Whilst most of my work career so far has involved customer service I have also managed to accrue experience in the IT sector through the servers I maintain in my home and repairing and upgrading computers for friends and family.
I have been responsible for telephone operations, computer support and implimentation, filing, typing and the creative use of desktop publishing.
Building my home PC has allowed me to troubleshoot, identify and overcome many component failures and I can diagnose software problems quickly.
I am able to work competently with various operating systems and am quick to absorb new skills into my repetoir. I have a knowledge of TCP/IP networking, DNS, web (apache) and mail servers (Exim / Sendmail). I can write functional (X)HTML and CSS, and some php.
I have problem solving and fault isolation skills from my call centre time, working with computers owned by friends and family and from my studies whilst at university.
I have been trained and implemented many people management techniques, dealing with customer comments, counselling staff issues and leading people to a positive outcome wherever possible. I enjoy the challenging nature of working with a wide range of people, as well as enjoying working in small groups, building up a team spirit.
I learn quickly and can monitor my own training needs where necessary to drive standards up and ensure that I will be an asset to the company.
I have kitchen, bar, stock-taking and supervisory experience, I am phyisically fit and able and I am able to work unsociable hours. I am a hard worker, with attention to detail, good numerical skills. I have worked under pressure, in unfamiliar situations, moving to other sites for McDonalds, KFC and Subway as well as working with new and different staff. I have been commended for my social skills as well as telephone manner. I have worked both as a team member and a team leader where I ran team-building activities such as production / sales competitions and co-operative challenges.
The sites I have designed recently rely solely on XHTML (and PHP) for content and CSS for style, there is no javascript and no flash, which works best for every browser.
I have programmed using Visual Basic, C++ and FORTRAN, and have completed formal training courses and can apply my computing experience both efficiently and quickly.
Learning to use Unix at university set me up well for the installations of Linux I maintain, I host an Apache web server and now also have a mail server in my home.
My degree in physics involved the use of many specialist items of equipment in a safe responsible manner. I also build and maintain home PCs for myself and friends. I am constantly learning new software and keeping up to date with all aspects of computing.
I am a friendly outgoing person. I like physics, music, offbeat films and DIY. In my spare time I like to listen to music, do DIY, create computer programs, update my website, customise and build my PC, read, keep fit, make chain mail, and cook in various cuisines.
From my interest in physics I have learnt to approach problems in a methodic, logical fashion, working to deadlines. My work ethic and time-keeping is excellent, and my numeracy and literacy very good. I have practical experience of working within, and leading a team.
While at college and university I worked part time at McDonalds, and full time during the holidays. I continued fulltime employment with them after completing my degree, mainly because of the limited opportunities in the North East.
I am now looking into expanding my horizons teaching functional IT skills and Physics or domestic science in the Further Education sector.
I am keen to develop and apply my IT skills and have the ability and experience to adapt easily to the requirements of most commercial enterprises.
Sept 2009 - Jan 2011. Worked up to store manager. In charge of all aspects of store control, training, and food cost.
July 2008 - Sept 2009. Worked up to Team Leader position, controlling and monitoring food usage and waste against sales and associated targets.
(Apple Computers contract) Mar 2006 - May 2008. For Twenty4Help I received full training for the Mac OS X operating system and all current Apple hardware. I was trained to be able to diagnose most software and hardware failures for Macs and the previous customer service training I have undertaken enables me to work with even the least computer literate of users, as well as the more skilled users.
November 1998 - November 2005. Worked in all areas of a McDonalds restaurant including the kitchen, backroom, till and dining area. I was responsible for ensuring machine calibrations, security and maintaining service standards overall. I have been on relevant training courses and was promoted to shift running floor manager.
July 1994-March 1998. Started as kitchen hand, progressed to sweets and starters chef and occasional pizza chef. Later I became a waiter and bill minder in the restaurant area, handling monies, dealing with customer requests, organising tables.
References available on request.