Another question about cover letters...

I'll keep this brief:

If a paper is looking for a writer, copy editor, what have you, but don't give a name to send it to, how do you start off with your cover letter? Starting with "To whom it may concern" sets off alarms in my head and in my train-of-thought, an opening like that will send you straight to the can. What's the best way to work around this? Oh, BTW, the shop that's looking said to e-mail a cover letter and resume, no calls. The contact was HR.

Thanks for any help, guys 'n gals.

 

Good morning:
Or Good day:

That's what I've always used when there was no contact listed.

 

Call the newspaper and ask. It's what reporters do.

It also gives you an excuse to ask some other questions and throw your name around a bit. Never use "to whom it may concern." Know your audience.

 

Oops, just read the part where of the post that says no calls. I'd definitely email then. Still gets your name on their radar and you know who you're writing to.

 

Wait, wait, wait ...

"No calls" is one thing. But you should be able to call up and say, "I understand you have a job opening for a xxxx xxxx. Who should the cover letter be addressed to?"

If that constitutes a "call" at that place, then I probably wouldn't want to work for somebody who's so screwed up.

 

Good point.

 

And if you don't mention your name when you do, they'll never know it was you breaking the "no calls" rule.

 

And if they do ask for your name, just say "Brook Jacoby, Hungry Horse News" and hang up.

 

Would Larry Doyle or Ron Mexico also be a good alias?