It is far, far too easy and too tempting for applicants to fire off a resume and cover letter that is ill-aligned for the position, overly generic, rife with mistakes, or a mix of all three. The humans screening these documents are looking for an excuse to EXCLUDE you: spelling, a sense of appreciation for the role and the business, and professionalism are all key here. Look, finding a job is work. The courting process is involved and is much more than just a submission of a resume. A gross rule of thumb: treat finding a new job like finding a life partner. There are steps involved, and care and feeding along the way. However, you'll likely find dividends down the road.