I dont know where anyone got the idea that people write good covering letters and CV's from, I have to deal with recruitment in India and believe me when I say they'd make more sense to me if they wrote them in Hindi and I dont know a word of it.
I dont even bother with a CV anymore, certainly nothing that can be recognised as a CV. It's more a collection of images and screenshots with captions. The whole thing about believing your qualifications and previous employment meens anything is pretty rubbish, i'd rather demonstrate what I can do.
When I read a CV I look for the clues as to what the persons skills are, and then I look for the evidence to back it up. I don't care what university you went too who says you can do something - I look for some hint as to the skills you think you have, the evidence to support it (examples) and then I test you on it... Believe me when I say finding anyone who can actually pass all 3 conditions is a nightmare.
I'll say one thing for school leavers, they don't lie about their previous experience! (hint: if you have skills use them out of passion and show what you've done, it meens more than a certificate).