Responding to a Blind Ad

The Career Doctor responds:

As we write in our book, Dynamic Cover Letters (Ten Speed Press), sometimes companies, for various reasons, place blind classified ads that do not identify the company. But some blind ads are more blind than others. Some may use the initials for the company’s name sent to a post office box. In these cases, you may be able to discover the name of the company. The most common blind ad, however, uses only a box number at the newspaper carrying the ad, and in these cases, there is virtually no way to uncover the name of the company.

So, how do you address your cover letter? Our current favorite for blind-box ads is “Dear Boxholder” or Dear Hiring Manager.” My partner, Katharine Hansen, has also often used “Dear Friends.”

Avoid at all costs “To Whom it May Concern,” or worse, a sexist salutation such as “Gentlemen.”

Finally, it is also acceptable when responding to a blind-box ad to omit the salutation and begin with the body of the letter.