Q: Why are jobs so difficult to find? Everything is based on “image management” – how you walk, talk. Sort of like the Aerosmith song, “Walk This Way, Talk This Way.” I’m wondering if my image – as seen through my resume and cover letter – is holding me back. – Jim

A: Dale: I’m not an Aerosmith type of guy, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t work that the band was looking for. However, you’re right about image.

J.T.: And right off, your materials take some unnecessary chances. You open your cover letter with questions, which can come across as “hard sell.” Also, one of the questions is missing a question mark, which is enough for some human-resources people to toss you in the Reject Pile. It’s crazy, I know, but HR folks get so exhausted reading resumes that they make up rules to help them narrow the pile.

Dale: I once got an HR guy to do a stream-of-consciousness analysis as he sorted resumes. “Blue paper – not a chance.” “Cutesy typeface – HA!” On and on. Ridiculous? Not to him – he wanted only the strictest conformists coming to his company.

J.T.: Which brings us to a rule you broke, Jim – the one-page resume. People get bogged down in multipage formats, and rather than search for information, they just give up.

Dale: Let me guess what happened: You keep “updating” your resume, adding accomplishments, trying to broaden your appeal. This seems as though it would increase your odds, but actually it makes a match more difficult for the interviewer to see.

J.T.: Talk about difficult jobs to find – the market for the “jack of all trades” is way down. At your level, it’s specialization that people want. So tighten up your resume, take out the commentary and come across as the “go-to guy” on the area of expertise they need. Soon you’ll be humming Aerosmith songs as you’re walking into a great new job.

– Jeanine “J.T.” O’Donnell is the creator of www.careerjuice.com and author of “Find Your Career Path.” Dale Dauten is the founder of The Innovators’ Lab.