[LeBlanc]

How about instead of using the resume / cover letter combination you ask a series of interesting questions similar to the YCombinator application?

This will 1) weed out all of the people who spend minimal effort on a job app and just spam their resume / cover letter everywhere, and 2) will give you answers to questions you actually care about. The more unique/interesting the questions the more unique/interesting candidates it will attract. UChicago used this method in their "uncommon application" to attract a class of really smart, unusual people who were passionate about learning.

I haven't had a chance to use this method though ( I just thought of it recently), so I make no guarantees. Good luck!

[GrowWebs]

Yeah, I was going to say something like this as well. Make it challenging to apply.