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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

CARIBBEAN CALLING


Islands of the Caribbean?
You name it; we've been there (most likely) and had a great time too - travelling, working, meeting new people.
Wanna come with us? Give us a call - 954-323-6217/876-969-5741 - and find out where we're off to next.

TOURING JAMAICA WITH CHOICES




Our island tours are going great and it's a wonderful season.
We've been driving through the hills and valleys, along the coastal roads and into the mountains of Jamaica dropping in at schools all over.
More in our next post on which schools, which parishes etc.

Monday, April 13, 2009

The How and Why of "Biz Ad" for One Post-Grad Student





By Kerry-Ann Smith

After laying a solid educational foundation at the secondary level, the real journey began at the tertiary level. “What to do?” “What to major in?” were thoughts that plagued me as a teen. An answer soon came, not out of the blue, but through serious self analysis. Suffice it to say I completed a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication with a minor in Psychology, at the Northern Caribbean University, with an outstanding Grade Point Average. What does that say to you? No I wasn’t anything super special; I just have a knack for the arts. So how did I get involved in Business Administration? Again I’m running ahead of myself.
About a month after getting my degree I started working at a reputable media house. There I found out what it meant to multi-task. Work was never a drag yet I felt incomplete, something was missing. I wanted something new, something challenging, something inexpensive, the latter being a very important element.
Eventually I was told about the Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration being offered at the Mona School of Business at the University of the West Indies. Of course being an arts student, and after running from anything involving calculation from primary school, I gave the programme no thought. You have to understand, I did math at the CXC level in 4th form just so I could be rid of it, I wanted nothing to do with computation!
But generally life does come full circle and I enrolled in the part-time programme. At times I wondered what I got myself into especially when I encountered accounting. I had sleepless nights and days where I had to catch quick naps during my lunch time, and sometimes during working hours. Once I felt I was on the brink of insanity.
I do not regret the move though. The programme, which was quite affordable, took only 8 months. The lecturers made learning straightforward, and the best part was that we were often placed in groups so that the weaker ones, like myself, would be able to learn from the more experienced persons. I must pause right here to thank Cohort 8 for their help – THANKS GUYS!
The coordinators of the programme were very accessible and very accommodating, so much so that our group felt like we were more special than all the all the groups before us. Class schedules were very flexible, and who can forget those well-needed coffee or tea breaks.
Assignments were graded on time, promptly returned and discussed in class, so that we could all learn from mistakes made. And those tutorial sessions, really helped me to tighten my grasp on the whole concept of macro and micro economics.
Through dedication to the task, an aim to succeed and Christ at the helm I have proven the dictum to be true: “Education + Christ = Success”.
Note well, I have not yet fully attained, as success like education is a continuous process. I am not yet at the zenith of my mountainous experience, the journey continues. When next we meet I’m sure I’ll have another interesting story to share. Until then go out and be a success, you too can start or continue the journey - think it, believe it, THEN ACT!

Twenty-three year-old Kerry Ann Smith is an employee of the Jamaica Information Service, where she is a Writer/Producer/Presenter and ENG AVID Editor. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration as well as a degree in Mass Communication. Through her community and church Kerry Ann is an English Tutor, Motivational Speaker, Youth Counsellor, Public Relations Consultant and Audio/Visual Director.
Kerry Ann also holds a certificate from the Edna Manley College in Voice and placed first in many singing competitions. She was also crowned most talented in the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, the Spanish Town leg of the competition and is currently a member of a well-known trio in St. Catherine - “Appointed”.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

MAKE A GOOD DECISION THE ACIP WAY




Whether you are graduating from fifth form, sixth form or from college or university, “leaving” brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand you are pleased and proud of your achievements, but at the same time there is invariably a feeling of uncertainty, maybe even a tinge of fear. “What will happen next?” “What is the best path for me to take?” “Should I continue studying? How will I find a job?”
The many decisions and choices you face can be quite overwhelming as you try to balance your desires with financial and familial issues, peer influences and the urgent need to ensure that you are on the best and correct career path for your life.

Making good decisions about your life, educational and career path involves several factors including:

· knowing yourself and being clear about what you really want to achieve
· knowing your options and how to put these in place
· accessing the necessary information and having the formula, knowledge and ability to make sound decisions

Intensive research conducted by various outstanding scientists has identified the important factors in making good, quality decisions. Dr. Lawrence Jones has condensed and simplified the process into four steps.

