How to open/close a covering letter?!!!

[TimeForNewStart]

I am applying for an academic job with closing date of today. Have just realised that fornthe covering letter I normally just launch straight into ‘I am writing to apply for the role of...’ and don’t do any kind of sincerely/faithfully at the end, but normally just put ‘I look forward to hearing from you’.

Am I wrong? They give a name as a contact and I could use that, but surely it will be read by HR rather than her? Dear sir/madam seems too impersonal for a letter style. OH GOD I DONT KNOW WHAT TO PUT! HELP ME MUMSNET!

Go to Ask a manager, website

In a job application formality is always the safest option. Just start Dear Sir/Madam and end Yours faithfully. If you know the name of the person, as you do, then use that & sign off Yours sincerely. You can put the 'I look forward to' bit before either of those.

If you address it to particular person, it's yours sincerely.
If you address it "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", then it's yours faithfully.

Mumsnet is so brilliant! To get replies to such a thing at 2am!

It’s funny I haven’t even thought to address such a letter before. Think I tend to see it as a ‘supporting statement’, which of course has different implications.