Students from Parkinson Memorial Secondary School concluded their transformative journey in the Global Alumni Outreach Programme with a comprehensive professional development session at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. The final module, dedicated to interview preparedness and corporate etiquette, provided crucial career skills ahead of the students’ examinations.
The program, officially titled ‘Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Challenges – Transforming Children’s Lives’ (PTFTC-TCL), hosted its culminating dining etiquette session at the Campus Solutions Centre on Monday. This served as an intensive review for Parkinson Upper Fifth students before their practical examination the following day.
Aisha Estwick, Assistant Registrar of the Employee Success Division in Human Resources for UWI Global Campus, initiated the session with critical insights into job application protocols. She detailed common CV pitfalls that lead to immediate rejection, highlighting inappropriate email addresses, grammatical inaccuracies, and exaggerated skill claims as primary disqualifiers. Estwick specifically cautioned against excessive document length, noting that CVs extending to ‘ten pages’ typically fail to advance in selection processes.
The HR expert outlined essential CV components, emphasizing that Information Technology proficiency should extend beyond basic Microsoft Office knowledge to include social media platform familiarity. Regarding cover letters, Estwick stressed the necessity of customizing each application to demonstrate clear alignment between candidate qualifications and specific job requirements.
Drawing from her extensive experience reviewing hundreds of applications, Estwick revealed that typically only five candidates progress to the interview stage from each pool of applicants—a statistic underscoring the competitive nature of job markets.
Students gained additional perspective through a recorded address from Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor General, Rodney Williams, who advocated for developing core interpersonal competencies including communication, problem-solving, time management, and emotional intelligence as foundational career preparation.
The practical segment, led by Campus Officer of Alumni Relations Sandra Griffith-Carrington, encompassed comprehensive business and dining etiquette training. Students underwent meticulous grooming checks (fingernails and shoes), received instruction on professional handshake techniques, and learned sophisticated napkin folding designs including the bow, rose, and candle configurations.
Following theoretical instruction, students implemented their acquired knowledge during a practical exercise at Mount Restaurant, demonstrating full proficiency in formal dining protocols.
Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the PTFTC-TCL program operates across 16 secondary schools throughout Barbados with support from alumni volunteers and sponsors including the Sandals Foundation. The initiative aims to instill social graces and professional ethics—including accountability, dedication, and courtesy—as students transition toward their future careers.
Griffith-Carrington concluded the session with enduring advice for the students: ‘Gratitude is the attitude that determines your altitude’—a principle applicable to both professional interviews and life pursuits.