how do you address an application letter to a company

How to Address a Cover Letter in 2024

Yes, how you address your cover letter matters.

After all, this is the first thing the recruiter reads when going through your cover letter, and yes, there is a right and wrong way to do it.

In this article, we’re going to teach you how to address your cover letter in such a way that you leave a positive impression on any recruiter!

• How to address a cover letter to a recruiter? (Casual or formal)
• What title to use when addressing the hiring manager
• How to address a cover letter without a contact person/to a company
• How to address a cover letter without an address
• How to address a cover letter in an email

How to Address a Cover Letter To a Recruiter (Casual or Formal)?

As we already mentioned, the way you address your cover letter is important because it is the very first thing recruiters see upon opening your cover letter. 

A well-formulated cover letter address means that you care enough to research the company (i.e. to find the hiring manager’s name and title) and that you show attention to detail. 

As such, you should always put some research into who you’re addressing your cover letter to and do so in a formal way.  

And yes, the formal part is important too. The recruiter isn’t your best friend - you want to maintain a sense of professionalism.

If this is how you address the recruiter in your cover letter:

• What’s up Hiring Manager
• Hi there Hiring Team

Then you say goodbye to the job.

Now, you’re probably wondering, how can I find out whom to address my cover letter to?

That’s what we’re about to teach you:

Who Am I Addressing My Cover Letter To?

Here are some tricks to find the full name of the hiring manager: 

• Check the job listing. The job listing may have information about the recruiter or the department doing the hiring. Make sure to read through the entire job listing, as it might not be at an entirely obvious place.
• Check the company website. Some websites feature the names of the hiring managers or heads of departments that may go through your cover letter. Alternatively, LinkedIn is another place where you can look for this information.
• Check the company’s LinkedIn. You can look up who works in the company you’re applying for on their LinkedIn page.
• Ask around. Do you have friends that work for the company? They could provide you with valuable inside info.

To avoid making a bad impression, head over to our guide on cover letter mistakes to learn about what NOT to do when writing your cover letter.  

Addressing a Cover Letter With a Name

By now, you have probably found the hiring manager’s full name and gender. With this information available, it’s best to address the hiring manager formally, as follows: 

• Dear Mr. Brown,
• Dear Miss Fitzpatrick,
• Dear Mrs. Lockhart,
• Dear Ms. Walters,

If, for some reason, you are unsure about the person’s title, gender, marital status, or preferred pronouns, just address them using their entire name to avoid any mistakes. For example:

• Dear Alex Brown, 
• Dear Blair Fitzpatrick,
• Dear Jesse Lockhart,
• Dear Madison Walters,

Addressing someone with a title 

Now, if you found out that the hiring manager has a professional or academic title, then it’s more appropriate to address them using that title. If, for example, the hiring manager has a Ph.D., then it’s more respectful to address them as “Dr. Last Name,” instead of “Mr. Last Name.”  

Here are some professional titles and how they’re abbreviated: 

• A professor is Prof. 
• A reverend is Rev. 
• A sergeant is Sgt. 
• Honorable is Hon. 

If, however, you are uncertain about how a title is abbreviated, then avoid it altogether. 

Here are a few examples to give you an idea: 

• Dear Prof. Welsch,
• Dear Director Smith,
• Dear Rev. Owen,

Dear Dr. Leonard,

When addressing women and you don’t know their marital status, always go with Ms., because it doesn’t comment on marital status. Some women prefer not to be addressed with Miss or Mrs. even when they’re married, so sticking with Ms. is the best choice. 

Want to learn more cover letter tips ? Our guide has all you need to ace your cover letter!  

How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Contact Person

It might happen that, no matter how hard you search, you can’t find the name of the hiring manager or department head that will read your cover letter.

In that case, you can address your cover letter to the department, faculty, or the company.

• Dear Software Development Hiring Team,
• Dear Customer Service Department Hiring Team,
• Dear Head of the Literature Faculty,
• Dear Director of Marketing,
• Dear Human Resources Recruitment Team,

Alternatively, if you don’t have enough information either about the department or the team, you can opt for addressing the cover letter directly to the company’s hiring staff, as follows: 

Dear [Company Name] Hiring Team 

Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Staff

If all else fails (meaning, you don’t know the name of the department head or even the exact department, in addition to the recruiter) then you can use one of the good, old-fashioned:

Dear Hiring Manager,

...but NOT the impersonal and way outdated “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Sir/Madam.” 

Starting a cover letter can be challenging. Our guide can show you how to start a cover letter that will get you results from the get-go. 

How to Format the Company’s Address

Before you reach the salutation, you have to make sure that the header with the recipient’s contact information is formatted correctly. 

