Dear Hiring manager,

← Cover letter salutations

"Dear Human Resources" — Department vs Decision-Maker

"Dear Human Resources" works for HR-led intake, but the hiring manager decides — use HR for logistics, not to make your case.

By DearHiringManager.io

“Dear Human Resources” addresses a department, not a person — fine for formal HR-led processes, but weaker when you want the hiring manager to actually read your letter.

Example openings

Dear Human Resources,

Please find my application for the Compliance Officer role submitted
via your careers portal on June 12.
Dear Human Resources Manager,

I am interested in the People Operations Coordinator opening and
have enclosed my resume for your review.
Dear HR Team,

I am applying for the Benefits Specialist position listed on
your website.

What to write instead

  • Name the HR business partner or recruiter if listed on the posting
  • Email the hiring manager directly when the goal is to stand out — HR routes paperwork; managers decide
  • Use “Dear Human Resources” only when the posting explicitly directs applications to HR

Need the actual name instead of a generic salutation? Paste the job URL into DearHiringManager.io — find the hiring manager's name in about a minute, then open with “Dear [Name],” instead.