What is the best way to start a cover letter?

The best way to start a cover letter is with a compelling opening that grabs the hiring manager’s attention. You can: - Express enthusiasm for the role and company. - Highlight a key achievement or relevant skill. - Reference a company's value or mission. - Mention a mutual connection or referral.

Should I write “Dear Hiring Manager” if I don’t know the person’s name?

Yes, “Dear Hiring Manager” is a professional and widely accepted alternative if you can’t find the hiring manager’s name. Other options include: - “Dear [Department] Team” (e.g., Dear Marketing Team) - “Dear [Job Title] Hiring Manager” (e.g., Dear Sales Manager Hiring Team) - Avoid outdated phrases like "To Whom It May Concern."

How long should my cover letter opening be?

Your introduction should be two to three sentences long — concise and engaging. Hiring managers skim applications quickly, so get to the point without unnecessary details.

Should my opening paragraph be different for every job application?

Yes! Tailoring your opening paragraph to each job shows that you’ve researched the company and are genuinely interested in the position. Customizing your introduction can make your cover letter stand out from the rest.

How to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples & Tips)

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Table of contents

Fast Facts
Setting Up the Page: Header Layout & Contact Detail
Mastering the Cover Letter Greeting: How to Address the Hiring Manager
How to Start a Cover Letter for a Job
Before-&-After Intros: 6 Cover Letter Opening Paragraph Examples & Makeovers
4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Beginning a Cover Letter
Using AI Cover Letter Tools Smartly: Prompting & Personalization Tips
Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions

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Fast Facts

A strong cover letter opening identifies the position, highlights a relevant qualification, and connects the applicant's experience to the employer's needs.
Address the hiring manager by name when possible. "Dear Hiring Manager" is an appropriate alternative when a name isn't available.
Keep the opening paragraph to two or three sentences, focusing on relevant skills or achievements rather than repeating the resume.
Tailor each introduction to the job description, using specific accomplishments or transferable skills to demonstrate a strong fit.

Starting a cover letter can be tricky. You want to sound professional, authentic, and memorable without repeating your resume or relying on generic statements that could apply to any job. A tailored opening helps connect your qualifications to the employer's needs.

In this guide, you'll learn a simple three-step framework for writing a compelling introduction, choosing the right greeting, improving weak opening paragraphs with six before-and-after examples, and avoiding common mistakes.

Setting Up the Page: Header Layout & Contact Detail

Before writing your opening paragraph, format the top of your cover letter with your contact information, the date, and the employer's details. A clean, professional header makes it easy for hiring managers to identify and contact you while creating a consistent look across your application.

Applicant Contact Block

Start with your full name, city and state, phone number, and professional email address. Include a clickable LinkedIn profile or portfolio link if relevant. Your full street address is optional, but your contact details should match your resume.

Visual Consistency Rule

Match your cover letter's font, header styling, and accent colors to your resume font and formatting for a cohesive application package. Use 0.5- to 1-inch margins, and consider professional cover letter templates to keep the look consistent.

Date & Employer Address Block

In a traditional business-letter format, include the date and the hiring manager's name and title, company name, and office address below your contact details. If you're submitting electronically and don't know the company's physical address, you can omit it.

Example header:

Jordan Taylor
Phoenix, AZ | (555) 123-4567 | jordan.taylor@email.com
linkedin.com/in/jordantaylor

October 13, 2026

Morgan Lee
Hiring Manager
Acme Corporation
Phoenix, AZ

Mastering the Cover Letter Greeting: How to Address the Hiring Manager

Start your cover letter with a professional greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name whenever possible. If you can't find their name, use a role-specific or department-based greeting, such as "Dear Marketing Team." Choosing the right salutation is an important part of writing a cover letter.

How to Find the Hiring Manager's Name

If the hiring manager's name isn't listed, try these methods:

Check LinkedIn and the company's website. Look for recruiters, department managers, or team leaders associated with the position.
Review the job posting. Look for contact details, reporting relationships, or department information that could help identify the right person.
Call or email the company. Politely ask the human resources department or general contact whether they can share the hiring manager's name.

If you find a name, verify the spelling and preferred title before using it. Avoid assuming someone's gender or marital status.

How to Start a Cover Letter Without a Name

If you can't identify the hiring manager, use a greeting that addresses the relevant role or department. Examples of appropriate greetings include:

Dear [Job Title] Hiring Manager,
Dear [Department Name] Team,
Dear Hiring Manager,

Avoid outdated or impersonal greetings, such as "To Whom It May Concern" and "Dear Sir or Madam." These phrases can make your application feel generic, even when the rest of your cover letter is tailored.

How to Start a Cover Letter for a Job

To start a cover letter for a job, identify the position and company, highlight a relevant achievement or skill, and explain how your experience meets the employer's needs.

