Good resumes, applications, and cover letters broadcast one's abilities. They tell employers how one's qualifications match a job's responsibilities. If these critical preliminaries are constructed well, one has a better chance of landing interviews--and, eventually, a job. This article provides some guidelines for creating resumes and cover letters that will help individuals pass the 30-second test and win interviews. The first section, on resumes, describes what information one's resume should contain, how to highlight one's skills for the job he/she wants, and types of resumes. The next section discusses the four parts of a cover letter--salutation, opening, body, and closing. A final section offers suggestions for learning more about resumes and cover letters. ["Resumes, Applications, and Cover Letters" was written with Drew Liming.]