Good or bad advice?

You should always start your cover letter with: “To Whom It May Concern”. A cover letter is a formal document which demands a formal tone.

Question

Good or bad advice?

You should always start your cover letter with: “To Whom It May Concern”.  A cover letter is a formal document which demands a formal tone.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question recap: The statement asks whether the advice “You should always start your cover letter with: ‘To Whom It May Concern’” is good or bad, noting that a cover letter is a formal document which demands a formal tone.
Option 1: True. If we treat the statement as claiming that starting with To Whom It May Concern is always appropriate because letters should be formal, this is too rigid. Modern hiring practices favor a personalized greeting using the recipient’s name when possible, which signals effort and familiarity with the company. Rigidly insisting on the exact phrase ignores common etiquette and can come across outdated.
Option 2: False. This option aligns better with contemporary guidance: you should tailor your salutation to the context. When you know the recipient’s name, use it (Dear Ms. Smith, Dear Mr. Patel, etc.). If you don’t know the name, a more neutral yet professional opening such as “Dear Hiring Team” or “Dear [Department] Team” is recommended. Using a generic To Whom It May Concern can seem impersonal or dated, and many recruiters view it as a sign that the applicant didn’t do basic research.
Explanation of why this alternative fits better in practice: modern cover letters emphasize personalization, relevance, and a direct professional tone. The phrase To Whom It May Concern often breaks the flow of a well-crafted letter and may imply indifference to the specific role. A tailored greeting helps establish a connection and demonstrates initiative.
Why the first option is not ideal: claiming this greeting is always necessary contradicts current best practices that encourage customization. It can create a barrier to engagement if the reader expects a direct address and finds a generic salutation instead. Additionally, in many digital applications, there might be a real name available, making the “To Whom It May Concern” option unnecessary and less effective.
Summary nuance: the appropriate salutation depends on the context and information available. A customized greeting is generally preferred; a generic one is acceptable only when no name can be found, and even then, there are more professional alternatives than the exact phrase in question.

COM_COM_002312 [CL] Quiz: Good or bad advice?

Good or bad advice? You should always start your cover letter with: “To Whom It May Concern”. A cover letter is a formal document which demands a formal tone.

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