Ok, let's talk CV/Resumes - you have 15 seconds...

That is, apparently, how long you have in the opening lines of your CV/Resume to grab the attention of the reader and make them want to keep reading...

By the way, I'm going to use CV or Resume interchangebly - they both mean the same thing, it just depends which side of the ocean you live on.

Let's start with some basic CV do's and don'ts:

You've heard these before, let's read them again

• Be honest. Don't make false or exaggerated claims
• Use simple language and avoid "techno-speak" or internal business jargon
• Be concise and use bullets rather than paragraphs
• Don't try to "fill the page" - leave blank areas (white space), it makes for easier reading
• Highlight your achievements and use action words such as "developed" or "managed" or "created" - these are good words
• Mention other languages. Good additional languages for the Caribbean would be Spanish, Dutch, and French.
• Mention hobbies, use them to make you more attractive to your potential employer
• Don't include references
• Don't go over 2 pages
• Spell check!! (I don't know how many times this has been said, but I still see Resumes with typing errors. Spelling errors will kill you chances right up front)

Here's a link to a CV/Resume help site, and another on How to write a professional resume. This one provides a Step by Step guide.

Now, focus on these additional things for the Caribbean.

1) People vs Skills
Caribbean Employers tend to be more people focused before skills. They are looking for the right fit first, and then the right skills. Experience will be important, but so will hobbies and groups that you belong to. Be sure to emphasize this in your CV and list all your activities.
If it is appropriate - and only if you have a good one - you may want to think about adding a picture of yourself to your Caribbean CV or cover page. Seeing a face creates a more personal bond and may give you an advantage over a faceless CV.

2) Languages
Include your native language and list any additional languages you may speak and the proficiency level. The Caribbean is a multicultural place and many islands speak in three to four languages, such as French, Spanish, and Dutch.
Show language skills as;

Fluent in...
Can read and write in....
Basic communication skills in...

3) Company-speak
Remember that for some people reading your CV, English is not their first language.
Be careful to use globally recognized words in your Caribbean CV. Avoid techno-speak and internal company-speak words.
Follow the KISS rule and keep it simple!

Preparing your CV for the Caribbean takes extra thought and focus. It's different to what you are used to....but that's what you are looking for anyway, right?!

Getting Help with your CV / Resume

If you are not experienced, or good at writing your CV, or are not getting responses from your applications, or your CV just doesn't feel right, then yes, get help!
There are a few good "Resume Service" or "CV Service" web sites, here's two I would recommend:

Resume Builder is an online service that let's you build a professional resume very quickly. It's certainly worth checking out.

Clever Resumes provides a similar service and includes samples.

Here's a link to BBC's One Life CV area: BBC

CV / Resume Books: 

If books work better for you, try the following titles:

(coming soon)

Just highlight the text below with your mouse and copy / paste this into your word processing program. Then adjust it to suit your skills and experience.

Sample Curriculum Vitae

Personal Information:
Full name: John Q Citizen
Address: 123 Anyplace, Anywhere
Birth Date (dd/mm/yyyy - or spell it out, eg: January 16, 1984)
Place of Birth (city, country)
Marital Status (single, married, and number of children)
Contact Information (eg:Home and Cell phone, email address)
You could also include a small head and shoulder picture of yourself in this section, I did.

I am a _________ with ______ years experience as a _______________. As you will see from my Employment history I can provide your company professional services as a ___________.

Education:
Schools Universities, etc
Most recent first
Include technical and other certifications here

Employment History:
(put your most recent first)

ABC Company
Jan 2003 to Jan 2005
Network Administrator

• Responsible for internal office Network
• Managed 5 Microsoft servers and 65 workstations, including Internet access
• Created and maintained full network documentation and disaster recovery processes

Try to start with an action word (eg: Managed, Performed, Created..etc)
If you have a long history, only fill out the two most recent and keep the others to Company, Dates, and Job Title only

Personal Profile:
(All skills not included under Education or Employment History)
Membership in associations, clubs, etc
Languages you speak and whether fluent or not
Hobbies (yes, reading can be a hobby in the Caribbean)