Life at Work

This blog reflects on life at work at comments on the latest news that shapes my 9-5 working day in a Corporate Communications consultancy.

About Me

I am a born and bred South African who has always loved to read and write. As a child my mother used to read to me and my siblings, from classics like the “Lord of the Rings” but later also from her own stories. She would write children’s stories and then use us as her test audience, but I loved to hear what she had written long after my siblings had tired of it. So I grew up in an environment of reading and writing, which inspired my love of these things. I hope to write a great book some day, and have learnt first hand the determination and will that it takes. My love of English inspired me to continue my study of it at university. I majored in Law and English in a BA degree at UCT where I found that I took to English much more than law. I enjoyed learning about South Africa’s history and the development of our liberal Constitution, which increasingly made me committed to the hope this country has for the future. Ideally, I’d like to find myself in a job where I am able to write; that allows a good mix of time spent with people and being able to work on my own.

Thursday, 03 May 2007

My online resume

SUSAN ARTHUR

CAREER OBJECTIVE

I am interested in a position that involves reading, writing and editing, as well as dealing with people.


PERSONAL PROFILE

I am an English postgraduate with well- developed written and oral communication skills. I have experience in writing and editing work in a media and literary environment as well as in the academic world.


EDUCATION

2006-April 2007: MA in English at University of Witwatersrand (Wits)

2005: Honours in English at UCT

2002-2004: BA with Majors in English and Law at University of Cape Town (UCT)

2001: Matriculated from St Anne’s Diocesan College with an A aggregate (IEB exams). Distinctions in English and History


WORK EXPERIENCE

August-December 2006 Hope Home and School
Job Description: Researched and wrote brochure. Selected photographs for brochure

Skills acquired: Honed ability to write clear, simple and conscise prose
Practical skills- acquiring the information needed to produce a brochure


September- December 2006 Special Projects, Caxton Publishing
Job Description: Journalist Intern- researched and wrote articles for publication using internet and personal interviews. Selected photogrpahs for publication

Skills acquired: Practical organisational skills- helped arrange social function
Administration and people skills


August 2006- Creative Communication
Job Description: Assistant editor for manuscript of a novel

Skills acquired: Developing capacity to pay meticulous attention to detail
Effective communication of ideas
Fine- tuning writing skills


Feb-November 2005 University of Cape Town Libraries
Job Description: Student library assistant- helping library users at desk after hours

Skills acquired: Assisted students at the library desk with queries
Customer service skills
Communication and problem solving skills
Computer skills


December 2004 By Word of Mouth Catering Company
Job description: Waitress


OTHER SKILLS

Writing and editing skills
Ability to communicate effectively with others
Empathy and listening skills
Ability to read and process large quantities of information as well as skim-read
General computer skills
Own transport and valid drivers licence


References available on request
Posted by at
Labels:

2 comments:

Thomas Michael Blaser said...

Your resume reads well. I think you can perhaps blow your own horn a bit more. When you worked for Caxton, you were a writer, an editor, a journalist? I think you could go bigger on what you did!

05 May 2007 at 14:57
Susan Arthur said...

Thanks Thomas, my CV is a work in progress so I appreciate the feedback

05 May 2007 at 23:35

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)