By Michael J. Smith

All of the people you ask for advice about getting a job will tell you the same thing: you only have a few seconds to attract the attention of the hiring manager with your cover letter and resume. That's absolutely correct.

Hiring managers receive about 20 - 50 resumes per job posting. For more in-demand jobs or jobs at more prestigious companies, that number can be higher.

Gone are the days when someone was designated solely to review resumes. So, assume the person reviewing your resume is juggling multiple tasks.

They don't have a lot of time to review resumes, nor do they want to. So, they skim, yes skim, not read, resumes and cover letters, making their decisions within the first minute.

What they are looking for, in a word, is simplicity. Many complex, wordy cover letters and resumes come across my desk, and I look at them for about a minute before tossing them in the recycle bin.

To keep your resume out of the bin, I'll say it again, simplicity. Within the first 30 seconds of reading your cover letter I should know four things: why you're qualified for the job; why you want the job; where you found the job; and why I should hire you.

Don't go into detail in the beginning of your cover letter. Keep things short, and simple. For example, I have spent the last four years earning a degree in X at the University of X. This has allowed me to X (usually something about developing the skills required for the job). I would like to bring this X (something related to your previous sentence) to the position you posted on anyjobwebsite.com.

Reading that paragraph, I should be able to tell what you bring to the table and why you fit. As a new graduate, your education is going to be one of your biggest assets, especially if you don't have a lot of experience. Lead with it.

Later in your cover letter, you should talk briefly about relevant experience, or courses. But again, keep it simple. Paragraphs should be three - four sentences and you should have four - five paragraphs. If you don't have a lot of experience, fewer paragraphs should be used.

As for you resume, keep the pertinent information at the top. For new graduates, education should be higher up because you probably don't have much relevant experience.

If you do have relevant experience, play it up towards the top. You don't have to put your resume in chronological order if you don't have much relevant experience. If I'm hiring an editor, I don't care that you work at Target. I want to know about your internship at the Washington Post two years ago.

If you want to stand out, impress me in the 30 seconds that I devote to your resume. Once you have, I'll spend more time reviewing your resume, and most likely, call you to set up an interview.