Joe Chester

Experience

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  Hallmark Cards

  Jan 1989 - Jan 2001

  Assorted Roles

  I started in Sales Order Processing of Andrew Brownsword cards, then became supervisor of this section and oversaw the change of ticket processing from a manual to computerised system.Next I developed a method of planning Integrated displays, from a specialised form of planning to one that anybody could perform. In line with this I worked closely with the Computer Department to create what I believe to be the most versatile planning system in the industry.Additional duties included: Training staff, health and safety committee, assisting the I.T. department, intranet site construction and donning the costume of a Forever Friends Bear for publicity events.When Hallmark Cards bought out Andrew Brownsword, my planning department was relocated to Henley. After supervising the move and training of new staff I was made redundant in 1998,However, a few weeks later, the Hallmark IT Manager invited me to join his department.My duties included providing support to PC users, assisting them with both hardware and software issues, managing departmental moves, the telecom systems and installing cabling.Projects taken on included the redistribution of IT equipment from closed sites, transfer of the Gifts division when it moved from Tewkesbury to Bath, implementing the roll out of standardised images across PCs on all sites and handling the transfer of all company mobile phones between network providers.In 2001, Hallmark closed all their Southern sites, leading me to move on to Innogistic. Show less

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  Innogistic Software plc

  Dec 2001 - Nov 2009

  Test / Support / Technical Documentation Author

  Tested new versions of the software, patches and enhancement packs. This involved my designing test plans and test scripts. Testing was logged either on an in-house test database or Bugzlilla.Wrote on-line help files and knowledge articles using ForeHelp, RoboHelp and Microsoft Word.Second and First line support to approximately one thousand local authority users spread over thirty councils of Planning, Building Control, Gazetteer and Searches softwareSupport was via phone, email, remote access and occasional site visits. Support tasks included basic “How tos”, tracking down the cause of a system problem and writing reports and merge datasources using SQL Server’s Transact SQL. Client installation of software and sever moves both remote and on-site. This set various challenges, such as the non-standard nature of one site’s configuration to another, VPN issues of speed or non-connection and writing install instructions for procedures contained only in the head of a developer.Additional to the IT related tasks; I held a First Aid at Work qualification and was a fire warden.In the almost eight years I was with Innogistic I had had zero days off sick.Summary of skills acquired Use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Access, 97, 2000, 2003Support Windows 9x, 2000, XPInstall, and maintain databases on SQL Server 97, 2000 & 2005Write help files in ForeHelp 99 & RoboHelp X5Management of support calls in Access, AchieverV6 and Microsoft Dynamic CRM 4 Management of testing in Access and BugzillaRemote access to clients via WebEx, Remote Desktop, VMRC and customer based titles.Image creation / manipulation in Photoshop 7, Paint Shop Pro 5Installation of Cat 5 cabling Show less

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  Civica

  Dec 2009 - Feb 2019

  Tested software used by companies providing care to clients in their own homes as well as providing additional testing for other titles used in care homes and nurseries.For all projects carried out, clear release notes were written in plain English, along with creating a library of knowledge base articles to ensure consistency in future testing for all other testers in the team.When original company was taken over by Civica, the change of office location led to the job shifting to a home based one for four days a week and one day in the office. Skype for Business ensured easy contact with developers and fellow testers.Second line support.Emergency first aider – including defibrillator training. Show less

  • Software Tester

    Dec 2009 - Feb 2019

  • Tester

    Dec 2009 - Feb 2019
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  Pennon Group Plc

  Apr 2019 - now

  Test Analyst

  Started as a contractor, then on a fixed term contract at Pennon's Viridor division, testing implementation and development of various titles used to keep track of waste collection receptacles, vehicles, drivers, weighbridge operations, recycling, disposal, energy generation, document management, safety maintenance, training & qualifications, time & attendance and Ellipse system integration.After the sale of the Viridor division, I moved to a permanent contract at Pennon's South West Water division in January 2021, working predominantly on testing the Ellipse 6 to Ellipse 9 upgrade, and the multitude of other programs that interface with it. Show less