Curriculum vitae (Latin) translation = 'the course of one's life'; an account of a person's education, academic awards, foreign study and previous employment, etc. attached to a job application.

This very important document may be your only opportunity to get a foot in the door of the position you are applying for.

Therefore it must be as perfect as you can make it. Here are a few basic points that will help you.

• Should be concise

• Should be honest and truthful

• Should contain:

1. Full name

2. Date of birth

3. Address

4. Schools with relevant academic achievements

5. Details of current and past jobs

• Should be accompanied by a short letter

• It is vital that this document be neat and contain no grammatical or spelling errors

• Make an all-out effort to obtain the name of a person to address this to. Much better than "Dear Sir or Madam".

You should make a copy and take it with you if you are successful in making to the interview stage.

Remember – your CV is the first 'picture' a prospective employer will see of you so making a good impression with it is important.