About me

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing this letter to express my highest interest in finding an appropriate job. I would be glad to offer you my best skills and long-time professional experience.

I am an experienced manager of prepress studio with an excellent knowledge of the printing industry with all of its processes and stages, especially the prepress and its close connection to publishing.

I was the manager of a prepress studio counting approx. 20 people at one of the biggest printing houses in Slovakia for 8 years. My duties included organising and scheduling of customers' jobs in close coordination with the production and sales department. I am highly skilled at operating and administrating of widely used and also specialized graphic arts software (Adobe package, Quark) and hardware (Prinergy, Brisque stations). The terms like PDF, PS, basic parameters of the file to be printed, DPI, colour spaces, colour calibration, spectrophotometric colour measurements, densities, CMYK, RGB, colour conversions, colour curves, conventional and FM (stochastic) screens, LPI, dot gain, CTP, imposition, colour proofing, printing standards are just few simple examples of my extensive printing vocabulary. My professional qualification helped me to keep the prepress department, as one of the crucial parts of job production process, running smoothly. Communication with foreign and domestic customers and suppliers, solving different production issues, managing and supporting my staff - all of these activities were an inseparable part of my daily routine.

In a very short time after my arrival in London I successfully applied for a job at one of the world's biggest publishers - Penguin UK. A project based, time limited job has increased my understanding of the publishing industry. My work at the production department which is closely connected to printing has given me an insight into the other side of a "barricade".

I am offering excellent professional skills gained during my university studies multiplied by several years of work experience. My interchangeable skills include responsibility, precision, efficiency, flexibility, enthusiasm and loyalty. I am quick to understand, teachable and open to any new information expanding my professional competences.

Not long ago I added a new entry to my web design qualification. I have successfully finished the course on "PHP and mySQL programming". Having successfully finished my ESOL Level 1 Literacy course recently, I proved my constant interest in the English language, which I consider to be a very important tool in my next career.

I am applying for the full-time position of prepress technician or operator, graphic or web designer, any prepress position in printing, publishing or at photo or digital printing centre. I hope my CV and references help you to find a new prospective employee who will contribute to the expansion of your business.

At the present time I am complementing my professional skills and knowledge as a Sushi bar employee. I am available for interview at any time and would be happy to prove my capabilities during the trial period of your choice. Thank you.

Yours sincerely

Viktor Potancok

Skills

- excellent knowledge and extensive experience in printing and graphic art technology - overall knowledge of all book and various printed products production stages - printing and finishing (book binding, varnishing, laminating, die cutting, blocking), - specialized in the area of prepress, administration of the professional prepress software and hardware (Kodak Prinergy, Brisque, PC and MacIntosh computers), - literate in both PC and Mac, - expert on graphic and layout software:, Adobe Acrobat Pro + Enfocus PitStop, Adobe Distiller, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, Adobe Page Maker, Quark Xpress, Corel Draw, Corel PhotoPaint, - PDF and PS press ready data problems solving experience, - experience with the Colour Management - measuring, calibration and application of colour profiles for different equipment (presses, printers, monitors, scanners), certified proof systems and measuring devices handling: Kodak Iris, GMG Proof + Epson printer system, GretagMacBeth SpectroEye and EyeOne spectrophotometres, - hardware maintenance - computers, printers, network and storage devices, - storage, backup and archive systems and devices administration (Danz Retrospect, tape storage devices), - familiarity with lithographic CTP and conventional plates making - Kodak Trendsetter platesetters and developers, Kodak, Fuji, Agfa plates exposition and developing equipment and chemistry, plates quality inspection through plates measurements (GretagMacBeth ICPlate, CCDot measurement devices), - screens, exposition and tone reproduction curves adjustments, - deep understanding of lithographic printing problems (Heidelberg printing presses), - data preparation for UV printing and varnishing on plastic and lenticular foils using Heidelberg lithographic presses, - knowledge of publishing environment - production side - communication between the printer and publisher, - expert office software user:, Microsoft Office Suite, Lotus Notes, specialized Information System Software (Baan, DISO), - web page design in Adobe Dreamweaver, dynamic pages programming in PHP language with mySQL database (references: www.ewitchlondontherapy.co.uk/new).

Sector Experience

March 2008 - present,, Chef,, YO! Sushi, St Pancras International Station, - I am open to any new experience what is now expressed by my devotion to Japanese cuisine and excellent customer service, Aug 2007 - Dec 2007,, Temporary Technical Prepress Manager,, Penguin Group UK, 80 Strand, London, WC2 0RL,, UK (Publisher), - fixed term (3 months) project based role in production department targeted to improve the relationship between the company and their suppliers (printers), - communication with external printers and colleagues in house, - organising of training for employees to increase their knowledge of the printing industry and prepress and press standards, - technical assistance for production controllers and production editors, - production support and help regarding the graphic software, hardware and on-press problems, 1999 - Aug 2007,, Manager of Prepress Studio,, Printing House Tlačiarne BB, Banská Bystrica,, Slovak Republic, company profile:, lithographic printing and finishing of books, brochures, calendars, diaries, vignettes, magazines, leaflets, posters and other printed products, my duties:, - managing the prepress studio team counting approx. 20 people, preparing customers' data for production with emphasis on quality and reliability, - jobs methods planning, scheduling and processing, often under the short-term conditions, - communication with the customers regarding the jobs specifications and supplied data, - communication and close cooperation with the production and sales departments, - dealing with all kinds of administrative and production problems, - technical equipment maintenance, - keeping the hardware and software up to date - presenting suggestions for software and hardware upgrades for improvement of the department efficiency to the top management, - taking care of constant staff education and efficiency boost, - keeping myself informed about the newest and most up to date technologies and trends - reading professional magazines, searching the internet, visiting exhibitions, Sept. 1996 - 1999,, Methods Engineer,, Printing House Tlačiarne BB, Banská Bystrica,, Slovak Republic, - preparation of technological details for job production according to the technical specifications with emphasis on material and production time saving, - calculations, monitoring and ordering of materials needed for jobs production, - ordering and managing of cooperations with external suppliers, - communication with customers regarding the technical specifications of jobs, - communication with the production and sales departmentssolving problems before and during the jobs production

Awards

September 2010 - April 2011,, Haringey Adult Learning Services, London, N22 6XD, UK, ESOL Literacy course finished with Level 1 Certificate in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, July 2009 - Aug. 2009,, Bickenhall College of Computing , London, W1U 6UE, UK, Course on “PHP programming with mySQL database” finished with certificate, Sept. 1991 - June 1996,, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology - Department of Graphic Arts Technology and Applied Photochemistry (Katedra polygrafie a aplikovanej fotochemie), MEng study finished with the State Examination and diploma thesis defence - comparable to British Bachelor Honours Degree (see attached NARIC report), Sept. 1987 - June 1991, College for Graphic Arts Technology (Stredne odborne uciliste polygraficke), Bratislava, Slovakia, Ended with State School Leaving Exam