3-Step Framework for a Strong Opening Paragraph

Combine these three elements into one concise opening paragraph that emphasizes the value you can bring:

Step 1

Identify the Position & Company

Name the position and employer in your first sentence to establish context. Rather than using a generic statement of interest, connect the opportunity to your professional background.

Example:

I'm applying for the Marketing Manager position at BrightPath Media, bringing six years of experience developing digital campaigns that increase customer engagement.

Step 2

Lead With a Relevant Achievement or Skill

Highlight a measurable accomplishment, specialized skill, or relevant experience that matches the job description. If you're new to the workforce, draw from coursework, projects, internships, or transferable skills.

Example:

In my current role, I increased email conversion rates by 28% and helped generate $150,000 in additional annual revenue.

Step 3

Connect Your Experience to the Employer's Needs

Connect your qualifications to a specific responsibility, company goal, or initiative. Showing how your experience aligns with the employer's goals and priorities is more persuasive than offering generic praise.

Example:

I'd welcome the opportunity to bring that same results-driven approach to BrightPath Media's expanding digital marketing team.

Crafting a Powerful Cover Letter Opening Sentence

Your cover letter opening sentence should give employers a reason to keep reading. Compare these generic statements with stronger, more specific alternatives:

Weak Opening	Stronger Opening
I'm writing to apply for the operations manager position.	After reducing operating costs by 18%, I'm ready to bring my process improvement experience to the Operations Manager role at Northstar Logistics.
I have experience managing teams.	I've led cross-functional teams of 20 employees and delivered projects ahead of schedule, experience I'd bring to Apex Solutions as a Project Manager.
I'm very interested in your company.	Your focus on accessible technology aligns with my experience developing digital tools for underserved communities, which I'd bring to the Product Designer role at InnovateTech.

You can strengthen your opening with action verbs like "spearheaded," "optimized," and "delivered" when they accurately reflect your contributions.

Before-&-After Intros: 6 Cover Letter Opening Paragraph Examples & Makeovers

These cover letter opening paragraph examples show how to tailor your introduction to different career situations. Understanding the purpose of your cover letter can help you emphasize your qualifications without repeating your resume.

1. The Mid-Career Professional (Sales Manager)

Before: I'm writing to apply for the Sales Manager position at Acme Corp. I have several years of sales experience and believe I'd be a great fit for your team.

After: After driving 35% revenue growth and leading a team of 15 sales representatives, I'm excited to bring my sales leadership experience to the Sales Manager position at Acme Corp. My background in coaching high-performing teams and expanding client relationships aligns with your focus on growing regional accounts.

Why it works: Quantifies leadership success and connects it to the employer's goals

2. The Career Changer (Teacher to Growth Marketer)

Before: Although I don't have direct marketing experience, I'm looking to transition from teaching into a growth marketing role.

After: As a teacher, I've used performance data, audience engagement strategies, and targeted communication to improve student outcomes. After increasing family participation in school programs by 40%, I'm eager to apply those same analytical and communication skills to the Growth Marketing Specialist position at Elevate Digital.

Why it works: Emphasizes transferable skills rather than a lack of direct experience

3. The Recent Graduate (Entry-Level Candidate)

Before: As a recent graduate who loves your company, I'd be thrilled to work for you. I believe I'd make a great addition to your team.

After: I'm excited to apply for the Junior Data Analyst position at Insight Analytics, bringing hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and Tableau. For my university capstone project, I analyzed 50,000 customer records to identify purchasing trends and earned departmental honors for my research.

Why it works: Uses relevant technical skills and academic achievements to establish qualifications

4. The Referred Candidate (Internal or Network Contact)

Before: My friend told me you were hiring for a project manager, and I think I'd be a good fit.

After: Jordan Lee, a project manager on your operations team, encouraged me to apply for the Project Manager position at Summit Solutions after we collaborated on a successful systems implementation. Having delivered 12 projects on schedule while managing budgets exceeding $2 million, I'd welcome the opportunity to contribute to your team's upcoming initiatives.

Why it works: Establishes a professional connection and backs it up with measurable results

5. The Career Returnee (Returning from a Gap)

Before: After taking time off to raise my family, I'm looking to reenter the workforce and would appreciate the opportunity to join your company.

After: I'm applying for the Operations Coordinator position at Clearview Partners, bringing eight years of administrative leadership and recently updated project management skills. During my career break, I earned a project management certification and coordinated freelance projects that improved client scheduling efficiency by 25%.

Why it works: Focuses on current qualifications rather than the employment gap

6. The Senior Executive (Tech Leadership)

Before: I've been in tech leadership for 10 years and am interested in your VP position because I believe my experience would be valuable.

