Want to get a job?

UNDERSTANDING RÉSUMÉS. The point of a résumé is to provide a quick, easy-to-scan summary of your accomplishments to someone interested in hiring you. The document must be readable at a glance, meticulously accurate, and reasonably handsome. Think of it this way: A résumé is your one- or two-page chance to make a memorable first impression.

Résumés do vary enormously in design — though they often resemble outlines without the numbers or letters. You have to decide on everything from fonts and headings to alignments and paper. You can pay companies to craft your résumé or use widely available templates to design it and then post it online. But your word processor has all the power you need to create a competent résumé on your own. Here’s some advice.

Gather the necessary information. You’ll have to collect this career data sooner or later. It’s much simpler if you start in college and gradually build a full résumé. Don’t guess or rely on memory for résumé information: Get the data right. Verify your job titles and your months or years of employment; give your major as it is identified in your college catalog; make an accurate list of your achievements and activities without embellishing them. Don’t turn an afternoon at a sandlot into “coaching high school baseball.” Focus on attainments during your college years and beyond. Grade school and high school achievements don’t mean much, unless you’re LeBron James.

Decide on appropriate categories. Contrary to what you may think, there’s no standard form for résumés, but they do usually contain some mix of the following information:

Depending on the situation, you might also include the following elements:

You can add categories to a résumé too, whenever they might improve your chances for a position. As your career evolves, for instance, your résumé may eventually include items such as administrative appointments, committee service, awards, patents, publications, lectures, participation in business organizations, community service, and so on. But keep the document compact. Ordinarily, a first résumé shouldn’t exceed one page — though it may have to run longer if you are asked to provide references.

Arrange the information within categories in reverse chronological order. The most recent attainments come first in each of your categories. If such a list threatens to bury your most significant items, you have several options: Cut the lesser achievements from the list, break out special achievements in some consistent way, or highlight those special achievements in the cover letter that should always accompany a résumé. (understand business letters)

Design pages that are easy to read. Basic design principles aren’t rocket science: Headings and key information should stand out and individual items should be clearly separated. The pages should look substantive but not cluttered. White space makes any document friendly, but too much in a résumé can suggest a lack of achievement. (think visually)

In general, treat the résumé as a conservative document. This is not the time to experiment with fonts and flash or curlicues. Don’t include a photograph either, even a good one.