Technical skills
I have developed strong HTML/XHTML skills which, combined with CSS allow me to create functional, accessible and easy to use websites quickly and efficiently which adhere as closely as possible to current standards and client wishes. Often I have been able to create sites which meet the design chosen by the clients as well as being completely tableless as far a layout is concerned which improves accessibility and search engine optimisation.
I also have several years experience of using PHP with MySQL to produce dynamic, database driven sites with features such as content management systems, password protected areas with different levels of access and integration with Payment Service Providers. I have also used PHP with XML to integrate RSS feeds within sites I have produced and to produce feeds for others to subscribe to.
As well as the skills necessary to create websites I also have experience of the domain name system including registering and transferring domains as well as updating names servers and various name server records such as A and MX records where appropriate.
In addition to web development skills I have experience of supporting MS SQL Server, and some experience of Microsoft SBS and small office networks, print servers and wireless connections.
Other Skills
All the jobs I have been involved with have required excellent communication skills which I have developed over time. I regularly deal with clients who have technical issues and solve their problems by quickly establishing what the cause is and what the best solution is. I am equally comfortable communicating with other people working in IT and people from other business areas. At Marks and Spencer I received good feedback for “making IT sound interesting” at a business awareness presentation to people from other departments such as Food and Marketing. I was also asked to produce a handbook introducing people to M&S to be given to offshore suppliers in India. This was well received in England and India.
I am capable of working effectively as part of a team or on individual basis. At Green Media I was initially the only person in the development team so had to rely on my own self motivation and confidence to get jobs completed on time and to a high standard. Once the team expanded slightly there was more scope for working alongside other people to improve ideas.
My role at Marks and Spenser involved working closely with the other team members initially as I undertook on the job training and later as we took on more work but also involved a degree of autonomy as there were projects I was responsibly for managing
