CV (resume)

I am interested in designing and developing websites that the public can use with great ease. I possess a strong eye for detail and a passion for perfectionism. You will be hard pushed to find anyone as enthusiastic about web design as I am.
Read more about me.

Skills

• Web Design: HTML/XHTML, CSS, jQuery. Full knowledge of W3C web standards. Photoshop.
• Web Development: PHP, MySQL, Apache.
• SEO and Information Architecture: Experience and success in optimising websites for Search Engines whilst simultaneously optimising them for users.
• Accessibility and Usability: I create accessible websites and I believe in enhancing the user experience which can be achieved through a usable website.
• Online Marketing: Experience of Google Adwords & Shopping Comparison campaigns. Also banner ad campaigns on high profile websites.

Experience

Freelance Web Designer / Developer April 2007 - present day

• High profile clients include: MEN and Sketch360 amongst others.
• Freelancing has undoubtedly increased my skillset. Often deadlines are tight but the work is always finished on time.
• Creating the highest quality work and communicating with the client at all stages to ensure a great website is always produced.
• Produce a regular HTML email newsletter for clients that informs them of any offers and keeps them up to date with my freelance services.

Soapy Co Ltd - Web Developer November 2007 - present day

• Coded the ecommerce web application Cart45 (built to rival Actinic) from scratch in 6 months
• Rewrote the entire HTML/CSS codebase of ecommerce website to accommodate a new design and to improve usability, accessibility and SEO
• Working from home has taught me self-discipline and self-motivation. I manage my time effectively and ensure deadlines and expectations are met.

Ichameleon Ltd - Web Developer October 2006 - October 2007

• Ichameleon are a small web design firm that specialise in providing CMS for charitable and non-profitable organisations.
• Responsible for extending and installing the in-house CMS as well as web design and SEO.

JJB Sports Plc - Web Coordinator June 2005 - October 2006

• Covered numerous areas in web design, development and site management from designing emails to adding new features to the ecommerce site.
• Attended many high profile meetings to express my opinion on future online ventures.
• Constantly monitored the JJB retail website for customer shopping patterns, then used my knowledge of various web technologies to increase conversion rates at every opportunity. The site was constantly tweaked to ensure optimal conversion and usability.
• Rewrote the XHTML/CSS of the main JJB website, encouraging a stricter separation of the content from presentation, making the site validate to XHTML 1.0 Strict and increasing the SEO and accessibility of the website. These changes resulted in JJB’s Add to Basket conversion jumping from 1.3% to 3.85% in April 2006.
• Promoted of all of JJB’s websites, including SEO and liaising with third parties as to the running of Google Adwords and other online marketing campaigns.
• Achieved a number 1 ranking in google for some high profile keywords including ‘nike trainers’. Which, on average, added up to thousands of pounds worth of sales per annum.
• Completely redeveloped JJB’s Recruitment website (design/CMS/promotion). This was the first JJB website to make use of RSS feeds and handheld CSS. The redesign proved very successful. Page-views increased and office administrators found the CMS very easy to use.

Manchester Education Partnership, Web Designer, September 2003 - July 2004

• As part of my degree course, I completed a year long work placement, as a web designer, for Manchester City Council’s Education Department.
• Created the MEWAN website design (Manchester Education Wide Area Network). This involved creating a brand identity and promoting the project. At the time MEWAN was the internet explorer start page for every primary school in Manchester.
• Undertook the task to place courses, ran by the education department, into a data-driven website (using PHP/MySQL) so teachers could see course details online.

Education

The Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001 - 2005

Computing BSc (Hons): including a year-long work placement for Manchester City Council as a web designer.

St’s Peter &Paul High School & 6th Form College, 1994 - 2001

3 A-Levels and 8 GCSEs.

Interests

My interests include music, books, movies, and web design. My main interest is music, I enjoy going to see bands, and listening to and buying as many albums as I can afford. I also really enjoy reading; some of my favourite novels include Catch-22 (Joseph Heller), 1984 (George Orwell), Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Mark Haddon) and High Fidelity (Nick Hornby).

Referees

References are available on request.