It might not be the deciding point of whether you’ll secure an interview or not, but it will cost you points if it’s off. 

So, the first thing you want to do is add your name and surname on the upper left side of the cover letter. Underneath, you should write your professional title (if applicable), your email , and your phone number . 

Now, after you’ve also added the date, you should leave one more space and add the recipient’s contact information and, most importantly, the company’s address. 

It should look something like this on your cover letter: 

When You Can’t Find the Company’s Address 

Some companies might have several addresses listed (as per their branches, for example), or even none at all. 

Since an application that doesn’t have an address line could end up lost or misplaced, make sure you do one of the following before skipping the company’s address completely:

• Check all your resources, (pretty much like when you were looking for the hiring manager’s name) to find the company’s address. 
• Use the company’s headquarter address. This is sometimes easier to find, especially if the company has several branches. 
• Use the P.O. Box number for the company. This is not as specific as an actual address line, but if all else fails, it’s still something. 

Frequently, you’ll be asked to submit your job application (including your cover letter) electronically, or by email. In those cases, you can skip the address line altogether. 

Here’s how you’d go about addressing a cover letter in an email.

How to Address an Email Cover Letter

If you’re sending your job application through email, chances are you’ll need to format your cover letter in the body of the email, or as an attachment along with your resume.

First and foremost when you’re addressing a cover letter in an email is the subject line, which should be between 6-10 words long. 

Considering that hiring managers receive countless emails daily, you want to make sure that yours is a job application immediately. And the way to do that is straight through the subject line, which should indicate exactly the position you’re applying for and your name so that it’s easier to find through the recruiter’s swarmed mailbox. 

Here’ what we mean by that:

• Subject Line:   John Doe - Software Development Job Application 
• Subject Line: John Doe - Job Application for Marketing Manager Position   
• Subject Line: John Doe - Stock Manager Job Application 

Afterward, if you’re including your cover letter in the body of the email (as opposed to attaching it as a document), begin by using a salutation, add space, and start your letter. 

If someone referred you for the position, make sure to mention that in the subject line of your email as well as in your opening paragraph.  

So, let’s see how all the above plays out in practice: 

Subject Line: John Doe - Carl Jacob’s Referral for Software Developer

I was very glad that Mr. Jacobs, a long-time partner at your firm who also happens to be my mentor from college, referred me for the Software Developer position. 

Do you want your style, personality, and overall personal brand to shine through your application? With Novorésumé, you can match your cover letter with your resume to make a lasting impression! 

Key Takeaways 

And that’s all there is when it comes to addressing a cover letter! You should feel much more confident in doing so by now. 

Either way, let’s go over the main points we covered throughout the article: 

• Your cover letter address should be formal and well-researched. Don’t address the hiring manager with “hey,” “what’s up,” “hi there,” or even the old-fashioned “Dear Sir/Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern.”
• Always try to find the hiring manager’s full name and professional title through the company’s website, LinkedIn, by calling, or by asking someone who works there.
• If you know the hiring manager’s name, go with “Dear Mr./Miss Last Name,” but if you’re unsure about their gender, marital status, or preferred pronoun, just address them using their full name.
• If the recruiter has a professional or academic title, it’s more appropriate to address them using their title.
• If you can’t find the contact person’s name, then address the department, faculty, or company (i.e. Dear Microsoft Hiring Team , or Dear Software Development Recruitment Team ).

Related Readings: 

• Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024
• Entry-Level Cover Letter
• Cover Letter for Internship
• How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024

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How to Address a Cover Letter to Recruiter or Hiring Manager

5 min read · Updated on November 24, 2021

Knowing how to effectively address a cover letter makes you a very visible and appealing candidate.

Did you know that the cardinal rule of cover letters is personalization? It impresses a hiring manager or recruiter because it tells them you took time to research the specific information for the letter rather than sending a generic version.

What many people forget, however, is that the greeting or salutation in a cover letter must also be personalized with the hiring professional's first and last name whenever possible.

There are several effective ways to find the hiring manager's name for your greeting — and some acceptable back-up strategies when you can't. Either way, knowing how to address a cover letter effectively can prevent you from ending your hiring chances before they even begin. 

When you know the hiring manager's name

More often than not, you'll be given the name of the hiring professional or the manager that you'll work for. Whoever it is, use their full name (first and last name) in the greeting. 

If you cannot definitively tell the gender of the hiring person, do not use a gender-based title such as “Mr.” or “Ms.” in the greeting. Instead just use the person's full name.

For example, Alex Johnson could be male or female. To avoid a gender mistake, use Dear Alex Johnson, Hello Alex Johnson, or simply Alex Johnson .

