EVE New Citizens Q&A

And don't forget the speed tanking option. Faster you move, less damage taken. Downside is getting webbed. Meta tanking.

- Tank:
Fit your race's preferred tank (armor for Amarr/Gall, shield otherwise). Don't deviate unless you know what you are doing. Emphasise resist% modules and cap using local repair modules. Use tech 2 resist modules if you can fit them, meta 4 until then (faction/deadspace are too expensive to fit on a newbie's ship). Do not skimp on your local repair module(s) - it's perfectly reasonable to fit one deadspace (C-type) local repair module on a ship that is otherwise only using tech 2 modules.
Consider rigs that improve your local repairs.
Don't use modules that give +HP with no other benefit - these are for PVP encounters against multiple players that all focus fire, and don't help much in PVE except in incursions.
If in doubt, go overboard on tank and fit more defensive modules at the expense of less offensive ones.
Also remember: The second resist% module on the same resist works at 87% effectiveness; the third at 57% and the fourth is almost useless.
Lastly: The Damage Control 2 is a useful tank module. If you screw up really badly, it will buy you a lot more time in structure before you pop, and its shield/armor resists are not stacking penalized at all.


- Damage:
Fit the weapons system(s) your ship has a bonus to, always.
Fit low slot modules that increase damage output (Magnetic Field Stabilizers, Heat Sinks, Drone Damage Amplifiers etc) for your weapon system(s). If you are using split weapons systems (e.g. the Vexor which uses hybrids and drones) use an equal number of each.
Consider mid slot modules that increase accuracy.
Consider rigs that increase your weapons system, although IMO local repair rigs are probably better.
Have all of your guns match. This lets you group them, which will improve your ability to apply damage in practice.
Finally, make sure you have some way to kill a small ship that is orbiting you fast. For most ships, this means Warrior I or Warrior II drones. Alternately, it can mean two Stasis Webifiers (to slow down the orbiting, making the target easier to track) and medium blasters or even large blasters with Void ammunition. Just don't be 'that person' begging in local for help because your Hyperion is being warp disrupted in a mission by a frigate you cannot hurt.



- Utility:
This is really up to you. I like to dictate range, so I fit my Ishtar with a microwarpdrive and two Stasis Webifiers, and a warp scrambler (in case I find myself in unexpected PVP). With low skills, Cap Recharger II is a very useful module to consider.