The Internet has revolutionized job hunting. But when it comes time to fill out that online application, do you know what it takes to get the job?

Deciphering and obeying the etiquette of the Internet can be tricky, whether you're filling out a sophisticated form or e-mailing your cover letter and resume.

It can be tempting to shorten your cover letter, for example, or send an e-mail in the kind of familiar language you'd use to friends. And what about sending a hard copy, or following up by phone?

"In this day and age, where it's so easy to forward a resume, many people don't understand how important this is" to follow proper etiquette, says Yahoo HotJobs career expert Susan Vobejda. "This is an opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants for a job."

Here are a few tips to help you get the maximum mileage out of your online submission.

DON'T FORGET THE COVER LETTER

A cover letter can be a quick way to sum up your experience and how it applies to a particular position. You can also state why you should get the job. If you know the name of the hiring manager, be sure to use it.

"I keep the cover letter to one page. The body tends to be the same, the introduction and final paragraph I tend to change, catering it more to what the position is about," says Matt Amore, a 24-year-old New York publicist who found his job in a listing from Craig's List.

You can also use your cover letter to give your application a technological leg-up.

"Employers will put resumes into a database, and then scan that database using key words" to identify potential applicants, Vobejda says. "That's critical to know when you're tailoring your resume or cover letter to a job."

Those key words can be anything from the job title itself, to particular skills, such as knowledge of a particular software program.

ATTACH, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO

When possible, cut and paste your cover letter and resume into the body of your e-mail. Many hiring managers avoid attachments for fear of viruses -- or simply don't want to be bothered. When you're swamped with hundreds of applications, merely opening a Word file can seem like too much work.

If you must use attachments, name them clearly and professionally, so the user can tell what they are and whom they are from, such as jdoeresume or jdoecover.

FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR PROMISES

If you say you're going to attach a resume or writing samples, make sure you do that. It's sloppy to have to resend a submission if you forget.

By the same token, keep a realistic and professional tone in your resume. Be confident, but don't go overboard. True story: I once saw a cover letter that instructed the hiring manager to "throw away all your other resumes" because this applicant's was the best and no further search was needed. Guess whose resume ended up in the wastebasket instead?

PROOFREAD, PLEASE

Use that spell check, or better yet read your cover letter or resume out loud to make sure you are not forgetting any words or making grammatical errors.

"I'll write the e-mail, spellcheck and do the attachments before filling in the "to" column," Amore advises. "I always put the e-mail address last, so if I make a mistake and accidentally send my e-mail before it's ready, it goes nowhere."

FOLLOW UP

In most cases, it doesn't hurt to make a phone call or send a follow-up e-mail to make sure your application didn't disappear into a cyber black hole or to inquire about the status of the position.

"Recruiters receive hundreds of resumes. Following up is a way to stand out," Vobjeda advises. "Feel free to give them a call to reiterate how interested you are, and show how motivated you are."

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asap columnist Lisa Singhania wants to know what your dream job is. E-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to discuss.

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