However, professional titles such as “Professor” or “Dr.” are definitely acceptable as a cover letter salutation and should be used as a sign of respect. Be on the lookout for these and other titles to include.

How to find a hiring manager's name for your cover letter

If you're not given the name of the hiring manager, here are some effective ways to discover their name by using:

The job description: Check this document for the hiring manager's name. While it's not generally listed, you never know. If it's not obvious, there's also a trick to quickly discover an email in the job description that might contain the name; while in the document, press Ctrl +F or run Command + F and search for the @ symbol.

An email address: If you discover an email address, it may not have a full name but rather a first initial and last name or just a first name like [email protected] or [email protected] . A Google search combining the person's name as shown in the email and the company name might find you the person's full name.

 A LinkedIn post: A name connected to the LinkedIn job posting is probably that of the hiring professional who posted it, so use that name in your greeting.

The supervisor's title: It's more likely that a job description will list who the new hire will report to — such as the director of accounting — without listing a name. In this case, there are several search options:

Search the company's website for listings of staff members by title.

Run an advanced LinkedIn or Google search for all directors of accounting at that specific company.

Check with your network for someone who might know the person's name or search the appropriate professional networking sites.

Contact the company by phone or email. Tell them you're applying for [job title] and want to address your cover letter to the right person.

In the end, this research can be the difference between making a great first impression and getting noticed for the position — or getting totally ignored by the hiring manager. 

Acceptable options in lieu of a name

If you try the steps above and come up empty, there are still some alternative greeting options that will put you in a professional light.

The idea is to show that you've read the job description and tailored your greeting based on the company department where the job is located, the hiring manager's title, or the team with which you'll potentially work.

Some good examples include:

Dear Head of Design

Hello IT Department

Dear Accounting Manager

To Company ABC Recruiter/Hiring Professional

Hello Marketing Hiring Team

Dear Customer Support Hiring Group

Dear Human Resources

If you still can't find any specific name or department information, go with “Dear Hiring Manager.” It sounds professional and it's not gender-specific. In fact, a recent survey of over 2000 companies by Saddleback College showed that 40 percent preferred “Dear Hiring Manager” as the best greeting when a manager's name can't be found. 

“Dear Sir or Madam” is another option that works because it's gender-neutral and respectful. However, it sounds a bit old-fashioned and may signal a hiring professional that you're an older worker or just not aware of other greeting options. It's perfectly acceptable, but the better choice is “Dear Hiring Manager.” 

In the end, an actual name or any of the alternative examples will let you stand out from the crowd, so do your best to find and use those whenever you can.

Never leave the greeting blank

Whatever information you may or may not find, it's important to never leave your greeting line blank.

A blank greeting line can make you come across as lazy or rude, or imply that you simply don't understand how to write a cover letter — all of which will immediately put you out of contention for the job. There's no reason to leave the greeting blank when there are so many options that can be used effectively.

When you spend the time and effort to personalize your cover letter, you don't want to come across as “just another candidate” by using a generic greeting or no greeting at all.

A personalized greeting will impress any hiring professional, increasing the chance they'll read your entire cover letter — and ask you for an interview.

Not sure if your cover letter is cutting it? Our writers don't just help you with your resume . 

Recommended Reading:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

5 Things to Say in Your Cover Letter If You Want to Get the Job

How To Write a Cover Letter (With Example)

Related Articles:

How to Create a Resume With No Education

From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

See how your resume stacks up.

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How to address a cover letter | with examples

The way you start your cover letter counts.

It’s the first thing a hiring manager sees when they open your application so you need to make them excited to peek into your CV .

In our guide, we’ll show you the ropes on how to address your cover letter, and even teach you how to find the recruiter or hiring manager’s name for maximum impact.

CV templates 

Address the hiring manager or recruiter directly

Address the hiring manager or recruiter by name to start building a rapport with them.

Something simple like, “Hi Lucy” will do the trick.

According to recent research , simply seeing your own name can trigger a strong response in the brain. So, be sure to do this, to captivate the recruiter’s attention.

How to find the recruiter or hiring manager’s name

You may be wondering, “How do I figure out their name?”

There are several ways to find out the name of the person handling the job opening, which we’ll look at below.

When you’re reading a job advert, you’ll sometimes find the name and email address of the person you need to get in touch with directly in the ad.

Look out for the section that says “For enquiries” or “Contact person”.

For example, the advert might say something like:

“For more info, please contact Susan Wright at [email protected].”

Usually, this person manages that job vacancy.

If you see this information, it’s your lucky day – job adverts are the simplest way to find the correct name.

