i suggest you read up on UV layouts
the built in maya tutorials on Texturing will help you a lot and is a GREAT starting point (as it is with everything else)
laying out uvs in maya is a HUGE topic
that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"
Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D