Well, Obviously this is about who I am what I do and what I've done in the past. Have a browse through;
Education. Schooling and Stuff. Starting at Secondary. After 15 years there seems little point in mentioning my primary school!
Work/Employment. What I've got up to since School. In the way of work, of course.
Personal Comments. A bit about me, by me. Kinda like the "describe yourself in 200 words" question on a Job application. This includes some personal information you might not expect to see on a CV. Still, you're bound to ask!
Contact Details. and other stuff. How to get in touch.
Education: Where I went to School, and what I achived there. Also College, of course.
Secondary School:
The Following were all attained at Lord Williams’s school, Thame, Oxfordshire in the spring and summer of 1989. I spent most of my secondary education at Icknield School, Watlington, Oxfordshire, but took my exams in Thame because my family moved house in 1987.GCSEs:
Oral English 1
Physics C
Chemistry C
English language D
C.D.T. Technology D
History E
Mathematics E
French F
English Literature F
Further Education: Since leaving school in 1990, I've gone back to College on 2 occasions. Once full-time and one night school.
A Level, computer science: I attained this in 1992/1993 term year at night-school. Unfortunately it proved to be a rather "theoretical" course, intended to prepare the student for further study. I still learnt a lot of interesting background/legacy information, though. Commitments to DP measurement stopped me pursuing the IT career at the time.
And a few years later........
City&Guilds 779: Radio and print journalism competencies (Credit). Media Studies A lev (C) Drama As lev (D)
During the summer of 1998 I decided to return to full-time education for one year. I spent my entire savings, including all my share of the proceeds from the sale of the family business. The course I chose was Journalism, with Media studies as a useful addition. I spent a good deal of my time helping other students (and lecturers) with IT problems and editing audio for them (including most of the other students coursework!). This extra-curricular work mainly involved training students to use the college computer system and setting up new equipment when it arrived in the media department. I was awarded a "Adult learners award" for my efforts. I displayed considerable talent for IT support, and completed a total revision of the software used in the radio studio. To this day I have absolutely not idea why I chose journalism, and not an IT subject. Maybe one day I’ll try to get a job at Computer Weekly, or somewhere?
At the moment I am studying for my MCSA while contracting. I’m studying with Interquad in Slough, Berks, So far I’ve passed my CompTia A+ (both computer hardware and operating system Exams) and Comptia Network+ and I’ve passed 1 Microsoft exam (Implementing and supporting Windows 2000 Professional). I’ve passed all the exams first try, so I must be doing something right!
In brief, then in detail. Feel free to skip "in brief", using that link!
Jan 90 to Aug 90 UCL/Ferrari, Thame. YTS Computer Repairman.
Sep 90 to May 91 Various Agency placings Temporary work.
May 91 to Sept 97 DP Measurement, Chalgrove. Partner/Assistant manager.
Nov 97 to Mar 98 Securicor Omega Express, Oxford. Multi-drop van driver.
Mar 98 to Sept 98 DP Measurement, Chalgrove. New owners consultant.
Sep 98 to Aug99 Oxford College, Oxford Year out for study.
Aug 99 to Nov 99 Oxford Channel TV, Oxford Intern at TV station.
Nov 99 to Dec 00 Agency Placings, Various temporary jobs.
Dec00 to Feb 02 Kingsword LTD, Garsington. IT Consultant
UCL/Ferrari group: A YTS placement. UCL repaired and overhauled civil service and industrial PCs, peripherals and terminals. As well as IBM compatibles I was involved with Fortune, Wise, Apple, Fortis and other systems. I joined UCL after service work experience there during 6th form college. At UCL I learned valuable fault diagnostic skills, and an insight into corporate computer systems. I left because they moved to Milton Keynes... And then vanished.
D.P. Measurement: A small firm, formed, owned and run by my father and I. DPM built scientific instruments on a small-scale production line basis. I learned many useful skills, including soldering and other small-scale engineering techniques and other practical skills. Due to the small nature of the firm I was also involved with everything from stock auditing to taking prime clients out to lunch! I helped design and develop the product range and was heavily involved with "Launch Support" and training. I also frequently visited client’s premises to demonstrate, install and calibrate the products. I was responsible for all of D.P measurements IT resources and activities, as well as having substantial involvement with all other aspects of the firm.
