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Proper Titles for Cover Letters

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11 replies

by vujade

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This in't exactly a technical question; however, I need assistance in determining the proper Title for a Cover Letter. The addressee has an MBA and is the Executive Director of a Research Foundation. The position is the Assistant to the Executive Director.

Should the letter be addressed to:

Dear Ms. First Last
Dear Doctor Last
Dear Director Last
Dear Ms. Last

Please help and/or direct me to the right search engine to ascertain this information. This i time sensitive - and your assistance is greatly appreciated.

11 replies

by timwalsh

But here are my picks.

If she only has an MBA, she isn't a Doctor (need a PhD).

Use of the Director title in a greeting is more of a cultural thing than anything else. It is more appropriate in some countries than in others. In the US, unless you KNOW that the culture of the organization you are applying to dictates the use of the title, I would not use it. Your last example is used mst oftne in business correspondance.

Try this URL:

http://tinyurl.com/k50p

by oz_media

This is a cover letter. Even though a semiformal approach is needed, there is NOTHING wrong with using a proper first and last name. Assuming or indicating merital status (ms, miss, Mrs. is a nono) The last post was correct about the use of Dr.

This is not from a website but from the top copywriter in Vancouver Canada. He writes copy for multi-million dollar company portfolios for public companies and has written advertising copy (Midas, BCLions fooptball club, Vancouver Canucks, Odlum Browme etc.)for over 35 years.

I'd take his word as set in stone. This guy is in global demand for his copywriting skills.

Not to brag about my friends but this guy REALLY knows this stuff.

Good luck to you.
OM

by oz_media

I thought we had a deal, DON'T REPLY TO MY POSTS.

in the case of the comma before the last name, you are correct but even the illiterate should know that, you do.

Now, be a good Max and shut up.

by maxwell edison

August 16, 2003

Ms. FirstName LastName
Executive Director
Knows All Things Foundation
123 Somestreet Ave.
Anyplace, USA 12345

Dear Ms. LastNameOnly,

You would be a fool not to hire me, since I'm the best available. Your foundation will be much better with me, and would not want to be without me. (Use your own words, of course, but the message will tell her, in essence, the same thing. But it will not just be a repeat of your resume.)

To show how good I really am, I haven't made any mistakes on my cover letter or my resume. My spelling and grammar is perfect. (Or is it, My spelling and grammar are perfect?) All commas are placed correctly, and none are misused. (Or is it, All commas are placed correctly and none are misused?) I even went so far as to have an English major review all this stuff to make sure it was perfect. Yes, I wanted it perfect.

So hire me because I am really the best.

Sincerely,

(Handwritten Signature)

Vujade Person

By the way, the two line spaces between the date and the name of the recipient is standard, as well as the two line spaces before the Dear Ms. LastNameOnly.

Good luck.

by maxwell edison

And four line spaces between Sincerely and Vujade Person will allow adequate space for a nice hand written signature - in blue or black ink.

by oz_media

When addressiung a female you NEVER use a salutation beginning with an indication of marital status, that's just a disrespectful, North American but it is a NO NO as far as English is concerned.

by hal 9000

What Maxwell has posted is perfectly correct, never use any intials after a persons name as that person already knows what they like to use or not to use after their name.

Really anyone that is impressed by a few letters after any name isn't worth impressing anyway as they will always be sucking up to you so just ditch them for any cover letter if you get the job you'll soon learn how she prefers to be addressed but in the meantime for any cover letter that you send with your CV just put her name and "Keep It Simple Stupid", "KISS" it personaly I don't even like the Dear part I'd just use her first name & last name in that part of the letter but that is a cutural thing so you'll have to go with the norm in the area that you live in.

Other wise stick with what Max has posted and alter to suit your needs but he is basicly correct in the comments that he has used as that is what you are trying to say.

by maxwell edison

Mrs. (pronounced miss-es) Used to address a married woman who uses her husband's name as her own. (Se?ora in Spanish, Madame in French)

Miss (pronounced as it looks - miss) Used to address an unmarried woman. (Se?orita in Spanish, Mademoiselle in French)

Ms. (pronounced mizz) Used in business to address a woman, whether/either married or unmarried. This is not an indication of marital status, one way or the other. (Spanish and French - who knows?)

http://www.bspage.com/address.html

Of course, in some third world countries, including Canada, this proper business formality may not be used. But in the United States - as well as in most of the civilized world - it is.

by oz_media

I was intersted in finding out how different grammar is in Englad as opposed to North America, the last poster had pointed to a webpage that one would expect to contain relevant info, then I looked at the URL and thought otherwise.

You could offer an Attention Ms./Mrs. X but that sounds like a marjeting letter and not a covering letter. You seem to be really concerned about your title here, is this because you have nothing of relevance in your resume or are you just trying to impress her. I think the majority of applicants won't put as much into the title as they would the actual cover letter. You do realize that even in the best of conditions, these rarely get read but your resume MAY get scanned if it is good.

If someone else says "Hey Mrs. X" and they have a better work history they will probably get the job. No matter how you word your salutation, you should be more concerned about the copy in your resume and covering letter than the salutation, this is where MOST mistakes are made.

Good luck with the job hunt.

P.S. I guess you expected to get a bunch of techs with varied opinions and links to resources, unfortunately this won't secure you a position, your experience and drive will/should.

by oz_media

I apologize for footing your post, I intended to POST in a new thread instead of following yours. Won't happen again.

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