Your Resume' represents you; so you should try to make the most favourable first impression that you can. The resume' should present your skills, qualifications and experiences in the best possible light. Your resume' will not get you the job but if properly prepared, it should help you get the interview.

ETHICAL ISSUES

• Ensure that your resume' tells the truth. Do not add qualifications or experiences that you have not had, it will be discovered sooner or later. Ensure there are no periods that are unaccounted for. The person reading your resume' should be able to track your activities from high school to the present.

PRESENTATION ISSUES

• Make sure the resume' is typed. Use good quality paper. Do not use folder leaves or ruled paper for your resume'. The paper should not be torn or dirty.
• Take the time to check the resume' through carefully. Check for spelling errors and missing data. Ensure that all corrections are done. Errors of this type do not give a positive impression of you.

FORMAT ISSUES

• Chronological is probably simplest and most user-friendly. Start with the most current achievements, job, qualification and activities.
• Try to make your resume' concise - a maximum of two (2) pages. Recent graduates - 1 page is sufficient.
• Going to the USA or Canada ? Make the resume one (1) page. For persons with 10 years of working experience or more, you can create two versions of your resume - a 1-page version and a longer 2-3 page version that you would take with you for the interview.

CONTENT ISSUES

1. A potential employer needs to know what you can offer to his company and your resume should focus on providing those details. Usually, s/he will not need to know your weight, height, state of health or marital status. If that is required, they will ask.
2. State where you can be reached quickly. No telephone? Give a number and a name where a message can be left for you. Make sure this person is reliable.

Provide an email address if you have one and make sure it sounds professional. Leave "chachaboy@hotmail.com" and hotbodybrowning@yahoo.com for correspondence with your friends. Your name is adequate - lisamariebrown@cwjamaica.com.

1. Identify your Skills . Your skills or special abilities are those activities that you are especially good at. List those that would be useful in a work setting.
2. List your Achievements based on the posts/positions that you have held. Rank each achievement according to its impact on, or importance to the organization.
3. Give your Work History . The reader should know the posts you have held, when you held them and in what companies.
4. Give information on your Education and Training by indicating the courses of study that you have successfully completed. If you are a recent graduate - first degree, you can list some of the courses that would be relevant to the post that you are applying for. Recently completed Secondary Education? You can list your passes giving subjects and grades, and indicate the examining body, and the proficiency level if done at CXC.
5. List the short courses you have attended, including in-house training programmes, give the date and the name of the trainer(s).
6. Provide the names of organizations or clubs you are affiliated with and give dates of membership. Also indicate any post you have held.
7. References should not be provided in the resume. Prepare the information for your references on a separate sheet giving names, telephone and email contact information and indicating the type of reference the person will provide for you e.g. Work related, Social etc.
8. Make sure that a Cover Letter accompanies your resume' and ensure that you address the envelope properly (you may need to research the name of the Human Resource person). You do want to get your resume' in the right hands!

We hope that you will find the job that is right for you in the very near future. We wish you every good thing!