About me

Dear Sirs,

My name is Rik, and I am applying for the post of Junior Web Designer for JBi James Blake Web Services, as advertised on the creativepool.co.uk website on 8 Jan 2013. Please see my answers to your listed requirements below.

I'm attaching my CV to this application; I've included a portfolio list of my websites, with links, to the end of the CV.

If you have any questions, I can be contacted by email - , or by landline () or mobile ().

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Rik Roots

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

--------------------------------------------------

I mostly use free software packages - the Gimp, Inkscape (and Blender) - for my personal graphics work; I have some experience with Photoshop. I have used Dreamweaver in the past, though I currently code my websites by hand (using Notepad++).

I code my websites using HTML/HTML5, CSS, Javascript/Ajax (including jQuery and other js libraries), PHP and MySQL. I've gained experience of programming with Java through my Open University courses.

My experience is mainly in the public sector; while many skills are transferrable, I'm aware that coding in a commercial environment will have different priorities and requirements. Fortunately I am a very quick learner.

English is my native language; I also have a Diploma in Creative Writing and have extensive drafting and proofreading experience from my time in the Civil service. I have written and self-published a science fiction novel and several pamphlets of poetry.

Competencies Required

--------------------------------------------------

I am a highly creative person, though I also know how to temper my creativity to meet the needs of a client's brief. When working for the Lyons Inquiry I often had to redesign our website to meet the evolving needs of the Inquiry's work, often at short notice and with minimal resources. Negotiating with Sir Michael Lyons to reconcile his vision for the website to the more practical needs of the Inquiry's varied audiences was a valuable learning experience in managing a client's expectations.

During my time in the Civil Service I successfully worked in a number of different teams, often dealing with heavy workloads and competing priorities. My communication skills - both written and oral - are well developed and I can summarise data and draft copy for a wide range of differing audiences.

Please see my website portfolio to see examples of my work. I am constantly looking for ways to develop and refine my web coding skills.