| Address: | Clapham, London |
| E-mail: | enquiries@simongibbs.co.uk |
| Date of Birth: | 13/05/80 |
| Nationality: | British |
Skills and Goals
I am a developer with a broad range of skills on multiple development platforms and all architectural tiers. I am seeking to specialise in the user interface and business logic tiers and involve myself in high quality .NET projects. Non-technically I am interested in gaining exposure to structured iterative processes (TDD, Agile, XP) an area of long-standing interest.
| Skills Group | Experience (years) |
|---|---|
| C#, Visual Studio .NET, Java, Eclipse, C++ | 2.5 |
| ADO.NET, ADO, DAO, JDBC | 3 |
| ASP.NET, ASP (IIS), JSP, Servlets (Tomcat), platform administration | 2.5 |
| XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, RDF/XML, raw HTML hand coding | 8 |
| T-SQL (inc. stored procs.), PL/SQL, ETL / DTS, optimisation, MySQL, Access | 2 |
| XML, DOM API, XPath, XSLT, optimisation of XPath & XSLT | 1 |
| jUnit, Cactus, ANT, Design Patterns | 1 |
Commercial Experience
Front End C# Developer, NOP World Automotive
Dec. 2004 - Aug. 2005
Joined the team at the post-live (maintenance) phase of the project. The project had delivered a generic data processing platform to support questionnaire based research projects. I was responsible for the enhancement and troubleshooting of the existing ASP.NET information delivery system in C# utilising Web Services, ADO.NET and XSLT with some use of my T-SQL Stored Procedures including my own.
I designed and developed an XML based scripting solution offering data handling and transformation services to the web front end. This was developed as a component in C# packaged as a DLL and made extensive use of polymorphism. This also involved some exposure to MDX (OLAP) and SQL T-SQL programming while migrating and reports to this framework.
A revised front end is now capable of delivering template based sites to multiple clients from a single code base with extreme flexibility. This was achieved using a bespoke XML format for configuration files with XSLT at the server side. I was also responsible for updating the look and feel elements of the application for new and existing clients .
ASP.NET/C# Developer, Virgin Mobile, London
Sep. 2004 - Nov. 2004
Development of sales forecasting and demand planning functions on behalf of a distributed cross functional team, and in support of internal financial controls. The project was delivered in C# and ASP.NET. Javascript / DHTML was used to support a look and feel consistent with the Excel model it replaced. Business layer objects were used extensively to simplify the interaction between the pages and the database.
Acted as sole developer and was therefore also responsible for database architecture and development of all Stored Procedures in T-SQL. I also advised project management on physical deployment including detailed issues around VPN access. Data feeds based on PL/SQL and DTS supplemented user input in order to enable analysis of forecast vs actual sales, and warehouse stock levels.
Reporting Processes Developer, Virgin Mobile Telecommunications Ltd
Nov. 2002 to Sep. 2004
Technical and analytical support including a broad variety of primarily ad hoc data processing, and reporting tasks. I was also responsible for day to day maintenance of SQL Server and IIS instances at the departmental level.
Project work for Virgin Mobile included:
- Design and Implementation of a web based reports menu and distribution system integrated with the NT Domain server for identity management. The application was delivered in Java using JSP and Servlets on an Oracle back end database of my design. Development was test driven using JUnit and Cactus.
- The bulk preparation of XHTML statements for third parties using SQL Server, and XSLT from a Java command line application. I later ported this to C# for packaging into an MDI interface with other .NET functions for the same user group.
- An ASP.NET intranet application to browse Strategix General Ledger tables (Strategix is an accounts/ERP package). Queries were dynamically constructed by a C# object and run as a single pass against the read-only proprietary schema.
- "Real-time" call data processing and typing system in support of operational fraud detection activities and revenue assurance functions. This integrated data feeds from the network provider with CRM and SIM provisioning data from the Singleview billing platform along with meta-data for typing and labeling call and SMS data.
The technologies used on the fraud project were DTS, PL/SQL, T-SQL.
HTML Jockey, Worcestershire NHS Trust
21st October to 1st November 2002
Responsible for transferring content from a bespoke Intranet to the new PUNCH based Intranet.
Part time IT Trainer, Gloucester College of Art and Technology
April 2001 to September 2001
Taught Paint Shop Pro, Digital Camera “try out” sessions and basic mouse and keyboard skills to elderly clients. Successfully taught several elderly clients up to a point where they had the confidence to work and learn independently.
