By MAX MESSMER, Scripps Howard News Service

Given the wealth of information that can be found on the Internet with just the click of a mouse, it should come as no surprise that some hiring managers research job applicants online before scheduling interviews with them. So pay as much attention to your "digital footprint" as you do your resume and cover letter.

Vague. Unclear. Ambiguous.These are three words you never want a prospective employer to use to describe your resume or cover letter. The following job candidates sacrificed clarity for brevity to their detriment:"JOB DUTIES: Plenty."Care to share any with us?"EDUCATION: In progress."The school of life.

There's one way to guarantee that a prospective employer will not respond to your resume: Forget to include your contact information. I've seen more than a few resumes that fail to list mailing addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, leaving the hiring manager with no choice but to pass on the submission.

Ask job seekers to name the most important stage of the hiring process, and a common answer is likely to be the interview. But many forget that what they do after the interview can play a part in how they are perceived by hiring managers.

I came across the resume of a recent college graduate who got off on the wrong foot by listing the key "education cources" he had completed. While misspellings and grammatical errors can dim anyone's chances of securing a job interview, these mistakes are particularly damaging to professionals applying for their first job in the so-called real world.

Job hunters often make the mistake of providing too many details in their resumes. Prospective employers are looking for a snapshot of who you are, what you've done professionally and what you can bring to the table. Offering an exhaustive laundry list of every task you've performed will not help you win over time-strapped hiring managers.

"OBJECTIVE: I would like to secure a challenging position and accell in the accounting industry." Far from an "accellent" start to the resume.

Job seekers typically give the resume the lion's share of attention, but the cover letter also deserves your time and care. After all, it's often the first document a hiring manager sees. Make a positive impression by highlighting your knowledge of the company you're targeting and succinctly explaining why your skills and background make you the best person for the open job.

Style isn't more important than substance, but appearances certainly matter when you're hunting for a job.

If you're venturing into the "real world" of work for the first time, you're probably considering a variety of potential career paths. An English major, for instance, might be interested in jobs in journalism or communications.