"Spud's Interview in Trainspotting is a classic!"

As someone who's hired numerous people, done sifts, interviewed etc etc. I can offer this advice from what i've learnt.

Normally per average job you'll end up between 50-250 cv's.

Length is unimportant, more important is being able to get the information from the CV quickly.

I don't want to know your pets name, I want to know if you can do the position I've advertised and do a good job.Do this and 90% of the time you'll get a interview.

You have 2 minutes tops for the person to read your CV and give that person the right impression. If you can't make that you've failed, try again next time.

They will read your CV before a interview so memorise it and be ready to answer questions. Don't lie you will be found out very quickly, which wastes my time and puts me in a bad mood for the day, plus if I ever see your cv again it hits the bin immediately. (Believe me it happens!)

So the first problem in hiring someone is to reduce that 100/250 as quickly as possible to 10 or so, then 5 in 2nd interview, then offer.

If it's a specialist position, which tend to be higher paid you might end up with 10 applicants if you're lucky. Then you have the time to read each one.

So, bad grammar, spelling, crazy layouts,crazy coloured comic fonts, photos, non-descriptive phrases that fudge things, hit the shredding bin very quickly.

Anyone left will have made the effort to check these basic things in the first place and it shows consideration for the accuracy of their work and pride in the things they have achieved.

Basically I said send a paper copy as I feel the horse has bolted, but you have a outside chance that it could work with a strong cover letter.

You could always come across as eager in the covering letter and say you sent a e-copy just in case the paper one was lost in the post (although not to eager as it's annoying!) If you get a interview apologise for your mistake.