7/23/2009
Cover
Letter
Essentials
CONNECT! (Jobs & Internships): http://bellevuecollege.edu/careers/connect.html
Center for Career Connections: http://bellevuecollege.edu/careers
Academic Internship Program: http://bellevuecollege.edu/internships
Scholarship Resource Program: http://bellevuecollege.edu/scholarships
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BellevueCCC
LinkedIn Group: Center for Career Connections
Facebook Page: Center for Career Connections at Bellevue College
Office: 2nd floor, Student Services Building B, Room 231
Phone: (425) 564‐2279 | Email: careers@bellevuecollege.edu
Auxiliary Aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you need
accommodation in order to utilize our services, please contact us. A one‐week notification may be required to
arrange for certain accommodations and/or translation services. Bellevue College reaffirms its policy of equal
opportunity regardless of race or ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation
including gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran
or Vietnam‐era veteran. Please visit http://bellevuecollege.edu/equal.asp.
This publication is funded in part by the Carl. D. Perkins Act.
Purpose of a Cover Letter
Job seekers often don’t give enough attention to their cover letters. This is a way for employers to weed
people out, so you should make sure this document is well‐written and not generic. The purpose of a cover
letter is to convince an employer to call you for an interview. It should not simply repeat what is on your
resume. A cover letter should address your qualifications specific to this job and show you know something
about the company.
Basic Rules for Cover Letters
• If you are applying for a specific job that is currently available, always send a cover letter, even if the
advertisement doesn’t ask for one. Even if they don’t read