These four steps form the acronym ACIP. Following these steps will ensure that you make the best decisions possible. Beware of the temptation to skip any of the steps, as the more steps you leave out, the greater the likelihood of your regretting the decision you make later on.

STEP 1 - Alternatives
When making an important decision, always consider all your options. Whether this relates to choosing an occupation, an educational path or any other general decision, freely and thoroughly explore all possibilities. Get advice from others. Ask them for suggestions, and don’t just ask your friends; Speak with your mentor - if you have one - your teacher or a guidance counsellor. Brainstorm. Be imaginative.



STEP 2 - Consequences

Once you narrow down your alternatives to those that seem best to you, then weigh the pros and cons of each alternative. Research shows that you need to consider four types of consequences. So, for each alternative that you are considering create a "Decision Balance Sheet" and write down:
The gains and losses to yourself.
The gains and losses to significant others in your life such as parents, other family members, close friends, teachers or community, social, political or religious groups you value or are associated with.
Whether you would approve or disapprove of yourself, if you chose this alternative.
Whether the important people in your life would approve or disapprove of your choice.

STEP 3
- Information

In this step you research and accumulate more information about the alternatives you are considering, which you can add to your decision balance sheet as well as new facts that either support or change the pros and cons you wrote down.
Use all the resources available to you - the internet, the library, career counsellors, persons who are working in the career field that you are interested in, teachers, mentors ….. etc. Get your information from all relevant sources, always ensuring of course that the sources are knowledgeable and trustworthy.
Never, ever neglect this step in decision making. You cannot have too much information on the career you’re interested in.

STEP 4 - Plans

Once you have made your choice, it's time to start planning. Your first step is to ensure that you
1. make detailed plans for putting your choice into action
2. make contingency plans for handling any negative consequences that might arise from your choice
Planning and timing are the keys to success in any aspect of your life. A plan represents your intention, your focus and your desire. It is a reference that can keep you steady in those times when you may become a little derailed, and therefore should be clearly written down and reviewed regularly­ not only because you may and probably will make changes to it, but more importantly because reviewing it will keep you focused and centred on your goals and what you want to achieve.
Excerpted from The Graduates’ Guide to Making The Best Decisions For Your Career, Education & Life, a publication of CHOICES Career Advice. E-mail <info@choicesonlinejm.com> for information or go to www.choicesonlinejm.com.

REWRITE THAT OLD, TIRED RESUME




by Angela deFreitas
Now that you have been made redundant, you may have fallen victim to the knee-jerk temptation to send out your old resume - which you perhaps designed ten years ago – in your new search for a job. You will not be well-served by such a strategy. This is a mistake that could well result in your sitting at home for several months without a job. Instead, for each new job search, you should redesign the document in such a way as to focus on and draw attention to new skills, accomplishments and experience gained in recent positions. Re-writing the resume is not just sleight of hand. Your resume (and also cover letter) should be modified to suit each job application, which you make. Re-designing your resume has the effect of refreshing and revitalising the impression you create in the eyes of potential employers. Just as well, if you are seeking a new position, it's in your best interest to blow your own trumpet regarding the new experience, skills and accomplishments gained at the previous job. No-one else will do that for you and this is the only chance you get to add that boost to your resume. Consider also that in this job market there are more takers than jobs so for every job available and/or advertised, there may be literally hundreds of applications. You must therefore find some way of enticing the reader of your resume to want to read further than just the first few lines and also to be excited enough about what is there to then want to invite you in for an interview. Your new resume should be written and presented in such a way that it gets you an interview. if it does so then it has served its main purpose. Review the language of your resume by adding more powerful and active words; to add zing to the presentation and style; to achieve a better visual and literal effect.. Ensure that your experience and special skills jump out at the reader immediately in your new resume. Use a simple technique to highlight these by putting them at the beginning of each new position described in chronological order. You would therefore have: 1. Date and Name of Position 2. Major Skills and accomplishments 3. Plus a general description of what your work entailed on that particular job. Example July 04 - June 08 - Regional Sales Representative, Jamaica Soda Company Ltd Major accomplishments - increased sales by 10% over targeted amount; supervised implementation of new electronic customer data base development Major skills - use of Microsoft Excell END BOX In a complete overhaul or retrofitting of your resume, be prepared to begin from scratch, to dissect the whole thing and re-fit in back together in a more enticing and exciting way. This process should also include self-searching to get to all of the new and relevant information which you may have forgotten such as a leadership position in a school PTA, or in a community or church group. (This is where your career portfolio comes in as you should have in it reminders of these achievements for adding to your resume and cover letter and using in interview situations when the right time comes.) Overhaul the language you are using also - go for power words which have a very descriptive meaning. Remember that there are certain resume formats and styles which are most readily accepted, but that does not mean that you cannot be creative especially if the job you are applying for expects that. However, always let someone else read over your resume - not only for typos - but also to ensure that it hangs together properly and will not have a reader searching for a needle in a haystack to find the all-important information which they seek. *Angela deFreitas is General Manager of Choices Career Advice, Kingston.
Email info@choicesonlinejm.com.

WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE




By Angela deFreitas
Just think about it. From where you sit in your new job, whatever or wherever it may be, every employee around you also had a “first-day-on-the-job”. And those first-day jitters can last a little while depending on just how friendly and helpful your co-workers are and just how well you prepared yourself for the experience of fitting in with your workplace etiquette.
Workplace etiquette is in fact an extension of general etiquette, good manners and acceptable behaviour which in some cases can relate specifically to the work environment.
As a new kid on the block, the bottom line is, don’t be afraid to ask questions of either your immediate supervisor, your colleagues or your boss. They can’t expect you to know everything straight away so they’ll be expecting a barrage of questions from you anyway so you shouldn’t feel stupid to ask.
Of course, as years go by and you gain more experience and change more jobs you will have a better understanding of different organisational cultures but until then, err on the side of caution in all things or ask for advice.
The upshot is, whether you are out there on a short summer holiday job or if this is the start of your working life, take these matters seriously as poor office etiquette can jeopardise your job and chances for success.
Wise counsel such as this may be hard to swallow, especially when you know that you’re nervous, feeling totally out of it, trying hard to fit in, and guess what too, you just called your supervisor by his first name (well, you’ve seen it in so many movies) and were asked very nicely to address him as “Mr. Brown”. Oops!
You just had your first lesson in workplace etiquette. Trust me, you will make such mistakes as you step out into the working world and you’re going to feel like a fish out of water when that happens so be prepared to ask as many questions as necessary especially when it comes to areas of office etiquette such as taking/making calls on your own cell, reporting sick or absent for some reason, general office “netiquette” (rules, procedures and standards relating to sending email messages etc), and yes, addressing your managers and co-workers.
For a while, you may feel like they are out to get you, change you or alter your lifestyle and personality, but just remember that the less outstanding or different your behaviour, attitudes and actions the more easily you will fit in.
Now is the time to remember also that there are clearly some habits and styles which are best left behind at school. Those who are more experienced won’t hesitate to tell you for example that things like sitting on the desk (even it’s yours), spending the first and last half hour of each day in the bathroom and eating at your desk (unless it’s coffee/tea and a biscuit as you work) are a no-no. If there is a kitchen or lunch area, that’s the place for you and your box lunch. You will make a good impression when you tidy the area behind you. The same goes for the board/meeting room and any other common areas when you use them and also your desk, cubicle or work station at the end of the day.
Lateness is also never excused in any workplace. You may rationalise that you will put in few hours after work to make up but lateness, even for a departmental meeting, still reflects badly on you. Anyone can stay back a little late after work, but it takes greater effort and discipline to arrive at work on time, every time, and to stick within the lunch hour given. It also follows that extended absences from your work -station should be avoided.
Talking of work station, this is where cubicle culture comes in. Cubicles are part of modern work environments which you also need to understand. Yes, it is your space in which to comfortably do your work but lining the partitions with romantic pictures of you and your boo will more than likely be seen as inappropriate for the workplace.
Your cell phone may be another area of uncertainty. Your cell should in fact be off unless you must receive an urgent call in which case it should be on silent or vibrate and you take the call discretely. Even though this is your own private cell on which you are getting or making a call, this is still company time on which you are talking so leave the private calls for lunch time and after 5.
You will find that the workplace can be a very social place where you will eventually make friends, find a lot of social life and build relationships with co-workers. You will be going to lunch, sharing stories and discussing all of the new hot topics from the news, the soaps and the dailies. Some topics should, however, be off limits, among them politics, religion, your (or other people’s) sex life, personal problems and your health issues.
If you have chosen “work while studying option” beware. It may be tempting to do assignments at your workplace. However, the use of office stationery, the internet and excessive use of printing and other office equipment will always be frowned upon. Leave the assignments and projects at home and ensure that office work is done at work.
As you will find out, being a “newbie” on staff has some very important positives but also some essential negatives from which you can learn the ways of the working world. Whatever you encounter, remember that it’s the beginning of real-life, real-time experiences which will kit you out for the next stage in life and which will help you to get your foot firmly onto the ladder of workplace success. So don’t blow your chances with poor office etiquette.
Angela deFreitas is the General Manager of CHOICES CAREER ADVICE publishers of The Career Key (Caribbean edition), CHOICES Career & Education Magazine, The Graduates’ Guide to Making the Best Decisions For Career, Education & Life and Help Your Child With Career Choice - A Guide For Parents. For more information call 969-5741 or visit the CHOICES website - www.choicesonlinejm.com





