Scoring the interview for the job that you want doesnt have to be rocket science. Sometimes you can score that interview by simply making a phone call. There are many ways that people go about trying to get an interview. The methods of achieving one vary by company. It is best to know what the companys application process is before taking your first step.
Generally, when a company is hiring they post an ad in the newspaper or an online job bank. How to contact them is usually included in the ad as well. You dont want to email a resume to a company that is requesting that you walk in with your resume. You dont want to call a company that requires a faxed resume etc. Ignoring their initial contacting information will guarantee that you will not get that interview because you have already proven that you cant follow simple directions.
Sometimes, you can get a job lead from a friend before the job has been posted. If this is the case, you can either ask the friend to give the employer your resume and cover letter. If your friend doesnt actually work where the lead came from, you can try calling about the position and ask what the application procedure is....