A resume - also known as a CV (curriculum vitae) - is oftentimes the very first impression that a prospective employer has about you. If it's neat and put together well, it may result in an enthusiastic invitation to come and chat in person. If, however, it rambles on for multiple pages, is printed on cheap paper, and/or fails to deliver a convincing argument about your talents and your potential worth to the company, your phone probably isn't going to ring any time soon. Here's how to make a stellar introduction on paper.

Purchase some good quality stationery and matching envelopes for your resume. While white bond is the standard, it is also acceptable to have your resume printed on ecru, ivory, parchment, light gray or light blue.

Select an easy-to-read font. The preferred fonts for resumes are Times New Roman, Courier, Bookman and Palatino. The content should all be typed in the same font and no less than 12 pt. The exception to this is if your content threatens to spill slightly into a second page in which case an 11 pt. font would be acceptable.

Set the margins of your Word document for 1 inch at the top, bottom and both sides.

Center your name at the top of the page. It's acceptable to have your name in a font slightly larger than the rest of the document. For instance, if everything is typed in 12 pt., your centered name could be 14 pt. but not much larger.

Center your address, phone number, email and website (all single spaced) directly below your name.

Type the word "Position" two lines down from your contact information and at the left margin. If you are applyng for a specific job that you found in the classifieds, online or at a jobs bulletin board, identify the job title and reference number exactly as it appears in the announcement. If you are doing a "cold call" resume and simply floating your credentials to various human resources departments of companies you want to work for, ascribe a brief title to the type of position you want. For example: Substitute Teacher; Sales Representative; First Violinist.

Type the word "Experience" two lines below the job title. This can either be in all caps or underlined. Whatever you do for the word "Experience," however, you should also do for "Honors, Awards, Memberships," "Education," "Special Skills" and "References." In reverse order (starting with your current job), identify the title, the company and a brief description of duties performed. Unless specifically requested to do so, you don't have to list salary ranges or the reason you left each position.

Type the words "Honors, Awards, Memberships" two lines below your last job entry. This is the space for special recognition that you have received as well as memberships in educational, political, military and civil organizations. If space permits, each entry should be on a separate line; otherwise, separate each honor with a semi-colon.

Type the word "Education" two lines below your last entry. Identify the degree earned, the course of study and the institution. Example: BA, Communications, California State University Sacramento. It is not necessary to include the year you graduated.

Type the words "Special Skills" two lines below your last entry. This section should be for anything that hasn't been previously listed but that might be pertinent to the job for which you are applying. Examples: Red Cross Certified in CPR and First Aid, Fluency in Arabic and Farsi, award-winning equestrian and instructor.

Type the word "References" two lines below your last entry. In most cases, you'll simply type the words "Available upon request." The exception to this rule is if you happen to have personal/professional references that you think would impress the reader. For example, using the current governor of your state, a prominent member of the clergy or a captain of industry with whom you did an internship would definitely bring some "wow" power to your resume.