Company website

If you can’t find the recruiter’s name on the job advert , and you’re applying for a job directly via a company, check out their website.

Keep an eye out for a “Who We Are” , “About Us” or “Our Team” section.

Here, you’ll usually be able to find the info about the people who work there, including the head of the department or hiring team connected to the position you’re applying for.

Look at the people’s profiles to get the one that fits your job’s department.

If you have trouble finding it directly, use the search bar on the company’s website and type in “Head of [Department Name]” or “HR Manager”.

You could also run a Google search for “[Company name] + team” for a quick way of finding an About Page for a particular team or department.

LinkedIn is one of the best ways to find a hiring manager or recruiter because millions of them are registered on the platform.

Firstly, ascertain the company that posted the position and the team it’s connected with from the information provided in the job advert.

When you know the department and organisation, head over to LinkedIn . Here, you can use the search bar to look for the company name, department or job title associated with the job opening.

Let’s say you’re applying for a marketing vacancy at Tesco. You can search for “Marketing Manager” in the search bar like this:

Once the search results appear, click the “People” filter button to narrow down your findings further so that you’re only seeing people (and not companies or groups).

Then make sure you choose your target company under “Current Company” – this ensures you only view people who are current employees.

You will need to type the name of the company into the text box like this:

Click on the name of the company you typed in. In this case, it’s “Tesco.”

Then hit the blue “Show results” button.

And examine the profiles that come up.

You’ll be able to find the person handling the job applications by looking for titles such as “recruitment manager” or “team leader” .

And once you view their profiles you may even be able to get hold of their phone number or email address.

Contact info

Here is how you can find a person’s email address via the contact details, if they have entered them.

Click on their profile then seek out the “Contact info” section.

This sits under their profile picture and headline.

If the user has made their contact info visible, you’ll see it here.

About section

Often, you can locate additional contact info, such as email addresses, in the “About” or “Summary” section of their profile.

To do this, scroll down to the user’s “About” section.

If the user has decided to include their email address, you’ll see it here.

If you can’t find an email, you can contact them directly through LinkedIn.

Here’s how you’d do this:

• Send a connection request – Send the person a connection request and a message. When they accept your request, you’ll be able to write an accompanying message.
• Use InMail – If this specific individual isn’t in your network, use the LinkedIn InMail. This is a premium feature which lets you send messages to LinkedIn members outside of your network – it’s useful but do. Of course, there is a fee to use this feature but it’s a useful tool.

What if you can’t find a name?

Don’t panic if you can’t find the name of the individual you’re trying to address. This will happen a lot during your job search .

In such cases, it’s absolutely fine to begin with a friendly “Hi.”

But don’t use expressions like “Dear Sir or Madam” – this sounds extremely outdated and aloof.

If you use the word “Hi”, this ensures your cover letter is more amicable and modern , even when you’re unsure of the person’s name.

This is a courteous and simple way to start if you have difficulty locating the specific hiring manager’s name.

How to write a cover letter email subject line

A recruiter’s inbox gets flooded with applications, so when you write your cover letter email , your initial goal is to entice them to read your email.

You must catch their attention with a compelling subject line and give a captivating reason for them to click on your message.

Avoid using generic subject lines, such as:

• “Check This Out” – Subject lines like this sound spammy, and hiring managers may ignore it.
• “Important” – Recruiters won’t know why your email is important – they might deem it clickbait.
• “CV Attached” – This subject line doesn’t offer any context or engage the recruiter in any way at all.
• “Hire Me” – This comes across as too blunt and provides no context.
• “I Need a Job” – This sounds too direct and may sound a little too desperate.
• “Looking for Work” – While you’re being upfront, this isn’t an engaging subject line.

Instead of including any of these generic subject lines, you must promote your selling points right off the bat.

For instance, use subject lines that highlight your skills and expertise in a concise, screen-friendly title.

Determine your main strengths as an applicant and invent a way to integrate them into your subject line.

You could say something like:

• “Veteran Graphic Designer with a Portfolio of Projects”
• “Registered Nurse with Intensive Care Unit Expertise”
• “Committed Secondary School Teacher with 10 Years’ Classroom Expertise”
• “Certified IT Professional with Experience in Network Security”

These subject lines are effective because they communicate key information and value to hiring managers clearly and concisely. Each tells the recruiter about your qualifications and expertise and is tailored to the specific job or field.

A recruiter is more likely to open an email from someone who can potentially meet their requirements.

A quick tip: Remember, subject lines have a limited amount of space – you’ll probably only be able to squeeze in between 30 and 35 characters.

How not to address a cover letter

When you’re addressing your cover letter , some things simply aren’t worth including. These old-fashioned or overly formal ways of starting a cover letter can make a negative first impression.

