Remember, the resume is the hook to get the interview, the interview is the hook to get the job.
Its all about standing out in a crowd, what sets you apart. In my primary job field, education, there may be 500 to a 1000 job applications, with attached resumes, cover letters, letter of reference, etc. How do u stand out in that crowd?? Even though i got a job, it remains a mystery to me what I did to be the one choosen.
Well, its also about the employers needs and the employers standards - because they truely aren't looking at the same things that you or i do. Just like has been discussed in other threads - the stage manaer's brain functions differently than other peoples, well so do human resource managers or whoever does the hiring. When we ask people in food service, chefs and such (since foods is one of the things that i teach), what skills they want people to have - the answer always amazes us. Its not knife skills or cookign skills - they are willing to train and teach that- its teamwork, work ethic, problem solving, being on time.
To extend the metaphore that Matthew started, you have to bait the hook with attractive bait, not just the lures that you like otherwise noone will bite.