Heather Eagar.com

Ahhh…you know you’ve come into this situation before. It seems that no matter where you look, you just can’t seem to find a name that you should address your cover letter to for a particular job. What do you do?

This is a vital step in the success of your job search. It may not seem like a big deal but it really is. A little effort goes a long way.

So you’ve covered the basics: the contact name is not in the job posting nor is it on the company website. You might be inclined to give up at that point. I urge you not to.

The company might not make it easy for you to find this contact’s name. Why should they? It’s an easy way to screen out job search “loafers” - those you just send out generic resume packages to any job that seems a little bit interesting. Employers just don’t have time for that.

Your next step is to call the company itself. If you have a title of the person, you can ask the receptionist what that person’s name is (and get their direct phone number, if you can).

If you have no title or anything else to go by, ask for the Human Resources Manager. Tell them the position you’re applying for and that you would really like to address it to the correct person. They can be more than willing to help out.

Don’t send out a generic cover letter. It doesn’t impress and it won’t likely get you in the door. Just remember: where there’s a will, there’s a way…

To get some great help with your cover letter, check out the Amazing Cover Letter Creator by Jimmy Sweeney. It really can make a difference in whether you get a call for an interview..or not.