So, avoid the below phrases in your cover letter greeting:

• “Dear Sir or Madam” – This is far too old-fashioned and doesn’t show much effort. It’s also fairly impersonal.
• “What’s up, [Department Name]?” – This is excessively informal and will probably give hiring managers the wrong impression about you. It also doesn’t address the specific person.

Steer clear of these unimpressive ways to address your cover letter and plump for a more personal, engaging approach, like “Hi James” or “Hello Sarah”. Don’t forget, you need to get the perfect balance of friendliness and professionalism.

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Step 2: understand your financial aid award letter, step 3: complete additional paperwork (if required), what about private student loans, navigating the student loan application process.

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• The FAFSA takes about an hour to complete, while private applications can just a few minutes.
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Getting a student loan is a fairly straightforward process. You'll apply for the loan through a federal or private lender , then wait for the funds to be disbursed to your school.

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To get started, create your FSA ID , which is essentially your electronic signature for the FAFSA. Parents of dependent students also need an FSA ID. From there, check federal and state deadlines. And remember: Applying early is best!

You won't need a credit check with federal loans, with the exception of a Direct PLUS Loan , which is lent to the parents of undergraduate students or to professional and graduate students. This loan is not based on financial need and has a higher interest rate than subsidized or unsubsidized loans. 

Each school that you've been accepted to will send out a financial award letter detailing the aid package being offered. It will include grants, scholarships, work-study details, and federal student loans (subsidized and/or unsubsidized). After reading through your letter, decide which package makes the most sense for your situation. You don't have to accept the full loan amount offered.

If you have the option, you'll want to take out a subsidized loan over an unsubsidized loan . Subsidized loans are made based on financial need, and the government pays the interest on your loan while you're in school. Financial need doesn't factor into unsubsidized loans, and interest begins to accrue immediately. 

Once you've decided on a financial aid package, fill out any required paperwork and keep all your documents in a safe place. From there, sign up for any online sessions explaining your borrower responsibilities.

You'll also need to sign a Master Promissory Note if you choose to take out a loan. An MPN is a legal document you sign to promise to pay back your loan along with interest and fees. You'll also determine the amount of money you want to borrow and your repayment term. The government won't disburse your loan until you sign this document. 

You can generally expect your school to get your federal funds about 10 days before classes begin. You may experience a 30-day delay if you are both a first-year student and a first-time borrower.

Private student loans often come with higher interest rates and fewer protections for borrowers than federal student loans, but you may need to take them out if your federal options don't cover the cost of your school. 

You can find different applications for private student loans on lenders' websites. You'll probably need to provide similar financial and identification documents as you would on the FAFSA, though the requirements will vary by lender. 

Private lenders will run a credit check to figure out if you qualify for a loan, much like the federal government does with Direct PLUS Loans. Discuss details with your particular lender.

You can apply for a private student loan much more quickly than a federal student loan. You could get your rates and see whether you're approved for a loan within a few minutes with some businesses, and most companies will give you an approval decision within 15 minutes. 

If you want to know the status of your loan disbursement, you can usually check a lender's online portal or call customer service. You'll need to agree to terms similar to those in an MPN and sign a binding document.

Once you officially accept the loan, your college will likely get funds from a private lender within two to 10 weeks. You'll get the funds in your personal bank account if you take out a direct-to-consumer loan, while your school's financial aid office will get the money if you take out a school-certified loan. 

You can fill out the FAFSA before being accepted, but you'll need to add schools later to actually receive award letters.

Schools will usually disburse loans at the start of each semester, but timing can vary.

To get help with the application process, visit your school's financial aid office, the Federal Student Aid website , or your high school counselor.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Size: 3" X 5.5"

Starting Price: $4.83/mo*

See Details (XS - Size 1)

Holds 15+ letters, 5 rolled magazines, or 1 Small Priority Mail Flat Rate ® Box.

Size: 5" X 5.5"

Starting Price: $6.17/mo*

See Details (S - Size 2)

Allows large envelopes and magazines to be stacked, and 2 Small Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes.

Size: 5.5" X 11"

Starting Price: $9.17/mo*

See Details (M - Size 3)

Holds Small and Medium Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and still has room for 10-15 letters.

Size: 11" X 11"

Starting Price: $13.50/mo*

See Details (L - Size 4)

XL - Size 5

Big enough for multiple packages.

Size: 12" X 22.5"

Starting Price: $24.00/mo*

See Details (XL - Size 5)

*Note: For more information on PO Box pricing at your location, see the full USPS Price List .

