CV (English)
Presentation
I am half English and half Swedish, and have lived in Britain, Sweden and Belgium – and thus grew up on average somewhere in the North Sea. My interests are many and varied; I play the drums, piano and trumpet, work and play a lot with computers, and enjoy social games like board games and role-playing games. I used to tap dance until there were no more tap shoes my size. (Then I continued anyway. Now I tap dance until people tell me to stop.)
Personally I am reliable, calm and a quick learner; honesty and integrity are particularly important to me. I keep a cool head in stressful situations, which proved useful when my grandmother fell and broke her hip a few years ago, and I handle crises well. I enjoy working within clear structures, and whatever I do I try to do it in the best possible way. I enjoy problem solving, and have a knack for finding unusual solutions – I tend to think "outside the box", even if I can't stand the expression itself...
Professionally I like working within clear hierarchies; I enjoy leadership roles, but I'm also good at knowing when to let someone who knows better lead the way. I've tended to enjoy working in jobs related to security and the military, and so particularly enjoyed working at Jane's, where I had the opportunity to combine those interests with my writing hobby.
I am now looking for work particularly in the security industry, but am also interested in other fields such as sales, journalism, the media and music - see "Job interests" further down for details. Education and tech support jobs are also of interest.
Most recently I spent a year and a bit in South Africa with my in-laws so my wife could give birth to our son near her family. We had hoped to return to Sweden soon after the birth, but by the time all the paperwork had been processed he was a year old. Rather than twiddling my thumbs for a year, I took the opportunity to take a few courses and get some unpaid work experience with my father-in-law's security company to get some more security and leadership experience.
Employment History (Click to expand)
S E Services – Durban, South Africa (Apr-Aug 2010)
Work experience as inspector for security company in South Africa. Responsible for 70+ guards of various cultures at over 20 sites. Developed new procedures and corporate identity materials.
Largs Systems Ltd – Twynholm, UK (2002 - Dec 2010)
IT manager for family-run air safety consultancy business. Responsible for tech support, training (on-site and remotely), purchasing, graphic design, corporate identity and website. Also introduced new communications options that significantly reduced telephone costs.
Bird & Bird – Brussels, Belgium (Aug-Sep 2002)
Work experience as administrative assistant for aviation department at international law firm in Brussels. Assorted office tasks, and developed new archiving system for aviation-related case files.
Jane's Defence Upgrades, Jane's Information Group – Coulsdon, UK (Jul-Aug 2002)
Work experience as staff writer at Jane's Defence Upgrades. Tasks included reporting, proof-reading, fact and source checking and research. Several articles (three under my own by-line) and a number of smaller pieces published during my time there.
F21 Norrbottens Flygflottilj, Swedish Air Force – Luleå, Sweden (Jun-Dec 2001)
Military service as communications and staff NCO ("stabstroppchef"). Trained in command post and communication operations, and trained as platoon leader. Certified during military service as "Skyddsvakt" (armed sentry). Elected vice conscript representative. Researched and presented proposal for alternate armament for primarily non-combat troops.
Education (Click to expand)
Broad primary and secondary education in UK and Sweden.
Ecole Européenne Bruxelles II – Brussels, Belgium (1996-2001)
Secondary education at the European School in Woluwe, with elective modules in English, maths, physics and chemistry.
Participated in many extra-curricular activities, including trips to the USA and Canada, a number of international concerts (including Luxembourg, the UK and Expo 2000 in Germany) with the school jazz band, plus information and security roles for several large (3,000+) school events. Founder and chairman of the school Games Club.
University of Durham – Durham, UK (2002-2003, 2005-2006)
Studied law and sociology at Durham University.
Participated in extra-curricular activities including the university concert band, Creative Writing Society, the Ballroom Dancing Society, and the team organising the Grey College Fireworks Bop.
Languages (Click to expand)
- Swedish (native)
- English (native)
- French (conversational)
- Dutch/Flemish (conversational)
- Latin (basic)
- Understand Afrikaans, Danish, Norwegian and German passably, particularly written.
- General interest in languages, and hope to improve my Zulu in the future.
Certifications (Click to expand)
In progress – (January 2012–)
Recently started courses in Stockholm in Dutch (Stockholm University) and programming in C (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan). Applications to several other courses still pending.
Firearms Qualified – Ihawu/SASSETA, South Africa (December 2011)
SAPS-accredited qualification to carry handguns, shotguns, manually operated and self-loading rifles professionally.
ASP Tactical Baton – ASP, Durban, South Africa(May 2010)
Expanding baton (8 hours)
SIRA Grade E-B – Durban, South Africa (August 2010)
Awarded certificates for SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Authority) grades E-B based on performance while employed by S E Services.
Standard First Aid – British Red Cross, Castle Douglas, UK (March 2010)
First aid (32 hours) including AED (defibrillator).
