Quick answer
'Dear Recruiting Manager' is correct when you know a recruiter — not the hiring manager — will be the first reader. At many mid-size and large companies, recruiters screen applications before forwarding shortlisted candidates to the team lead. This salutation shows you understand the hiring pipeline. However, if you are writing to the person who will actually decide whether you get the job, 'Dear Recruiting Manager' misses the mark. Recruiters appreciate being named when their name is on the posting; hiring managers appreciate letters addressed to them when the recruiter has already forwarded your file.
When “Dear Recruiting Manager” is acceptable
Use it when applying through a portal where a named recruiter is listed as the contact, or when the LinkedIn job poster is clearly a talent acquisition specialist rather than the department head. Recruiting managers at enterprise companies often batch-read cover letters for multiple requisitions — addressing them correctly acknowledges their role in the process.
When to avoid this salutation
Do not use this salutation when emailing the hiring manager directly to bypass the ATS — that email should name the decision-maker. Also skip it when the posting names a specific recruiter; use their name instead. 'Dear Recruiting Manager' when 'Dear Jessica Park' is available looks like a mail-merge mistake.
Why addressing someone by name works better
Recruiters handle dozens of requisitions simultaneously. A named greeting tells them this letter is for their specific req, not a blast application. Hiring managers, when they eventually read your materials, respond even more strongly to personalization because they rarely receive direct outreach — most candidates stop at the portal. Whether your first reader is a recruiter or a manager, naming them creates accountability: people engage more with correspondence addressed to them personally. Generic department titles blur into background noise.
How to find the recipient's name
Identify who posted the job on LinkedIn
The LinkedIn job poster is frequently the assigned recruiter. Click their profile — if their title includes 'Talent Acquisition,' 'Recruiting Manager,' or 'Senior Recruiter,' address them by name in your cover letter.
Look for recruiter signatures in email threads
If you have any correspondence about the role — scheduling, assessment links, portal confirmations — the signature block usually contains the recruiter's full name and title. Use that name rather than a generic title.
Find the hiring manager for stronger direct outreach
If your goal is to stand out, skip the recruiter salutation entirely and find the hiring manager instead. Tools like DearHiringManager.io identify the decision-maker behind the posting so you can address the person who actually owns the headcount.
Example openings for your cover letter
Dear Jessica Park,
I am excited to apply for the Data Analyst position (Req #4821). With four years of SQL-driven reporting in SaaS environments and direct experience building Looker dashboards for executive teams, I believe I can contribute to your analytics function from week one.Dear Recruiting Manager,
I am submitting my application for the UX Researcher role referenced on your careers portal. My background in mixed-methods research for B2B products aligns with the qualifications listed, particularly the requirement for usability testing at scale.FAQ
Recruiting manager vs hiring manager — what is the difference?
A recruiting manager works in HR or talent acquisition and screens candidates. A hiring manager leads the team with the open headcount and makes the final hire decision. Your salutation should match who reads the letter first — or who you are emailing directly.
Will a recruiter forward my cover letter to the hiring manager?
Sometimes, but often they summarize your resume instead. If you want the hiring manager to see your pitch, a direct email with a personalized salutation is more reliable than hoping the recruiter copies your cover letter verbatim.
Is 'Dear Recruiter' too casual?
Slightly. 'Dear [First Name Last Name]' or 'Dear Recruiting Manager' is safer. If you know their name, always use it.
Should I mention the hiring manager in a letter to a recruiter?
You can reference that you researched the team — 'I was impressed by the work your engineering org published on…' — but address the recruiter by name in the salutation.
Related cover letter guides
- Dear Hiring Manager in a cover letter
- Dear Recruitment Manager in a cover letter
- Dear Human Resources in a cover letter
- Unknown recipient name in a cover letter
- Dear HR Manager in a cover letter
- To Whom It May Concern in a cover letter
- No name available in a cover letter
- Dear Talent Acquisition in a cover letter
From our job search guides
- How to Find a Recruiter's Email on LinkedIn (3 Methods)
- How to Find Any Hiring Manager's Email Address (In 60 Seconds)
- How to Contact a Hiring Manager After Applying (Without Being Weird)
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