There are plenty of style books out there. See the list to the right on this blog. Yes, In Style and the MLA Style Handbook both have a place on this list. While most people do well in a LBD (Little Black Dress) or grey pin-stripe suit there are those people who do better, feel more themselves, in a red dress or a seersucker suit (one friend’s husband from Atlanta comes to mind).
Please, just as on your resume, you should be you at all times. Be authentically you, not the you you think they want you to be.
Be you, but know that there are rules and there are standards. My 1st class 1st year of law school was Legal Process. Our take-home exam (thank god) was all about rules versus standards. What was the purpose of the rule? Was it just an accepted standard?
No vehicles in the park. Discuss for the 1st grade of your legal career…
Turns out that in the exam question hypothetical the “vehicle” was a recumbent, hand-pedaled bike. Is that a vehicle? If so does it fall within the purpose of the rule? Is the purpose of the rule to keep the park safe or to avoid crowding the streets? Does a “vehicle” have to have a motor? As you can imagine, “IT DEPENDS.” and boy was I glad there was no time limit!
The same applies to resumes. The “it depends” part, there is definitely a time limit on resumes but that’s another topic for another post
RULE: You must include your name.
STANDARD: Reverse chronological order is preferred to a skills based resume.
RULE: Keep your font consistent throughout the document.
STANDARD: Avoid an objective at the top of your resume.
P.S. Did I mention my professor clerked for the Supreme Court? Yeah, he mentioned it about 100 times every class. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Never be bashful when telling others about your success, but do not be conceited.
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