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WANT TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS?





by Angela deFreitas
How many times have you considered giving up that awful, pressuring job and working for yourself? Once? Twice? Every month-end when the pay cheque comes? Yes, you know you would love to.
Being your own boss is the ultimate goal of not just you but many who are tired of the routine of a regular 9-5 and who just need that change from being bossed to being the boss.
But before you make such a drastic life-changing decision, understand that studies show that entrepreneurs are born and not made. So, if you find that you have personality traits such as toughness, resilience, tenacity, courage, innovativeness, dynamism, resourcefulness, passion and persistence, then you have a good chance of making a go of it. All of these are very important personal ingredients which will help you to succeed or fail in the business you choose.
Going it alone can take many forms including simply “doing a business”, becoming an entrepreneur (and there is a difference), free lancing, consulting, free agenting and many more. All, however, become very attractive possibilities, whether or not personality traits point in the right direction, when someone is unexpectedly “separated from their job’” or when no job offer is forthcoming.
Whichever you opt for and for whatever reason you may find yourself in the SOHO category. That is small office/home office.
The SOHO is a growing phenomenon, both global and local, as people increasingly move towards small, home-based operations due to the need for people running small businesses to locate themselves somewhere where overheads are not exhorbitant.
The SOHO runs the gamut from professionals such as lawyers and doctors serving their surrounding community, skilled workers such as plumbers, masons, cabinetmakers, hairdressers and fashion designers running their own small concerns and even consultants working on outsourced projects and contracts from large corporations.
However, before you even think as far as your SOHO, if you are considering this leap of faith, map out a plan. A plan will be an essential tool in the process. It will help you to clearly outline your thoughts in relation to the concept, nature, structure, direction, size etc. of your business and also the equipment which you will need.
In a notebook and outline everything which is in our head. This may add up to 3, 4, 5 or even more different business ideas. Having done that, look at each one as a great possibility and outline them one at a time in your book. You will reach a point of great excitement when it becomes clear that a particular plan is working out or, you may put away the pencil, greatly disappointed, when you reach a point of great clarity and know for sure that there’s a snag with this idea. If that happens, don’t destroy the notes but just turn over a new page.
When you decide on which idea to pursue, put away your note book carefully where you will be able to find it in the future. Don’t set up yourself for failure but you may need to turn back to those ideas if the one you choose fails. You may also want to add new ideas as they present themselves.
These notes will also eventually be the basis of a more formal and structured business plan which you may need in the near or distant future if you require a loan from a bank, credit union or another financial institution and if you wish to apply for funding or grants of any sort. It will also be a road map to keep you on course to your goal so view it as a basic and essential requirement.
Some advice:
Don’t go cold turkey – as much as possible develop the idea and get things going while still in a job.
Don’t worry about location – a SOHO generally has a skeleton staff of probably less than 3 or 4 employees. A lot of people will tell you that their business actually began in their living room, bedroom, around the kitchen table or that their office was literally in their car for quite a while. You may also consider creating a Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) which does not require permanent staff reporting to an office on a daily basis or “hot-desking” where one desk is shared by many, as and when each needs it.
Start buying the equipment you will need – i.e. - excellent – read cutting-edge – communication technology fax, email – computer, internet access, photocopier, fax machine,colour printer, scanner – business software to help you to simplify billing, accounting and record-keeping tasks.
This will ensure that you are connected to your community at all times, without delay. In this way you will receive all messages, product orders, requests for information etc. even when you are not there, can send information in any form required.
So if you think it’s the way to go, get a plan and save the pennies. It’s an investment which will not be wasted. Even if you don’t go SOHO you will have a home which is able to match up to the 21st century environment.
Angela deFreitas is General Manager of CHOICES Career Advice
Email – info@choicesonlinejm.com; Website –www.choicesonlinejm.com

