Objective
To transfer my trustworthy IT expertise from a land community to one at sea
Experience
Oct 2003 – March 2008 Computer Specialist, Self-Employed (Port Edward, KZN, South Africa)
Computer consultancy, maintenance and tuition for local businesses and individuals based in the local community.
Mar 2001 – May 2003 Youth Liaison Worker, Youth Offending Team (Burnley, Lancs, UK)
Supervision of young offenders during reparation work, representation of young offenders in police custody, interviews, and court.
Nov 1999 – Feb 2001 I.T. Trainer (contract), Training Solutions (Burnley, Lancs, UK)
Presentation of Microsoft-related training courses e.g. ‘Introduction to MS Windows NT’, ‘Getting More from MS Office’.
Feb 1999 – Oct1999 Project Support Analyst (contract), Shell UK (Manchester, UK)
Design and implementation of small to medium-sized projects, including the testing, demonstration and delivery of the proposals.
Apr 1998 - Jan 1999 Desktop Support Analyst (contract), Lex Vehicle Leasing (Manchester, UK)
IT consultation for desktop systems including installation, training, user tuition, systems configuration and user administration.
Jan 1995 - Mar 1998 Desktop Services Analyst (contract), Shell UK (Manchester, UK)
1997 onwards: Team leader providing installation, training and support services for a major IT rollout. Provision of new desktop equipment and information systems to various sites including home-users and remote sites.
Desktop Support Analyst (contract), Shell UK (Manchester, UK)
1996: Second-line support and trouble-shooting for software and hardware issues, including MS Office; Compaq, NEC, and HP computers; HP and Epson printers.
Desktop Installation Analyst, Shell UK (Manchester, UK)
1995: Installation and configuration of desktop equipment, including off-site and home-user induction.
Feb 1994 - Nov 1994 Customer Services Leader, Time Computer Systems (Burnley, Lancs, UK)
Problem-solving and decision-making concerning escalated support difficulties. Team-leading responsibility and pro-active customer relations.
Education
BSc Hons Computer Science
Durham University, UK
1993
Certification
FMBCS
Skils
Outstanding troubleshooting
Positive training
Experienced customer focus
Having just returned to Europe from South Africa, I am looking for a suitable onboard IT opportunity.
With 15 years of professional troubleshooting experience (and an honours degree in Computer Science from Durham University), I believe I am an ideal applicant for this post. Originating from the UK and with most of my family resident in France, I am an all-round computer specialist with a true international flavour.
I have extensive experience across the entire spectrum of IT support from face-to-face with home-users to second line provision in large organisations. Specialising in obscure troubleshooting, I have outstanding hardware and software knowledge coupled with a special talent for understanding the most obscure configurations and communicating with the most challenging users.
Outside my working environments I regularly wrote for my local newspaper in KwaZulu Natal and have performed stand-up comedy leading to an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.