Covering Letter: What salutation/valediction do I use?

Question

I am applying for a job and need to send off a covering letter. This letter needs to be sent to the Personnel Administrator. Do I address the letter as Dear Personnel Administrator and finish with Yours Truly or is it more appropriate to salute as Dear Sir/Madam and finish with Yours Faithfully?

Answer 1

The best way might be to phone and inquire as to whom the letter ought to be addressed. Example: Applying for a volunteer position at my uni, I asked to whom to addess the request. If that approach fails, howevever, the Dear Sir/Madam is still considered in good taste. I would finish with

"Your consideration of my application and CV is very appreciated" it is more eye catching than any other form.  

Answer 2

Dear Sir/Madam,

Yours faithfully,

(space for your signature)

J M Smith (Mr or Mrs or Ms whatever your title is)

Little 'f' in faithfully.!!!

Answer 3

you use "Sir/Madam" and because you have never met before, you use 'Signed,"

"Yours" ANYTHING implies knowledge of the person reading it. "Yours Truly"  or "Yours Always" means a friend, "Yours Faithfully" implies religion.  

If you correspond with this person more than twice, you may use "Best Regards", but unless you are on a  first name basis, stick to "Signed'.

Answer 4

The best thing to do would be to find out the name of the personnel administrator and address it to them directly.  (A phone call to the company to find out will do it).  Yours truly is the preferred closing for business letters.

Answer 5

Dear Sir/Madam,

[your letter]

Yours faithfully,

[your signature]

and then your full name.

  Its always Yours faithfully when you don't know the person you're writing to on a personal level.

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

The second one. Maybe it's a regional thing, but I've certainly never heard of opening a letter with 'Dear [Job Title]'