After: I'm applying for the VP of Technology role at Vertex Systems, bringing experience scaling operations across three international markets and leading a 200-person engineering organization. As your company expands its cloud-based services, my background in infrastructure modernization and global team leadership positions me to support that next stage of growth.

Why it works: Connects executive-level experience to the company's growth strategy

Here's a complete cover letter example that shows how the introduction fits into the full document and what a professional cover letter looks like:

Use this template

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Beginning a Cover Letter

A weak cover letter opening can make an otherwise qualified candidate seem unprepared or uninterested. Common cover letter mistakes include focusing too heavily on personal goals, repeating resume details, using an inappropriate tone, and forgetting to personalize the application.

1. Focusing on What You Want Instead of What You Offer

An opening focused on your career goals doesn't show employers what you can contribute.

Instead of: I'm looking for a position that will help me advance my career.
Try: I'm excited to bring my customer service experience and conflict resolution skills to the Customer Support Specialist position at ABC Services.

2. Repeating Your Resume

Instead of listing previous job duties, highlight an accomplishment that demonstrates your impact.

Instead of: I've worked in sales for five years and have experience managing customer accounts.
Try: As my company's top sales performer for seven consecutive months, I've developed client relationships that consistently exceed revenue targets.

3. Using an Overly Casual or Formal Tone

Your cover letter should sound professional and approachable, with a tone that fits the role and company. Avoid slang, overly familiar greetings, and unnecessarily formal language that makes your introduction feel stiff or impersonal.

Instead of: Hey team!
Try: Dear Hiring Manager,

4. Forgetting to Double-Check the Details

Generic introductions and leftover placeholders make applications look rushed. Before submitting, verify the job title, employer name, and qualifications, and remove placeholders such as "[Insert Company Name]."

Using AI Cover Letter Tools Smartly: Prompting & Personalization Tips

AI cover letter tools can help you overcome writer's block, organize your qualifications, and draft an introduction, but you'll still need to personalize the results to reflect your experience and voice.

Effective Prompting Strategies for Cover Letter Intros

Give AI tools the job title, company name, relevant job requirements, and specific accomplishments. Detailed prompts produce more targeted introductions than generic requests.

Example AI writing prompt:

Write a professional, three-sentence opening paragraph for a Marketing Coordinator position at BrightPath Media. Highlight my two years of social media experience, 30% increase in engagement, and experience with email campaigns. Keep the tone confident, natural, and concise.

How to Make AI Drafts Sound More Like You

Review AI-generated introductions for accuracy, relevance, and tone. Replace exaggerated phrases like "I'm thrilled to present my stellar qualifications" with more natural language. Verify every achievement and statistic, and make sure the final version sounds like you.

If you need additional support, Resume Now's AI Cover Letter Generator can help you create and customize a cover letter using your qualifications and the position you're targeting.

Key Takeaways

Match your cover letter to your resume. Use consistent contact information, fonts, and formatting.
Research the hiring manager. Address them by name when possible, or choose an appropriate professional greeting.
Follow the three-step framework. Identify the role, highlight a relevant achievement, and connect your experience to the employer's needs.
Adapt your opening to your background. Highlight transferable skills, academic projects, referrals, or leadership accomplishments.
Personalize and proofread. Verify the company name, job title, achievements, and tone, and remove any leftover placeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good first sentence for a cover letter?

A good first sentence identifies the position you're applying for while highlighting a relevant skill, accomplishment, or professional connection. For example: "After increasing customer retention by 25%, I'm excited to bring my client relationship experience to the Account Manager position at ABC Company." Specific openings are more compelling than generic statements of interest.

What are the three golden rules of writing a cover letter?

The three golden rules of writing a cover letter are to personalize your application, demonstrate your value, and keep your message concise. Address the employer's needs, highlight qualifications that match the job description, and use specific examples instead of repeating your resume. A strong cover letter should explain why you're qualified and how you can contribute.

How do you start a cover letter with no experience?

If you don't have professional experience, begin by identifying the position and highlighting relevant coursework, academic projects, volunteer work, internships, or transferable skills. Focus on qualifications that match the job requirements. For example, a recent graduate might reference a successful capstone project or technical skills developed through their education.

Can you start a cover letter with "To Whom It May Concern"?

It's generally best to avoid "To Whom It May Concern" when starting a cover letter because it can sound impersonal. If you can't find the hiring manager's name, use "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Department Name] Team" instead. When possible, research the recipient and address them by name.

How do you start a cover letter when returning to work after a career break?

Start by emphasizing your current qualifications and the value you can bring to the employer. Highlight recent training, certifications, volunteer experience, freelance projects, or transferable skills. You don't need to explain your entire employment gap in the introduction. Focus on demonstrating that you're prepared and qualified for the position.

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Conor is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches dedicated to helping job seekers excel in their careers.