Additional Benefits of Renting a PO Box 1

Aside from privacy and security, there are many other reasons to get a PO Box including:

• Street Addressing : Get a delivery address for packages from other carriers (including Amazon, DHL, FedEx, and UPS); subject to availability and restrictions.
• Keep your signature on file so you don’t need to wait in line to sign for a package. When your signature is on file, we’ll place mail in your PO Box or in a secure parcel locker for pickup at your convenience.
• Small businesses : Whether you've got a side hustle or a storefront, get a professional-looking address and keep your personal and business lives separate.

Already Have a PO Box?

Renew or manage a po box online.

Save time and make an online payment for the PO Box that you're currently renting.

Manage PO Box

Add an Existing PO Box to Your Online Account

If you already have a PO Box, link it to your USPS.com account so you can easily manage it online.

Link PO Box

Informed Delivery by USPS

Bonus: Maximize your PO Box experience with the free Informed Delivery ® feature for eligible personal and business accounts. Preview incoming letter-sized mail, track packages, and manage deliveries on the go.

Get a new PO Box at a Post Office facility for as low as $4.83 per month, depending on your location. Reserve a box with your existing or new USPS.com account.

More on PO Boxes

What is a po box.

A PO Box is a secure, numbered box located at the Post Office where your mail is kept until you collect it.

I would like to open a PO Box. What are the steps?

To open your PO Box online:

Step 1: Search for Post Office locations near you by using the search bar under "Find a PO Box Near You."

Step 2: Choose a Post Office location and select your desired PO Box size and payment period.

Step 3: Complete the online application form, accept the Terms & Conditions, enter your billing and payment information, and review and submit your application to reserve your PO Box.

Step 4: Print your completed form and bring it to the Post Office counter where your box is located, along with 2 forms of acceptable U.S. identification (within 30 days of submitting your online application). After the retail associate verifies your identity, you’ll get your PO Box keys.

To apply for a PO Box in person at a Post Office:

Step 1: Optional Time-Saving Tip: If you have a printer, download " PS Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box Service ," Application for Post Office Box Service, fill it out, then print it out (note: if you apply for a PO Box online, this form is automatically generated). Bring the completed form with you to the Post Office.

Step 2: Bring your payment and 2 forms of acceptable U.S. identification to the Post Office and tell the retail associate at the counter that you'd like to apply for a PO Box.

What if the PO Box I want is not available?

You have a few options: You can choose another box size, find a box at a different location, or request to be added to the wait list (online or at a Post Office). If you request to be added to the wait list, your name will be placed on a list for that box size at the location you requested. We'll contact you via an email or phone call when the box becomes available. You'll then have 2 days to reserve the box before it goes to the next person on the wait list.

Can I get a PO Box in a different city or state?

Yes, you can. However, you are still required to visit the Post Office where your box is located, with the proper documentation, to pick up your PO Box keys or combination.

What options do I have for making a payment on my PO Box?

You have 4 different options for making a PO Box payment:

• Online with a credit or debit card. Go to the PO Boxes Online application and click "Renew" to go to the "Manage PO Box" page. Then, click "Renew PO Box" to make a one-time payment. This feature is available 30 days before your next payment is due. Also note, when paying with a credit or debit card, you can store up to 3 credit or debit cards safely and securely in our system.
• Pay at a self-service kiosk (SSK): You can find an SSK using Find USPS Locations .
• Pay by mail: Send a check or money order payable to "U.S. Postal Service" to the Postmaster where your PO Box is located. (Include your PO Box number on the memo line of the check.)
• Pay in person: Pay at the Post Office where your PO Box is located using cash, check, credit card, or debit card.

How frequently do I have to pay for my PO Box?

When you're ready to pay for your PO Box, you have 3 payment term options: 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months. A 3-month payment term requires enrolling in automatic renewals with no opt-out. However, if you choose a 6- or 12-month period, you can opt out of automatic renewals.

Can I renew my PO Box online, or do I have to do it in person?

There are 4 ways you can renew your PO Box:

• Online with a credit or debit card. Go to the PO Boxes Online application and click Renew , which will take you to the "Manage PO Box" page. Then, click Renew PO Box . This feature is available 30 days before your next payment is due.
• At a self-service kiosk. Find a kiosk .
• Renew by mail. Send a check or money order payable to "U.S. Postal Service" to the Postmaster where your PO Box is located. (Include your PO Box number on the memo line of the check.)
• Visit the Post Office where your box is located. Pay by cash, check, or credit card.

When do I need to pay my PO Box account renewal fee?

You must make payments by the 10th of the month the payment is due. If you don't make this payment, your PO Box will be closed on the 11th of the month.

Are PO Box rental fees eligible for a refund?

