Paid Employment

2000 - 2002

Network Administrator / Ethernet Representative (Halls of Residence)

  UMIST Trading Services,
  Sackville Street,
  Manchester.
  M60 1QD

Main Duties

• Network Server Maintenance
• User Connection / Disconnection
• User problem troubleshooting
• Liason with hall staff and residents
• Interviewing for new team members

Further Details

This job involved working on behalf of the University providing network support for students within Weston Hall during term-time. The post involved working closely with other network administrators, as well as hall staff and students, both in a technical and a non-technical capacity, so good teamworking and communication skills were a necessity. Naturally good problem solving (and sometimes collaborative problem solving) skills were important, particularly in determining the initial nature of the problem from non-technical people.

Network administrators were generally well-known throughout the hall, and often asked to assist in other technical matters by the pastoral staff and residents' association. The job officially entailed one week full-time at the beginning of the academic year, then two hours per week for the rest of the year, although the workload was generally slightly more, and was not consistent throughout the year - each team member had to undertake the work in his/her own time.

July - August 2000

Telephone Receptionist

  AirMiles,
  Birchwood Boulevard,
  Warrington.

Main Duties

• Dealing with customer enquiries
• Directing customer calls

Further Details

I undertook this job over the summer between my second and third years of University. The job was taking part in and evaluating a three week Airmiles pilot scheme to replace automated telephone menu systems with human receptionists. The work involved assessing each customer's requirements and either directing their call to the relevant department, or communicating the relevant information to them from the company's computer intranet.

1996-1999

Barman / Kitchen Porter

  The Little Manor,
  Bell Lane,
  Thelwall,
  Warrington.

Main Duties

• Customer service
• General cleaning duties
• Stocking bar
• General cleaning duties
• Basic food preparation

Further Details

This was my first proper job, working mainly weekends but sometimes weekday evenings for a local pub. Initially I worked in the kitchen, with washing up being my main task, but willing to lend a hand to virtually anything, including food preparation, stock taking, etc. After a while, I began working weekend mornings doing general jobs around the pub, including stocking bar fridges, sorting empties, and general cleaning duties. When I became eighteen, I began working behind the bar, giving me chance to develop good customer service skills.