your recipient has explicitly used it to refer to themselves in their correspondence with you.

For female identifying recruiters, u se "Ms." instead of "Mrs." in most cases. This will help ensure that you don't inadvertently offend your recipient, who may be unmarried or who is married but didn't adopt their partner's last name.

Addressing a cover letter to a recipient with a professional title

If the recipient of your cover letter has a professional title, always include it. Someone with a PhD will be "Dr." rather than "Mr./Ms." This also makes things easier if you are unsure of which personal pronoun to use.

Addressing a cover letter without a named recipient

When you're uncertain what the name of your recipient is, it’s definitely worth taking the time to find it. This is covered in more detail in our "First steps in determining a recipient" section below.

But, if you absolutely can’t find a name, address your cover letter to the appropriate department within the company or organization. For example: “Dear [Department] Hiring Team.” If you know the job title of the person you need to send your letter to and it’s just their actual name that eludes you, address their position instead. For instance: “Dear Head of [Department]” or “Dear Director of [Department].”

Addressing a speculative cover letter

When writing a speculative cover letter—one that isn't in response to a job posting—the principles are much like the above. You may or may not know the name of the person you're trying to reach. If you do, so much the better. Include the name.

The difference with a speculative letter is that you may have been given the name of the appropriate recipient by a mutual connection. If this is the case, mention that connection in your introduction. For example:

Dear Mr. Morris, 

I was given your details by my former employer, Jenny Lee, of Brandenburg and Associates following news of the development of your new customer service department.

Addressing a cover letter sent by email

Addressing a cover letter to send via email is slightly different from a printed letter. A printed letter would include the address of the recipient and the date, which is not necessary in an email, as the letter will simply be the body of the email.

However, your email still needs to be as professional as a traditional cover letter. Use a formal way of addressing the letter, just as you would in a printed cover letter. 

The subject line is all-important with an email cover letter in order to be noticed amid the hundreds of emails a recruiter might receive. Include your name, the job title you’re applying for or reason for contact, and what is included in the documents you're sending. An example of an appropriate email subject line might be:

Helen Williams – Marketing Manager Position – resume and cover letter

If you have a recipient’s name but you're sending your email to an ‘info’ address, you can include ‘ FAO ’ (For the attention of) in your title:

FAO Mark Booth – Helen Williams – Marketing Manager Position

How to find the right recipient

If you don’t have a recipient for your cover letter, you'll need to do some research. It might even be the case that you have a name, but not an email address. Here are some tips for hunting down elusive contacts and their addresses.

1. Research websites

Check out the company website and social media sites. Use Google to piece together what you know and find details on lesser-known websites, such as About pages. For example, if you know the desired department to contact, you can search for, “Head of Marketing for [Department]” and see what it brings up.

If you have a name but no contact address, you can search your contact: “Mr Jones, Head of Marketing at [Company].” You may be lucky enough to find a social media page this way, if not a contact email address.

2. Call the company

The good old-fashioned telephone is an excellent way to find out a contact for your cover letter. Call the company, explain why you are calling, and ask them to whom you should send your cover letter and resume.

3. Check LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great tool for finding people thanks to its built-in and highly effective search function. You can search by the person's name if you have one, and for more advanced searches, you can even add in the company and location. If you find the person you’re looking for, you will see a ‘Contact info’ link on their profile under their name, so you can attempt to message them and ask. 

If you don’t have a name, you can search the company and see who is listed as an employee. If the person you want isn’t listed, you may be able to contact someone in a related department, such as HR, and ask for assistance. You may even be able to get an introduction from a mutual connection.

Read more: Letter of Introduction Writing Guide + Samples

Formatting your cover letter

The format of your letter is as important as who you send it to. When you’ve put in the effort of tracking down the most appropriate recipient, you’re going to want the rest of the letter to stand out, too.

Address and date

Your letter should be professionally formatted with your name, address, phone number, and email address in the top left. On the next line down, add the date, followed by the name and address of the recipient. As with any document, you begin writing the cover letter with ‘Dear [Name]’ on the left of the page.

If you are sending your letter digitally, which is far more common these days, your letter should be in the body of the text and you need to include the date, your city/state, phone number and email address at the top, but not the recipient's name and address. 

Cover letter template

Using a cover letter template can be very helpful. Generally, cover letters follow the same format (aside from the address at the top) and should ideally be no longer than a page, whether they are printed or emailed. Feel free to download this cover letter template for your use.

Get started

When deciding how to address a cover letter and who to send it to, your efforts in finding the right person and formatting your cover letter professionally can help you get the interview you're looking for. For further help on crafting cover letters that get you noticed, you can check out the Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters course offered by the University of Maryland on Coursera. 

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How to Address a Cover Letter With Examples

Options for Addressing a Cover Letter

• Letter Without a Contact Person
• Non-Gender-Specific Names

What Title to Use

• Address an Email Cover Letter
• Review a Sample Cover Letter

Before You Send Your Letter

One of the trickiest parts of writing a cover letter comes at the very beginning. Much of the time, you won’t know exactly who will read your letter. How do you address your cover letter when you don’t have the contact person’s name and/or gender ?

First of all, try to find out the name of the contact person. Some employers will think poorly of an applicant who does not take the time to learn the hiring manager’s name. Also, take care not to assume that you know the gender of the recipient based on the name. Many names are gender-neutral, and some hiring managers may identify as a gender other than male or female.

It’s also possible that you’ll do your research and still be unable to figure out to whom you are addressing your letter. In that case, it's better to be safe and use a generic greeting . It's also acceptable to start a letter without a greeting and start with the first paragraph of your letter .

You have a lot of options when addressing your letter. Learn more about the possibilities before you make your choice.

