Start an email to a hiring manager with their first name and a subject line that names the role. A line like “Application for Senior Backend Engineer” tells the reader what the message is about before they open it. “Dear Hiring Manager” is the fallback when no name can be found.
What greeting should an email to a hiring manager use?
The email greeting matches the company’s tone and the person’s seniority.
| Setting | Greeting |
|---|---|
| Startup or tech company | Hi [First name], |
| Mid-size or traditional company | Dear [First name], |
| Law, finance, academic or senior executive | Dear [Title] [Last name], |
| No name found | Dear Hiring Manager, |
A comma follows the greeting in email. The guide to finding the hiring manager covers the lookup, so the generic fallback is rarely needed.
What subject line should you use?
Put the role first and a detail second. The subject is the whole pitch for deciding whether to open the email.
| Situation | Subject line pattern |
|---|---|
| Cold outreach about an open role | Senior Data Analyst role: question about the team |
| Following an application | Application for Senior Data Analyst, submitted October 14 |
| Referral from someone inside | Referred by [Name]: Senior Data Analyst role |
| Asking a genuine question | Data Analyst role: one question before applying |
Avoid vague subjects like “Quick question”, “Following up” with no role, and “Job application”. They do not say which opening you mean.
How long should the first email be?
Keep it to five short lines: the role, the fact that you applied, one result tied to the posting, one reason for this company and a small ask. A reader should be able to answer in one line.
What does a full example look like?
Subject: Application for Senior Data Analyst, submitted October 14
Hi Jordan,
I applied on October 14 for the Senior Data Analyst role on your revenue team. At my current company I rebuilt the forecasting model and cut the monthly variance from 12 percent to 5.
Your team’s work on usage-based pricing is the reason I applied. Would a ten-minute call next week be possible?
angld.AI drafts this first email from the posting and the manager’s background, and you edit and send it from your own inbox.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use “Dear” or “Hi” in an email?
Use “Hi” for startups and tech companies and “Dear” elsewhere. When unsure, “Dear” with a first name is a safe middle.
Do I put the company name in the subject line?
Only if the role title is ambiguous. The recipient already knows their company.
Should the email greeting match my cover letter?
Yes. Keep the same name and level of formality in both.
