<p>I used to read resume and cover letters as part of my job. Given the large number of candidates, the tips posted by dcfca would work best for someone like me. </p>
<p>The objective often decides if I would read the rest of a job application package. E.g. if I am looking for an intern for a website project in a big pharm company, I will scan for "intern, web and/or pharma<em>" in the objective and *only</em> read those that have those keywords. With today's software, I don't even see a resume without the matching keywords.</p>
<p>So, if you know exactly what you are looking for, be specific on the objective - it would save both of us a lot of time. Otherwise, use brief and open-ended objective. </p>
<p>The rest of a resume should support the stated objective. E.g. if one is seeking an internship in web development but the resume shows no evidence of the skill, that file is thrown out.</p>
<p>Cover letter is sometime useful to tell the personalities and interest level of a candidate. For me, those who write well will likely get a call for interview. </p>
<p>One final "tip": Resume and cover letter are not meant to get a job. Their sole purpose is to get an interview. </p>
<p>Hope my perspective helps...</p>