You pay for a full rental period at the beginning; however, if you decide to close your box, you'll get a partial refund depending on how long you've had the box. See full details on refunds .

Access & Services for Your PO Box

I recently opened a po box. how do i get my po box number and the keys for my box.

Once you've reserved your box, completed the PO Box application (PS Form 1093), paid the rental fee, and verified your 2 forms of acceptable ID at the Post Office counter where your box is located, you'll get 2 keys for your box. If you need more than 2 keys, you can request more for an additional fee.

Can I access my PO Box any time of the day?

Most PO Box locations allow 24/7 access to your PO Box; however, hours vary by Post Office location. Look up the hours for the facility where your PO Box is located.

I am a small business owner. Are there any additional services I can get with my PO Box?

If you are a small business owner, a few great services are available for you, including Caller Service, designed for customers who have more than 5 PO Boxes at one location or who receive more mail than will fit in the largest PO Box. If there is an overflow of mail, we'll hold the mail for you to pick up at a time that works best for you. Learn more about services available for small businesses .

Can I change my business account to a personal account or vice-versa?

You can change your personal account to a business account: Go to Your Profile and click Edit . In the upper right-hand corner, click Change to Business Account to switch your personal account to a business account.

If you currently have a USPS.com business account, you can't change your business account to a personal account. Instead, you'll need to create a new, separate personal account and re-verify your identity.

How do I manage my PO Box account online?

Select Manage PO Box , sign in, and you can:

• Open a new PO Box
• Add an existing PO Box to your online account
• Add or manage the credit card you use for payment
• Edit your User Profile
• View your online payment history

What is Street Addressing and how can I get it for my PO Box?

An additional service to consider adding to your PO Box is Street Addressing. With Street Addressing (if available), you have the option of using the street address of your Post Office location, combined with your PO Box number, as your mailing address. This lets you receive packages from private carriers (such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon), as long as they comply with USPS mailing standards. See the Customer Agreement for more details .

How do I close a PO Box if I move?

You can close a PO Box by going to Manage PO Box , signing in to your account, and clicking the Close/Request Refund link next to the box. You can also request a PO Box be closed by informing the retail associate at the Post Office where your box is located. Once a box is closed, be sure to submit a Change of Address (COA) form . Depending on where you close your box, the form will be provided online on your close/refund confirmation page or by the retail associate at the Post Office. Your mail can be forwarded to your new address for up to one year.

Can I receive items that need a signature to my PO Box?

Yes. For deliveries that require a signature, we'll leave a delivery notice inside your PO Box, and you'll go to the counter to sign for and pick up your package. If you sign up for the free Signature on File service, we'll leave the item in your PO Box.

Need More Help?

1. Additional services not available at all Post Office locations.  Back ^

The extra-small PO Box is ideal for small business owners or households who need a PO Box address and are able to check their box frequently (to ensure it doesn’t fill up with mail).

Find a PO Box (XS - Size 1)

Holds 15+ letters, 5 rolled magazines, or 1 Small Priority Mail Flat Rate Box.

The small PO Box is ideal for small business owners and households who receive multiple letters, bills, and a few bubble envelopes or magazines throughout the week.

Find a PO Box (S - Size 2)

The medium PO Box is ideal for small business owners and households who get multiple pieces of mail per day, and want their magazines and most large envelopes to fit without being folded.

Find a PO Box (M - Size 3)

The large PO Box is a good size for a small business owner who regularly receives packages, boxes, or multiple letters each day. This size is also ideal for a household that makes purchases online and still wants space for their regular mail.

Find a PO Box (L - Size 4)

The extra-large PO Box is ideal for a small business owner who frequently receives multiple packages and mail of varying sizes. This is also a great size option for a household that receives lots of packages from online merchants.

Find a PO Box (XL - Size 5)

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Leaving a Job

Farewell Letter Examples to Say Goodbye to Colleagues

Tips for Writing a Farewell Letter

When to send your farewell email, what to include in your letter, review sample farewell messages, how to send an email farewell letter, farewell message subject lines, sample farewell email message, frequently asked questions (faqs).

When you're leaving your job, take the time to send a farewell email or letter to the colleagues you have worked with. This is a good idea for several reasons. It's a way to keep in touch with your soon-to-be former co-workers and a way to move on from a job gracefully and professionally.

It's always important to leave a job on good terms. The people you work with are a valuable part of your network and may be helpful contacts to have in the future. For example, your colleagues may be able to provide you with a reference , offer you some job leads if you are searching, or introduce you to someone else you might want to network with.

Along with all these reasons, saying goodbye is simply the polite thing to do.

