Quick answer
'Dear HR Manager' is a reasonable salutation when an HR manager — not a line recruiter or the hiring manager — is your primary audience. This happens at smaller companies where the HR manager personally reviews all applications, or when you are applying for HR roles themselves. The title is professional and widely understood. Like other generic greetings, it works best as a fallback when you have exhausted name-finding options. If the HR manager's name appears on the careers page or LinkedIn, use it — the title alone wastes an easy personalization opportunity.
When “Dear HR Manager” is acceptable
Use for SMB applications where the HR manager doubles as recruiter, when applying to HR/People Ops positions, or when the posting lists 'Contact: HR Manager' without a name. Also appropriate in industries where HR retains screening authority through final rounds — some finance and healthcare organizations operate this way.
When to avoid this salutation
Avoid when a specific recruiter is named on the posting — address them instead. Do not use for direct emails to hiring managers. If you found the HR manager's name is 'David Okonkwo,' write 'Dear David Okonkwo,' not 'Dear HR Manager.'
Why addressing someone by name works better
HR managers at small and mid-size companies often personally remember candidates who addressed them by name — they may be reviewing only 20–30 applications per role, not 200. That personal connection carries into interview scheduling. At larger companies, naming the HR manager still helps your file get tagged to the correct req in the ATS instead of floating in an unassigned queue.
How to find the recipient's name
Search LinkedIn for the HR manager at the company
Filter by current company and titles containing 'HR Manager,' 'People Manager,' or 'Head of HR.' Verify they are still in role — HR turnover is common and outdated names hurt credibility.
Read the About Us or Leadership page
Smaller companies list HR leadership on their website. Even a 'People' page may name the HR manager responsible for hiring.
Use automated lookup for the hiring manager
If the HR manager is just screening, the hiring manager is who you really need to impress. DearHiringManager.io returns the decision-maker's name and email from a job URL so you can personalize beyond the HR layer.
Example openings for your cover letter
Dear HR Manager,
I am writing to apply for the Office Manager position at your Portland location. My ten years of facilities and office operations experience includes managing vendor relationships, event planning, and budgets exceeding $500K annually.Dear Patricia Lopez,
I am excited to apply for the HR Generalist role on your team. My PHR certification and experience handling full-cycle recruiting for a 150-employee logistics company map directly to the responsibilities in your posting.FAQ
HR Manager vs Hiring Manager — who should I address?
Address whoever reads your application first. If you are emailing directly to stand out, address the hiring manager — they make the final decision.
Is 'Dear HR Manager' gender-neutral?
Yes, it avoids gender assumptions. However, a full name is both gender-neutral and more personal — 'Dear Taylor Morgan' works regardless of gender.
Should HR-focused cover letters use this salutation?
When applying for HR jobs, naming the HR manager or department head is ideal. 'Dear HR Manager' works as a fallback if the posting comes from a generic inbox.
Can I follow up with the HR manager?
Yes, after 5–7 business days. See our follow-up guides for timing and templates. Finding their direct email makes follow-up far more effective than replying to a no-reply portal address.
Related cover letter guides
- Dear Human Resources in a cover letter
- Dear Hiring Manager in a cover letter
- Dear Recruiting Manager in a cover letter
- No name available in a cover letter
- Dear Recruitment Manager in a cover letter
- To Whom It May Concern in a cover letter
- Unknown recipient name in a cover letter
- Dear Talent Acquisition in a cover letter
From our job search guides
- How to Find an HR Email Address at Any Company
- How to Contact a Hiring Manager After Applying (Without Being Weird)
- How to Find Any Hiring Manager's Email Address (In 60 Seconds)
Already applied and heard nothing back? See our follow-up guide after applying.
Try it free — 1 lookup per day
Paste any job URL on DearHiringManager.io to find the hiring manager's name and verified work email — so your next cover letter opens with a real name instead of a generic greeting.