Securicor Omega Express: A parcel delivery firm. The job was intended to keep me in money until the planned return to education the following year. This was never intended to be a permanent position, but I really enjoyed the travelling and meeting people. I considered truck driving as a career but the lack of a visible career structure put me off. I started with SOE as a loader but I was a truck driver and bank courier when I left the firm.
The Oxford Channel: I joined as a journalist and an unpaid intern but I was mainly involved with operational management, running the tape library and other engineering resources. I transformed the resources library from being a pile of tapes and equipment on the floor to an efficient and organised quartermaster system. I also undertook considerable research and was also involved in some production work and graphics production. I am proud of my achievements with regard to getting the production resources organised and convincing the staff to co-operate with and make use of the systems.
Kingsword are accounting solution providers. My duties involved both support of customers IT requirements (both on helpdesk and on site) and support/maintenance of Kingsword’s own IT systems. Kinsgwords sister company, Iridium Oxford, are specialists in internet appliances and anti-virus solutions, and I’ve worked with them on a number of projects centering around network building and maintenance and anti-virus systems. Unfortunately, Kingsword wound down the "PC Systems & Networks" side of the business and I was made redundant in early 2002. Since being made redundant in February, I’ve been fitting in as much contracting work as has been possible around my studies for an MCSA. This is has mainly been helpdesk and direct desktop support.
Agency Placings: At various times during my working like I have been out of work or between jobs. During these times I have worked for many agencies. Duties in the distant past have involved everything from working in computer shops to driving, security and electronic assembly work. All positions since leaving the Oxford Channel have been IT and telecommunications based. From the placing at CRC in Thame repairing and overhauling computer peripherals to a 3-week contract helping install a network in a new university site, I've been involved with most areas of IT. The only exception in this period is that I worked at McAlpine Helicopters (Stocktaking) in Kidlington, It just so happened that several weeks of work at at airfield came up as one IT contract was completed. Being a consumate aviation fan, I could not resist!
I’ve been Contractng since February. This has led to "unpredictable" earnings, but this has allowed me to study for my
MCSA with Interquad in Slough, Milton Keynes and London. In my case the MCSA included Comptia Network+ and A+ (Both Software and Hardware courses).Born: 6th August 1973 Age: 27 In Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Parents Dennis and Christina Helen Freda Burford.
Single, No dependants.
A bit about me.....
Well, It's hard to describe a person in a short space, 28 years of life is hard to boil down to a few paragraphs. My main interests in life are computers and related technologies and aviation. in fact I originally developed an interest in IT to run flight simulator video games. For fun I fly Radio-Controlled model aircraft and play with PC's a lot. Most days I try to make up for sitting in front of a PC all day by visiting the Gym! Moving on to a more personal level I'd say I was intelligent (Member of Mensa) and perhaps as a result of this I find I work a lot better when what I am doing involves a challenge of some sort. I do enjoy helping people and I'm one of those people who pulls over when he sees a stranded motorist and offers a lift, push, quick look, loan of a mobile, shoulder to cry on etc etc etc. This is either interfering, nosing or helping, I'm never sure which. Naturally cheerful is another of my properties, which is very useful when dealing with colleagues and customers. I can work as part of a team, especially when I have my own clearly defined role and area of responsibility that team, but I am also a strong "solo player". What I am hoping to get out employment is some sense of achievement and satisfaction, and enough money to be comfortable. Obviously the more money the better but if I have enough that i'm not actually worried about where the next meal is coming from and I can afford to have a few "toys" (Like a new PC now and then, an elderly motorcycle and a small squadron of model planes!) I'll be happy. But if the opportunity to make a fortune comes along, i'll grab it with both hands and give it 100 percent for as long as it takes.
Contact Details:
1 Whittle Road,
Thame,
Oxon,
OX9 3PF.
TEL: 01844 213217. Mobile: 07968 763059
E-mail. GordonBurford@hotmail.com