Seding formal letter/email with no surname available?

Guy:Incognito

Quick one. When sending covers letters and the like I'd normally start with Dear Sir/Madam if I don't have a name for someone or use the surname if I do , ie Mr/Mrs Smith. But what do people do when sending speculative covers letters with CV's and the like if all you have is the contact email with a first name? Cant say Sir/Madam because they clearly know you know who your sending it too. Say its Jim @ company , do you put Dear Jim or go with Dear Sir?

gandalf

Do you know Jims position in the company?

If so do a search on LinkedIn for all the employees in that company and he may be listed under his position.

Guy:Incognito

gandalf wrote: »

Do you know Jims position in the company?

If so do a search on LinkedIn for all the employees in that company and he may be listed under his position.

I'm sending cvs to garages about an apprenticeship and with the smaller ones your kind of dealing with all the information available when you get an email address most of the time.

Mrs OBumble

With the smaller ones, why on earth are you sending letters - which will most likely go straight in the rubbish.

Go meet them, and hand over the CV in person.

Guy:Incognito

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

With the smaller ones, why on earth are you sending letters - which will most likely go straight in the rubbish.

Go meet them, and hand over the CV in person.

At this stage I'm pushing the distance out considerably. While I'll go to say, Waterford, for a job (or an interview for one) , driving down to hand in a CV is a stretch. Theres lots of counties and not much petrol money. It's a chance I have to run with. I have some experience so hoping a skim through the CV might be enough for consideration.

BBOC

Why not phone the garage up and ask the name of the Manager or whoever you need to send it to.
At least it would be cheaper than petrol if you want to add a letter.