Times are tough. Applying for jobs is not.

If you want an awesome, career-building job, then you need to write an awesome, career-building resume and cover letter. If you want a mediocre job, then copy and paste a resume template directly from the Internet, but why would you ever do that? You're going to spend a good chunk of your life working, make it worthwhile.

I'm no expert when it comes to writing resumes and cover letters, but the Internet is full of articles and related sites about what to avoid on your resume and cover letter. Fortunately for me, I've read too many horribly-written resumes and cover letters, that I didn't need to turn to the Internet for advice. If I may, here are a few examples of what not to do or write:

1. An application is not a good representation of you. It should never be submitted without a cover letter and resume.

2. Cover letters and resumes go hand in hand. You can't have ying without yang, so what makes you think it's okay to have a resume without a cover letter?

3. NoThInG oN yOuR rEsUmE sHoUlD bE tYpEd LiKe ThIs.

4. You should triple check your attachments before submitting. Otherwise you might end up with two cover letters, one of which has three different fonts and is for an entirely separate application.

5. Never include your salary on your resume. Besides the fact that it's irrelevant, you just shot yourself in the foot. Now your future employer knows how little they can pay you.

6. Since when does a resume only disclose an employment history? If you don't have any skills, or are a robot, this may apply.

7. "Sushi Ninja" is not a job title. Creativity does not set you above the rest when applying for a data management position. Clearly, they are seeking someone who can keep accurate records, not someone who will make up information.

8. You probably shouldn't list Brew Thru as a former employer, if you're going to follow with "Aided customer satisfaction through developing customer service skills and knowledge of merchandise." For a one-time summer job, that just screams 'party animal.'

9. There are two ways to capitalize letters on your keyboard. Show your future employers you know where they are by capitalizing the proper letters in your name, especially when a skill like that is critical to the position you are applying for.

10. An e-mail address that says anything but your name should not be used. You should also use one e-mail address on every document. This is not hide-and-seek - your future employer shouldn't have to guess where to find you.

11. I'm sure you're a pleasant little peach, but there are more applicable words to describe your work ethic than "patient and sincere."

12. If you're applying to a university, you probably shouldn't start your cover letter with, "It is widely recognized that your company is one of the most recognized and prestigious firms in its industry." There is nothing wrong with buttering up your future employer, but make sure it properly describes the company/organization/employer you are applying to.

13. Make sure your resume and cover letter sound like a person is applying for the job, not a website. Business school did not teach you to copy and paste.

14. It goes without saying that you list your current or most recent employer first.

15. Your friends and godmothers aren't good references. Unless you're in need of new friends and godparents.

16. A driver's license is almost never a qualification.

17. I can see from your address that you live in what most would call the ghetto. I have no judgments until I'm reading ebonics.

18. If your resume is three pages long, you'd better be a doctor, published writer, lawyer, etc. And almost 80 years old.

19. Purple and blue are not acceptable font colors.

20. Make sure your skills listed are relevant to the position for which you are applying. For example, if you are not applying to a position in the medical field, "knowledge of medical terminology" is most likely to waste valuable space on the page.

Again, I'm not an expert writer as it applies to resumes and cover letters, but I do have common sense. Hate to break it to you, but EEO doesn't cover ignorance.

What about you? Do you have anything you'd like to add to my growing list of mistakes?