How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Contact Person

There are a variety of general cover letter salutations you can use to address your letter. These general cover letter salutations do not require you to know the name of the hiring manager.

In a survey of more than 2,000 companies, Saddleback College found that employers preferred the following greetings:  

• Dear Sir/Madam (27%)
• To Whom It May Concern  (17%)
• Dear Human Resources Director (6%)
• Leave it blank (8%)

Do keep in mind that terms like "To Whom It May Concern" may seem dated, so the best options may be either to use "Dear Hiring Manager" or not to include a greeting at all. Simply start with the first paragraph of your letter.

How to Address a Cover Letter for a Non-Gender-Specific Name

If you do have a name but aren't sure of the person's gender, one option is to include both the first name and the last name in your salutation, without a title that reveals gender:

• Dear Sydney Doe
• Dear Taylor Smith
• Dear Jamie Brown

With these types of gender-ambiguous names,  LinkedIn  can be a helpful resource. Since many people include a photo with their profile, a simple search of the person's name and company within LinkedIn could potentially turn up the contact's photograph.

Again, you can also check the company website or call the company’s administrative assistant to get more information as well.

Even if you know the name and gender of the person to whom you are writing, think carefully about what title you will use in your salutation.

For example, if the person is a doctor or holds a Ph.D., you might want to address your letter to “Dr. Lastname” rather than “Ms. Lastname” or “Mr. Lastname.” Other titles might be “Prof.,” “Rev.,” or “Sgt.,” among others.

When you address a letter to a female employer, use the title “Ms.” unless you know for certain that she prefers another title (such as “Miss” or “Mrs.”).

“Ms.” is a general title that does not denote marital status, so it works for any female employer.

How to Address an Email Cover Letter

Hiring managers get a lot of emails each day. Make it easy for them to scan your email and follow up by including a clear subject line and a signature with your contact information. It's important to address the email cover letter correctly, including the name of the person hiring for the position if you have a contact, to ensure that your letter gets noticed.

Subject Line of Email Message

Never leave the subject line blank. There is a good chance that if a hiring manager receives an email with no subject line, they’ll delete it without even bothering to open it, or it could end up in their spam mailbox. Instead, write a clear subject indicating your intentions.

List the job you are applying for in the  subject line of your email message , so the employer knows what job you are interested in. They may be hiring for multiple positions, and you will want them to identify the position you’re interested in easily.

How to Address the Contact Person

There are a variety of  cover letter salutations  you can use to address your email message. If you have a contact person at the company, address the letter to Ms. or Mr. Lastname. If you aren’t given a contact person, check to see if you can  determine the email recipient's name .

If you can’t find a contact person at the company, you can either leave off the salutation from your cover letter and  start with the first paragraph  of your letter or use a  general salutation .

How to Format the Salutation

Once you have chosen a salutation, follow it with a colon or comma, a space, and then start the first paragraph of your letter. For example:

Dear Hiring Manager:

First paragraph of the letter.

Body of Email Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter  lets the employer know what position you are applying for, and why the employer should select you for an interview. This is where you'll sell yourself as a candidate. Review the job posting and include examples of your attributes that closely match the ones they are looking for.

When you're sending an  email cover letter , it's important to follow the employer's instructions on how to submit your cover letter and resume.

Make sure that your email cover letters are as well-written as any other documents you send.

If you have attached your resume, mention this as part of your conclusion. Then finish your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow up. Include a closing, then list your name and your  email signature .

Your email signature should include your name, full address, phone number, email address, and  LinkedIn Profile URL  (if you have one) so it is easy for hiring managers to get in touch.

Firstname Lastname  Street Address  (optional) City, State Zip Code  Email  Phone  LinkedIn

Sample Cover Letter

This is a cover letter example. Download the cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Sample Cover Letter (Text Version)

Mary Garcia 12 Rogers Avenue Townville, New Hampshire 03060 555-555-5555 mary.garcia@email.com

February 17, 2021

Franklin Lee

CBI Industries 39 Main Street Townville, New Hampshire 03060

Dear Mr. Lee:

I was excited to see your ad for the operations assistant position in your Townville offices.

I have five years of experience as an operations assistant/associate. In my most recent role at ABC Corp., I fulfilled orders, resolved customer issues, ordered supplies, and prepared reports. In previous roles, I’ve done bookkeeping, data entry, and sales support. Basically, anything your department needs to run smoothly, I can do – and most likely, I already have experience doing it.

My other skills include:

• Strong communication skills, in person, in writing, and on the phone
• Excellent attention to detail and organization skills
• Top-notch customer service
• Experience in the industry and passion for the product
• Adept at all the usual professional software, including Microsoft Office Suite

I’ve included my resume for your review. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to schedule an interview. Thank you for your consideration.

Signature (hard copy letter)

Mary Garcia

Review Cover Letter Samples: It’s hard to write cover letters from scratch. To make life easier – and to make sure you don’t forget any of those pesky formatting rules —start by reviewing cover letter samples . Sending an email version instead? Look at a few examples of email cover letters to get started.

Customize Your Cover Letter: Why personalize your cover letter every time you apply for a job? Because even similar job titles have different requirements. The goal of a cover letter is to show the hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for this particular job. Customizing your cover letter will help you emphasize your skills and experience and how they fit with the job requirements .

Spell-Check Names: Before sending your cover letter, make absolutely sure that you have spelled the hiring manager’s name correctly. That is the kind of small error that can cost you a job interview.

Carefully Proofread Your Letter: Whether you're sending an email or uploading or attaching a printable cover letter, it's important to make sure that your cover letter and resume are written as well as any other business correspondence. If you can, have a friend proofread before you hit send, to pick up any typos or grammatical errors.

Saddleback College. " Your Resume is Your 1st Interview ," Page 14. Accessed Feb. 17, 2021.