Developer and partner, Small Home-Office Software Business
March 2001 to September 2001
Designed and implemented systems for an international equestrian venue including office systems in MS Access and web content management systems in ASP. Implemented an email content distribution system (Swing, Http, JavaMail). Offered web hosting, bespoke PCs and PC components. A Digital Delboy Trotter.
Web Developer, VSI - Thinking
July 2000 to March 2001
Classic ASP applications were developed maintained and customised for new clients. I liaised with graphic designers internally and externally on visual templates and other media resources in order to ensure the best possible results from the technology within budget.
Freelance Web Developer
April 1998 to April 2000
Webs Wonder / Welsh European Funding Office. Raw HTML coding and graphical styling in multiple languages to tight compatibility and accessibility guidelines. Javascript/DHTML consultancy. After an initial spell with the firm I was called upon to handle batches of work as the need arose.
Active Web Sites / Manchester Browser. Initially supporting a single regional business directory and later launching into other urban centres. The back end consisted of an MS Access database with an ASP (classic) front end. The front end template was designed by Active Web Sites and brought to life by use of MS Access and ASP.
Higher Education
University of Glamorgan: BSc Multimedia Computing – 2.1
A challenging course in computing involving systems design, usability evaluation, networking and business strategy. The final year project was chosen as a medium through which to acquire JSP and Java Servlets as it included a prototype web based collaborative application to allow work flow and document management.
Level 3 Grades
| Hypermedia Information Systems | A3 |
| Electronic Commerce: Systems and Strategy | A3 |
| Wide Area Networks | B1 |
| Interactive Multimedia | B2 |
| Human-Computer Interaction | B3 |
| Computer Based Learning | C1 |
| Double Module Software Project | C1, C1 |
| Distributed Computer Systems | D1 |
| Local Area Networks | D2 |
Level 2 Grades
| Programming Paradigms | A2 |
| Computer Communications and Networks | A2 |
| Object Orientated Software Development | A3 |
| Visual Programming | A3 |
| Operating Systems | A3 |
| The Internet & World Wide Web | B1 |
| Multimedia Authoring and Design | B2 |
| Advanced Data Structures | B2 |
| Application Development Tools | B3 |
| Project Management and Professional Issues | B3 |
Level 1 Grades
| Computer Programming | A2 |
| Introduction to Information Systems Engineering | A2 |
| Computer Systems Concepts and Architecture | A3 |
| Data Management and SQL | A3 |
| Mathematics for Computing | A3 |
| Personal Skills for Business | A3 |
| Introduction to Information Systems | B2 |
| Introduction to Multimedia Concepts and Applications | D1 |
Further Education
NVQ IT, GCSE Level Equivalent
July 1998 to September 1998
Undertook a short apprenticeship program in order gain credit for existing IT skills at the time. The course dealt with professional issues, health and security, and computing aptitudes.
Advanced GNVQ Leisure and Tourism, A Level Equivalent – Distinction
September 1996 to July 1998
A general program on the Leisure and Tourism industries intended to develop theoretical understanding of commercial, political, marketing, personnel issues and administrative practices. The course also included a range of practical modules including sports psychology, coaching, customer services planning, and event management.
I qualified with Distinction earning credit equivalent to between 2 and 3 good A level grades.
Secondary Education
Prince's Trust Volunteers
September 1991 to June 1996
Involved working on community and social projects with a focus on the care of disabled children. The program developed team working and social skills.
Lampeter Comprehensive, GCSEs
September 1991 to June 1996
| GCSE Science: Double Award | A* |
| GCSE Science: Double Award | A* |
| GCSE English Literature | A |
| GCSE French | A |
| GCSE Mathematics | A |
| GCSE History | A |
| GCSE Design and Technology (product design emphasis) |
B |
| GCSE Art and Design | C |
| GCSE English Language | B (B) |
| GCSE Welsh Second Language | D |
Interests
Clubbing, Creative Writing (blogging), Martial Arts including Shotokan Karate, Hill Walking, cooking and reading.
Open Source Contributions
Scoof, a Java tool for detecting plagiarism in C/C++ and Java source trees. http://scoof.sourceforge.net/.
Non Academic Test Scores
I've used Brainbench, initially at the request of an employer, to evaluate my own skills and also to monitor my progress in key areas. The upside is that employers can gain an idea of how good I am at specific things. You can view my transcript (3807480) on the Brainbench site.
I have a Myers-Briggs profile of ENTP (Google, Perdue [PDF]).