Your resume is the engine of your application, and it must serve two very different audiences simultaneously: applicant tracking systems that parse it for keywords, and human recruiters who scan it in seconds. Optimize for both by using a clean single-column layout, standard section headings like Experience and Education, and exact keyword phrases mirrored from the job description. Avoid images, tables, columns, and decorative icons — they routinely break ATS parsers and get qualified candidates filtered out before a human ever sees them. Tailor the document to each role by reordering bullets so that the top three to five requirements from the job description appear first inside each role, and lead with quantifiable achievements rather than duties.
Cover letters remain useful when kept brief and specific: aim for three short paragraphs totaling two hundred to three hundred words. The first paragraph hooks the reader with a relevant accomplishment, the middle one or two paragraphs connect two or three of your strengths to the company's needs, and the closing paragraph asks for the interview. Generic praise about the company's reputation signals that you have not done the work and should be avoided. Length matters too — aim for one to two pages on a resume unless you have a decade or more of senior experience, in which case two pages is acceptable so long as every line adds value.
Appearance and body language continue the impression your resume begins. Business professional attire — a suit, dress shirt, and tie for men, a suit with a blouse and skirt or trousers for women — is the safe default unless the job description specifies otherwise. In the room, lean slightly forward, keep your feet flat on the floor, and rest your hands visibly and relaxed; avoid slouching, rocking, or gripping the armrest. For video interviews, dress fully professional from the waist up, frame the camera so your eyes sit in the top third of the screen, look at the lens rather than the screen, and mute yourself when not speaking to eliminate background noise complaints.