How well you express yourself and order your ideas will greatly influence the employer's impression of you.  You are trying to sell yourself and your skills, and why you can benefit the company.

Employers read many cover letters and resumes and will not struggle to read those that are not well organized and well written.  Avoid fancy fonts and too large or too small print.  The less complicated the formatting is, the easier it will be for your prospective employer to read and to scan your material (a practice becoming increasingly common).  Even if your information is clear and well written, if it does not match the job requirements it will be ineffective. 

Here are guidelines to help you write an effective cover letter and resume:

• Writing an Effective Cover Letter
• Cover Letter Example
• Writing an Effective Resume
• Resume example
• Preparing Your Resume for the Internet- The Riley Guide