Experience

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  Axa

  Jan 2006 - Feb 2008

  Customer services assistant

  Customer Services Representative at Axa insurance. Taking inbound calls, selling and amending travel insurance policies. Also performing screening (setting up additional cover) for customers medical conditions. This involved administrative duties including editing customers policies, composing letters specific to individual customers and making sure they were printed and sent, utilizing office equipment such as fax machines and email programs. In this job it was essential to be an accurate and fast typer, we would have to listen to what the customer was saying and at the same time inputting that data onto the policy, so the abilities to listen carefully, input accurately and multi-task were essential. During my time at Axa I won various incentives for high conversion, and was consistently one of the top converters in the department. Show less

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  Coventry building society

  Oct 2009 - Mar 2011

  Customer savings advisor

  My first role here was as a customer service representative and included opening new accounts over the phone, performing various types of banking transfers and answering detailed queries about the range of accounts – having the knowledge and training needed to go through a wide range of options and offer one specific to a customers needs. Here it was important to work well with other departments – for example working closely with the processing department to ensure written account applications are carried out successfully.After 11 months of working at The Coventry I was promoted to the role of a “viewpoint advisor” or a “savings specialist”. In this role I spoke to customers who were looking to invest 50 thousand pounds or above for a period or 5 years or more. My role was to have a chat with a customer about their plans for their funds, what it is that they’re after with what degree of risk, and recommend an account accordingly. This involves speaking in depth about their “investment portfolio” or their funds elsewhere and the purpose of those funds. My department works with Aviva who deal with longer-term investment options and so I work very closely with a Financial Advisor to whom we refer customers where appropriate to discuss products dealing with Equity, commercial property investments and FTSE trackers.I was responsible for managing my own work and diary to ensure the service advisors are able to book appointments in. In this role I volunteered to sit with the new starters on the phone and help them sell the benefits of our “viewpoint service” I often sat with them and listened to calls, I had also written scripts to help people who were unsure of what to say with regards to our service and was also involved with the design and implementing of incentives that ran across the centre to encourage service advisors on the phone to promote the service, often involving prizes in the form of holiday time or money. Show less

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  Msc mediterranean shipping co. s.a.

  Mar 2011 - Sept 2011

  Import clerk

  This was a maternity cover role, working in the “VIP” team within the imports department.The VIP team (and my role within it) was to look after the customers who imported a large quantity of containers into the UK. As a service advisor assigned to my group of 3-4 customers I was responsible for arranging delivery of the cargo from the port of discharge to its final destination, I also arranged the paperwork for the customs clearance of EU cargo and acted as a first point of contact for any questions my customers had. Due to the nature of the customers (being mass importers) this was a very sensitive role where great customer service and accuracy was paramount. I learnt a lot about shipping and customs clearance during my time here which has helped me appreciate the work that goes on behind the scenes just to get a tin of beans onto the shelves of a local shop! Show less

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  Orient star group

  Feb 2014 - Jun 2014

  Operations intern

  Immersed in a Chinese speaking environment, using vocabulary learned to observe and assist the operations manager. Experience using Chinese to communicate in fields of logistics, sales, meeting clients, attending sales meetings as well as some ad hoc translating. In this role I was able to attend meetings with Orient Star’s key clients, gaining experience in negotiation and supplier relations.

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  Travis perkins

  Oct 2015 - Jan 2016

  Commercial graduate

  Working as assistant to the head buyer for the kitchen department. In my time here I arranged, prepared for and attended supplier negotiations. I used Excel to track the price of commodities and exchange rates in order to supply my manager with a strong argument when negotiating the 2016 trade agreements. I had exposure to the tendering process and using Excel to compare the offerings of different suppliers. I also took ownership of a project to improve the process of integrating QA sign off and product code generation when launching a new product, this involved interaction with many different departments and stakeholders. Show less

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  British embassy, beijing

  Apr 2016 - Aug 2016

  Entry clearance officer (summer relief)

  Acting as a decision maker on UK visa applications.

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  Multrees law

  Oct 2016 - now

  Legal associate

  Working as part of a team providing regulated immigration advice and services on a variety of UK visa categories.

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  Uk goods and services

  Oct 2017 - now

  Founding director

  Growing and selling Western brands in China