... and the %age of employers who responded back to those who wrote directly to the named person responsible for interviewing new staff?
It was a survey on what they preferred when you did not have a name.
Back when I did worky stuff if someone rang the company to ask for the name they were not given it and depending on the size etc of the company not all names are online.
I can get what people are saying show initiative and find the name etc, but that is not always possible and sometimes if it involves contacting the company direct it is an annoyance.
Not following exact instructions on a job advertisement, i.e. where it says send all applications to
Human Resource Manager
1 Blah Street etc
You should address your application to Human Resource Manager.
I can say that when you are inundated with applications and it is a smaller company they will most likely
1. shove all job application post in a pile to be opened when possible
2. not read the covering letter until they make the pile smaller
3. if they have lots and lots of applications that are all suitable will simply take an amount that is sensible and not even look at the rest