HOW MANY RESUMES?




by Angela de Freitas
Career Writer
In these days of computers and other easy methods of storage it's a good idea for job seekers to have more than one resume at-the-ready to suit different needs or different job applications. If, for example you have skills in diverse areas such as accounting and maybe administrative work, you may want to use the technique of including an "Objective" at the start of the resume. With this strategy you can change the objective to suit the needs of the job for which you are applying without then having to change the body of the resume. Also, today, with so much emphasis being on 'skills' and the possibility of the inevitable question "what skills can you bring to this company?" your resume will be able to answer that clearly and quite visibly. By doing different versions of your resume - targeted at different skills-sets and job descriptions - you will be able to respond more easily with each new application. Re-designing your resume has the effect of refreshing and revitalising the impression you create in the eyes of potential employers. Taking the time to customise a resume with this in mind can bring real rewards. In general, if you are seeking a new position, it's in your best interest to blow your own trumpet regarding the new experience, skills and accomplishments gained at the previous job. No-one else will do that for you and this is the only chance you get to add that boost to your resume. Consider also that in this job market there are more takers than jobs so for every job available and/or advertised, there may be literally hundreds of applications. You must therefore find some way of enticing the reader of your resume to want to read further than just the first few lines and also to be excited enough about what is there to then want to invite you in for an interview. A reader will not have the trouble of having to wade through too much reading and to sift out this information for themselves. They don't have time for that (remember, they have a large pile of resumes in front of them and yours is just one such!).
Angela deFreitas is general manager of Choices Career Advice, Kingston.
Email: info@choicesonlinejm.com

Cover All Angles With ther Right Cover Letter




by Angela deFreitas
The cover letter which you create is a vital part of your job application. Do not treat it casually. Put the same amount of thought and emphasis into it as you do your resume. It is, remember, what a prospective employer sees when your mail is opened, whether it’s an email or posted by regular mail. Such employers routinely discard many applications based solely on poorly written cover letters so one which is well-written will give you a better chance of opening that door to an interview.
When writing your cover letter, remember that it is in reality a sales letter and the product which you are offering is YOU. At this particular time when there are more sellers than buyers your marketing has to be outstanding in the eyes of your reader and your packaging has to be attractive and perfect – no typos and no poor grammar and presentation.
The goal of your cover letter is to both introduce and sell yourself to the company. Do this in a business-like and professional way. State the reason for your letter – i.e. the job you are applying for. Summarise the most important details contained in your resume which follows the letter.
Your cover letter should be short and definitely no more than one page. This might be three brief paragraphs.
Be professional and concise. Keep your tone business-like. Never try to be humorous or include anything of a personal nature.
Know the job you are applying for. Be specific and name a job title.
State why you want to work for the company and include this information in the first paragraph
State the contributions you will make to the company based on previous skills and experiences gained elsewhere.
Never mention any work experience in the cover letter that isn't included on your resume. That is a definite no-no which will confuse and annoy the reader and may even make you look like a liar.
Have someone proofread your letter before mailing it to make sure it contains no typos or grammatical errors.
Always specify a date on which you will follow-up with the company and say how you will do so - whether in person, by phone, e-mail etc.
Since your goal is to get in the door for an interview, taking the time to create a winning cover letter is a tactic you really cannot afford to skip!
These tips will make your resume easier to read
Use white or off-white 8-1/2- x 11 inch paper
Print on one side of the paper only
Choose one non-decorative typeface and stick to it. Use a readable font size, 11-12 point, possibly Arial or Times New Roman
If you must mail your resume, send it in an 8-1/2- x 11 inch envelope

WINNING WITH SKILLS




PART II

by Angela deFreitas
The 17 Foundation Skill areas were developed by well-known career development expert, Dr. Lawrence Jones, from several high-level government commission reports prepared in the United States of America but which have since been adopted and accepted internationally in varying form and fashion. These areas are reading, writing, mathematics, speaking, listening, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, visualisation, social, negotiation, leadership, teamwork, cultural diversity, self-esteem, self-management and responsibility.