Computer experience (Click to expand)
20+ years computer experience.
- Microsoft Windows (3.11, NT4, 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7)
- Office software (including MS Office 3.11–2010, OpenOffice, Final Draft)
- DTP (including MS Publisher, Adobe Acrobat)
- Graphics software (including Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop)
- 3D software (including 3D Studio Max, Terragen)
- Sound and video editing (including Audacity, Premiere, Soundforge)
- Remote support software (TeamViewer)
- Web design software (Notepad, Expression Web, Dreamviewer, Frontpage, FTP Voyager)
- Blogging software (including WordPress, Livejournal, Twitter)
- Web design experience (HTML 4.01, CSS 2)
- Some interest in and experience of hardware and network administration.
- Design experience (Logos, cards, business cards, posters, ties, and other corporate identity and publicity materials.)
- Touch typing
Driving licence (Click to expand)
Full EU (Swedish) Category B (issued 2005). Have own car in the UK.
Games experience (Click to expand)
Experience relevant for work in the games industry:
- Role-Playing Games
Have played various RPGs since around 1990, particularly:
- Mutant (1989)
- Star Wars RPG (West End Games and Wizards of the Coast)
- World of Darkness (Both WoD1 and WoD2, particularly Vampire, Hunter and Mage)
- Deathwatch (some Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader)
- Computer Games
Keen (but not terribly good) computer gamer, with particular interest in:
- Strategy Games (Dawn of War, Command & Conquer, Red Alert, Civilization, SimCity)
- Role-Playing Games (Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars KOTOR)
- Story-Driven Games (Mafia, Broken Sword, Lost Horizon)
- Driving Games (Need For Speed, Trackmania)
- Tactical Shooters (SWAT 3/4, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon)
- Mechanics and Languages (Bookworm Adventures, Crazy Machines)
- Games Workshop
I started playing Warhammer 40K when I was twelve, and after painting a Space Marine with Humbrol enamels I was hooked. I've done a fair bit of collecting since then, but have sadly had little opportunity to play during the last few years.
- Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition onwards (Space Marines, Tau, Imperial Guard)
- Warhammer Fantasy 7th Edition onwards (Empire)
- Other GW games: Lord of the Rings, Necromunda, Inquisitor (plus Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch)
Job interests (Click to expand)
I am primarily looking for work in the following fields, but am happy to look at other prospects as well. Where training is required I of course prefer to learn on the job, but for the right job I could seek training myself (budget permitting) if necessary.
- Safety & Security
- Guarding ("Väktare/Ordningsvakt/Skyddsvakt") (Particularly interested in vehicle patrolling with scope for advancement.)
- Security analysis & consultancy (Particularly analysis, planning and implementation of event and site security.)
- Airport security
- Shop security
- Reception
- Emergency operator
- Emergency or on-call guard
- Journalism
- Journalist/Reporter (Particularly interested in film, music, technology, computers and computer gaming, as well as military and police issues. Sample work can be provided.)
- Photographer (Keen amateur photographer, but no professional-quality equipment. Sample work can be provided.)
- Layout (Sample work can be provided.)
- Research/Source checking
- Proofreader
- Columnist (Sample work can be provided.)
- Media
- Sales & Marketing
- Shop staff (No professional experience, but volunteer sales experience from various events. Particular interest in consumer technology.)
- Sales (Anything but cold calling.)
- Graphic design/Layout (Experience of marketing and publicity for events and conventions. Sample work can be provided.)
- Advertising/Marketing (Creative, with plenty of lateral thinking and ideas from odd directions. Sample work can be provided.)
- IT
- IT support (Experience of telephone, remote and on-site support.)
- Training (Experience of training people with varying competence levels on hardware and software.)
- Sales (Great interest in computers, software, games and consumer technology.)
- Hobby & Games
- Shop assistant (Role-playing games, wargames, board games, computer games plus accessories. Experience of demonstrating games.)
- Role-Playing Games / Wargames - Development (Considerable interest in games development, with experience of layout, writing and illustration.)
- Role-Playing Games / Wargames - Marketing
- Role-Playing Games / Wargames - Support/Community Relations
- Computer games - Development (Experience of story, 2D/3D design and voice work. Particular interest in story and game world development.)
- Computer games - Marketing
- Computer games - Support/Community Relations
- Languages & Writing
- Translator (Experienced in translating between English and Swedish, and from Dutch and French to English or Swedish. Sample work can be provided.)
- Author (Experience of both fiction and non-fiction, particularly interested in writing teleplays, novels and short stories. Blogging and column-writing experience. Sample work can be provided.)
- Language teacher (Some experience of language tuition, particularly English.)
References (Click to expand)
References and CRB extract ("registerutdrag") available on request. Contact me by email or phone for details.
