Nicholas Shiell's Curriculum Vitae
Nicholas Shiell
D.O.B. 15th September 1983
nicholas@nshiell.com
Having worked on several web projects I am keen to apply my knowledge to new web 2.0 projects concentrating on design and development.
- XHTML/CSS
- MySQL
- XSLT
- JavaScript
- Symfony Framework
- PHP
- Linux CLI
- jQuery
- SVN
Work Experience
Digivate 2.0 Jan 2008 - Present
- Create complex ecommerce websites for department stores, mail order companies and other online retailers
- Create web 2.0 backend applications to administrate websites
- Manage CMS code base
- Add new functionality to existing site
- Support existing sites
- Suggest new technologies for core system and utilities
- Informal Linux configuration
- Database administration
- Work in a team to develop a new core system for future websites with the Symfony MVC framework and jQuery
- Supported legacy system for existing websites
- Websites that I have worked with: -
Skills gained:
Understanding of use of the Model-view-controller software pattern Subversion to manage development Secure Shell (SSH) to control multiple servers jQuery to develop dynamic standards compliant interfaces Use of an Object-Relational-Mapper (ORM) for database communication Use of package managers for Unix-type software installation Use of XSLT for transforming output from the Solr search server into valid XHTML Using “Mod Rewrite” to create map between browser URIs and PHP code PHP5 Object Orientated Programming techniques
JLGB July 2007 - Dec 2007
- Create a social networking site based on online message forum software allowing users to create profiles, add each other as friends and upload and tag photos.
- Give staff the functionality to upload PDFs to a database with a caption so the public can download them using PHP, MySQL, XHTMl, JavaScript and AJAX (JSON).
- Create simple a WYSIWYG editor for staff at a youth organisation to put information about overseas events for children's parents to see with photos and a map.
- General website maintenance and troubleshooting.
Skills gained:
Take design ideas and client mock-ups and alter a third party database to suit clients' needs Implement functionality using the “design mode” feature of web browsers to add WYSIWYG functionality AJAX with secure file upload systems Keep compatibility with other developers' code
Freelance Feb 2007
- Created an online questionnaire to gather teachers' views about conducting different types of science experiments in schools.
- Due to the many redrafts for the question set and possible answers the project needed to separate the questions from the page layout.
Skills gained:
Produce a finished product under a short timescale Report data from a MySQL database in Microsoft Excel format using PHPFreelance Aug 2006 - Sept 2006
- Created an extension to a website using XHTML, PHP, JavaScript, CSS and SQL for a charity called AJEX.
- Created a MySQL database to allow people to search, display and then print historical records from archives.
Skills gained:
Use MySQL with PHP to access and display information.Freelance July 2006 - Aug 2006
- Produced graphics for a vinyl-printing machine to be used for shop signs and vehicle identification in Essex.
Skills gained:
Used CorelDraw to produce designs based on very simple design briefs.Freelance March 2006 - Dec 2007
- Created a touch screen display for a museum exhibit in AJEX using a database that I had redeveloped.
- The interface was coded using XHTML, JavaScript, PHP and Adobe Flash (for the onscreen keyboard).
- Administrate the system and add other features and update the code when necessary.
- Lease with representatives from a museum in Israel on the phone to update their copy of our system remotely.
- Create and set up onsite an automatic version of the touch-screen software for a display at a national conference.
Skills gained:
Use PHP for complex database projects, Demonstrate finished article. Help clients understand the options of what is available.NetecGC Jan 2006 - March 2006
- Worked for an IT support company in west London as an IT consultant
- Supported workstations, laptops and Windows mobile phones
- I went into companies to arrange replacement of faulty hardware and configure software
- Documented many companies IT hardware and software.
Skills gained:
Gained understanding of how small companies operate, how corporate LANs are laid out and make full advantage of remote access e.g. remote desktop, how speak to clients on the phone.Freelance Jan 2005 - March 2005
- Redesign of www.ajex.org.uk (since redesigned by another developer), remove unwanted pages
Skills gained:
I learned webpage design consistency, simplifying lots of messy information into a simple site structure.AJEX March 2003 - Dec 2006
- I worked as part of a team that inputted data relating to army officers into a database.
Skills gained:
The ability to work with non-Computer literate users, particularly in terms of specifying and designing data queriesJ Sainsbury Nov 2002 - Dec 2002
- Worked on checkouts during Christmas period.
Skills gained:
Ability to work with customers under pressure and to assist customers with queriesSkybridge March 2002 - April 2002: Work Experience
- Working in the Web Design team as an assistant Web Designer.
Skills gained:
Methods of understanding and documenting End-User's requirements and translate these into a corporate standard designJuly 2000 - Aug 2000: Admin assistant
- I performed a number of Admin tasks such as Data Entry, filing and general admin work.
Skills gained:
Good methodical work practices, understanding and dealing with other people's priorities.July 1999 - Aug 1999: Work Experience
- I did work experience doing general support in the Network and Systems department.
Skills gained:
Understanding of “real-life” networking architectures; Ability to work in a team; Ability to work with and understand non-technical users' needs, requirements and priorities.- EducationEpping Forest College Sept 2001 - Aug 2003
- BTEC National Diploma in Computing
Units Completed: -- Development Systems Analysis & Design Software Applications Network Design & Administration
- Computational Methods Programming Concepts Website Development Data Analysis & Design
- Introduction to Software Development Programming Practice Low Level Programming Business Information Systems
- Communications Technology
- Project Language & Communications Application Software
- Achievements
- Developed a live database for the Builders department at Epping Forest College to record student's grades on a building course.
- King Solomon Hight School Aug 2001 AS Level: ICT
- GCSEs (A - C):
- Art Science: Double Award (x2)
- Mathematics Electronics