Key Takeaways

• Regardless of the reason you're moving on, take the time to say goodbye to all the people who have supported you at work.
• Include your personal contact information in all the correspondence you send to make it easy for the recipients to stay in touch.
• Keep it concise: A couple of paragraphs is sufficient.

Review tips for how to write a farewell letter, what to include in it, what not to say, and when to send it. Also, review examples you can use as starting points for your own letters and email messages.

Melissa Ling / The Balance 

Timing is everything when it comes to quitting the right way . That includes letting your colleagues know you're leaving at the right time.

Be Sure Management Knows First

Before you let your colleagues know you're moving on, tell your boss and check to make sure everyone who needs to know is aware you have resigned. You don't want your manager to find out through the grapevine that you're leaving.

Send It Before You Leave

Send your email or letter a day or two before you leave. You want to give yourself and your colleagues enough time to say goodbye. However, do not send your letter until you’ve finished most of your work tasks. This will allow you to focus on saying goodbye during the final day or hours.

When writing your letter, be sure to: 

Personalize your message. Consider tailoring each letter to the individual person rather than sending out a group email to everyone. Address each person by name and, if possible, include an anecdote or other personal message reflecting on your time together. It will be more meaningful than sending a mass message.

Only send letters to people you have worked with. Especially if you work at a large company, you do not want to send a message to everyone (unless you worked with all of them).

Say thank you. This letter is your chance to express gratitude for any help or mentorship provided. You might also express how much you’ve enjoyed working with your colleagues.

Include your personal contact information. Provide information on how your colleagues can reach you once you leave. Include an email address (a non-work email) or your phone number. You might also include your LinkedIn profile address. Remember, you won't have access to your work email system once you've moved on.

Keep it positive. Again, the goal of the letter is to stay connected with your former co-workers; you do not want to leave a bad impression. Even if you're leaving on bad terms, you don't need to mention it to the people you worked with.

Keep it short. Write no more than a couple of paragraphs. Along with saying thank you and including your contact information, you might want to mention your plans for the future. However, beyond this, keep it short and to the point.

Start with a sample letter. You can use a sample farewell letter or email message to help you write your own goodbye note to co-workers. However, be sure to change the details of the message to fit your particular situation.

If you haven't already, connect with your co-workers on LinkedIn. This will help you stay connected after you leave.

Review sample farewell letters, email messages, and subject lines to let your colleagues know you're moving on.

I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I am leaving my position at ABC Corporation. I will be starting a new position at XYZ Company next month.

I have enjoyed my tenure here, and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you.

Thank you for the support, guidance, and encouragement you have provided to me during my time at ABC Corporation.

Even though I will miss my colleagues and the company, I am looking forward to this new challenge and to starting a new phase of my career.

Please keep in touch: I can be reached at my personal email address (samantha83@gmail2.com), on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/samanthasterling), or my cell phone (555-555-2222).

Thanks again for everything. I wish you all the best.

Yours truly,

It is often a good idea to send your letter via email. That way, your colleagues will receive the message quickly. This will also help you to easily tailor each message to fit the individual recipient.

When you send your farewell message by email, include your name and the reason you're writing in the subject line of the message to help ensure your email gets opened.

Here are examples of what you might write:

• Subject: FirstName LastName – Staying in Touch
• Subject: FirstName LastName Update
• Subject: FirstName – Moving On
• Subject: FirstName Update
• Subject: News From FirstName LastName
• Subject: Update From FirstName
• Subject: FirstName LastName — Farewell

If you know the person well, it's fine to include just your first name. Use your first and last name for recipients with whom you only have a professional relationship. If you're sending it out to a group, it's okay to use a subject line like "Farewell."

Subject: Tyrone Garrett – Update

Dear Linda,

I am writing to let you know that I am retiring at the end of the month.

I have so enjoyed working here these past 10 years. I am grateful for having had the chance to work alongside you. I will never forget your kindness and professionalism whenever we worked on team projects together.

My wife and I will be moving to Seattle in three months; however, I hope to keep in touch. You can reach me at my email address (tgarrett@email.com) or 555-555-5555.

Thank you again for a terrific 10 years. I wish you all the best and hope to stay in touch.

How do I politely quit my job?

When quitting your job, be sure to give appropriate notice, write a resignation letter containing the date of your departure and your thanks for the opportunity. Lastly, stay positive. Don’t badmouth your boss, co-workers, or clients on the way out the door.

Do I have to give two weeks’ notice?

Whenever possible, it’s best to give at least two weeks’ notice . However, if you can’t provide the standard notice, inform your manager as soon as possible. Write a resignation letter, just as you would if you gave two weeks’ notice, and include the date of your last day of work.