The Salutation: Get the Name Right

Before you write a single paragraph, decide who you are writing to. The salutation tells the reader how much effort you put in before you started typing. Most students get this wrong.

The Salutation Hierarchy

From strongest to weakest:

1. "Dear [Specific Person]" — best. "Dear Ms. Kim," "Dear Mr. Adjmi." A real name signals that you spent ten minutes on LinkedIn or the firm's "Team" page before applying.
2. "Dear [Specific Role]" — second-best when no name is available but the role is clear. "Dear Hiring Partner," "Dear Director of Design."
3. "Dear Hiring Team" — acceptable. Slightly warmer than "Hiring Manager." Works when you have done your research and the firm genuinely uses a committee.
4. "Dear Hiring Manager" — fallback. Generic but neutral. Use only when you have spent real time looking and cannot find a name.
5. "To Whom It May Concern" — avoid. Reads as low effort. Tells the reader you did not look.

How to Find the Right Name in Ten Minutes

1. Open the firm's website. Look for "Team," "People," "Studio," or "About" pages. Note the principal in charge of hiring or the head of the discipline you are applying for.
2. Search LinkedIn for the firm. Filter by location. Look for titles like "Talent Acquisition," "HR Manager," "Director of People," or "Studio Director."
3. If still nothing, check the firm's job posting carefully. Sometimes the contact name is buried at the bottom or in a "How to apply" section.
4. For boutique firms with fewer than 30 staff, address it to the founding partner. They almost always read the letter themselves.

Formatting Notes

• End the salutation with a colon, not a comma. "Dear Mr. Adjmi:" is the standard for formal business letters in the US.
• Skip a line after the salutation before paragraph 1.
• If the role accepts both "Dear" and a more casual opener, "Dear" is safer for an architecture firm. Save "Hi [Name]" for follow-up emails after the application.