These 17 skill areas are broken down into four groups.
1. The Basic Skills are reading, writing, mathematics, speaking and listening. These relate to the fundamental necessity of a worker to show literacy and numeracy and to be able to locate, distil and understand information from a variety of sources including modern means such as the computer/internet and communicate such information accurately. Speaking, listening and mathematical skills must also be up to scratch
2. Creative thinking, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills and visualisation are classed as The Thinking Skills. Will a worker be of value in a company’s employ due to their ability to think clearly, solve problems, make sound decisions based on the pros and cons presented and also through the ability to visualise outcomes from different situations?
3. The People Skills relate to the social being which we are in respect of being friendly, showing respect for others, being able to negotiate while seeing things from another’s perspective and demonstrating leadership and teamwork skills. Understanding and accepting cultural diversity are aspects of an employee’s personality which will determine whether or not they will be able to act as part of a team and respect the rights of others in the workplace whatever their background or beliefs. These are also important people skills.
4. Personal Qualities are self-esteem, self-management and responsibility and are about
exercising self-management through the setting, monitoring and achieving of personal goals and showing responsibility and high standards of personal achievement, attendance, honesty, energy and optimism.

Having a clear picture of what skills are required in the career in which you are interested and in the marketplace generally will help when seeking employment, writing a resume, having a positive job interview, and finding occupations that use similar skills, not only locally but also globally.

There will always be jobs for unskilled workers, jobs which can be done by anyone once they are told what to do such as car washers, security guards, common labourers, office helpers and messengers. There are however, good reasons to believe that if you develop what are considered marketable, transferable and motivated skills, in addition to the 17 Foundation Skills, success will follow. Skills were always in style but even moreso now as the world recognises the importance of developing the right skills in the right way.
Angela deFreitas is General Manager of CHOICES Career Advice, publishers of The Career Key (Caribbean Edition) and CHOICES Career & Education Magazine. The company gives information and advice on a broad range of career-related matters including resume writing. She can be contacted at info@choicesonlinejm.com and www.choicesonlinejm.com.

HOW TO WIN WITH SKILLS




by Angela deFreitas
PART I
When companies interview prospective employees they are looking for the candidate with the most compatible skills and competencies which match the needs of their company and the specific position to be filled. The person with the right match of skills and personal qualities will stand out from the rest based on expertise, experience and the possibility that their personality will fit in with the company.

All workers in today’s world must develop what are known as marketable, transferable and motivated skills if they are to be successful on their chosen career path. Such skills will drive success as they are the skills which will ensure that employers are interested in hiring you.

As you no doubt can deduce from the above, skills are the common denominator amongst THE most successful workers anywhere in the world and in all sectors across the entire spectrum. According to well-known career development expert, Dr. Lawrence Jones, in his book, Job Skills For The 21st Century, it’s as simple as this: “Skills, you win; no skills, you lose…….Your hope is that you have the skills an employer wants and that the employer will buy your skills, that is hire you….. …Your skills are marketable when employers will pay you to perform them.”

So what are skills? Why are they so important? Who would resist the need to develop themselves in as many and in as wide a range of skill areas as possible? Or is this concept just another of the buzz words of the 21st century? Far from it.

The 21st century workplace is increasingly a modern environment requiring a different approach to work and mind-set from workers and a clear recognition of the Foundation Skills. The Foundation Skills are the 17 essential areas in which all workers must reach a certain standard if they are to be successful in such an environment. These areas are reading, writing, mathematics, speaking, listening, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, visualisation, social, negotiation, leadership, teamwork, cultural diversity, self-esteem, self-management and responsibility.
Angela deFreitas is General Manager of CHOICES Career Advice, publishers of The Career Key (Caribbean Edition), CHOICES Career & Education Magazine. The company gives information and advice on a broad range of career-related matters including resume writing. She can be contacted at info@choicesonlinejm.com and www.choicesonlinejm.com.