I look at cover letters. In my business, I skip over anyone in a suit. Lesson here is do your homework about the company. I also explore what they know about my company and what we do. I care just as much about practical experience as I do about how a person fits on the team socially and culturally (speaking of company culture here). Be clean, be fed, be rested when interviewing. Consider what you are saying and how. Negativity about former employers is a turn off. Even if the situation sucked bad and your former boss was the devil himself, find a way to spin it. Being real moves me. Being an eyebrow pinching self important frat boy/girl turns me off. I'm also far more impressed by what you do with your life personally (I ask about hobbies) and professionally than by what degrees you hold. We don't do paper resumes. I'm not impressed by fancy fonts. If we did take paper resumes, I am personally tactile and do notice paper feel. That's just me though and Im sure everyone you ask have a varied answer. Much luck, it is tough out there. Hopefully things improve sooner than later.