Meg provides some insight on how to apply for a job. I remember contacting a potential employer with a simple letter. But it was addressed to the right person (the vice-pres makes a better impression than 'HR Director') and I included a cover letter that referred to jobs they had recently completed nearby and expressed my interest in working for them. The biggest impression I made was the smallest; having custom business cards to leave behind in the interview. Thanks to my dad, a student leaving a card left a memorable impression that set me apart.