Cover letter + interview advice is mostly terrible
After 6 months of unemployment, I decided to just try being human.
For example, I started just sending short greetings (2 senteces each) as my cover letters. 2 interviews later, I got the second job I applied for!
And what I did in the interviews was basically the same. I spoke my thought process out loud when answering questions. And more than my answers, I paid special attention to indirect cues; dressing up well but not pretentious, leaning on my chair in a relaxed way, taking notes at the end of the interview as it was my turn to ask questions, not taking too long when I spoke, referring back to things the interviewers had mentioned before.
And the job is really, really great! A stable, high-paying job in private banking. Really a dream in this economy. I just let my resume and references speak for themselves.