Looking for a job in New YorkWhat type of job are you looking for? I am looking for a job preferably in customer sales and servicing role. I have many years experience in this area and I am a university graduate. What languages do you speak (and at what level)? My nationality is Great British therefore I speak English. What State are you looking to work in and why? I would like to work in New York. I hope to go out here for a minimum of 3 years. I would like to live in a large city that offers the opportunity for growth both personally & on a career level. I have gone as far as I can go in the current job position therefore I have decided to make a change and move out of the uk. What field do you currently work in? Currently I am an Insurance Broker working for the largest and most prestigious car dealers in Northern Ireland. I have worked for this company for 2 1/2 years and I am their top insurance sales executive. I bring in the most new business and retain the most renewal business in the team. What fields have you worked in before? I have worked in the hospitality industry and I have an exceptional knowledge of this industry. I have worked in the travel industry for Stena Line, a Swedish ferry company. I have worked for a Financial Institution, HBOS, which was Halifax Bank of Scotland, now incorporating Lloyds and I currently work in Insurance as a Broker. What qualifications do you hold? I hold a Bachelor of Honours in Politics and Cultural and Media Studies. I hold 2 A Levels in History, Politics and Religios Knowledge and I hold 9 G.C.S.E's in History, Georgraphy, English & English Literature, Computer Studies, Mathematics, Religious Knowledge, Science and French. I hold RSA Keyboarding Stages 1& 2.I have an NVQ Level 2 in Food & Drink Service.I have my Basic Food & Hygiene Certificate.I hold a Basic Sea Survival Certificate and Certificate in mentoring scheme training. Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? I consider my formal edcuation to have helped me grow academically but I consider the skills and experience I have learned in each job role to be invaluable. I can think both work hand in hand because I can talk to people on every level. If I were to choose one I would say that my skills and experience have helped me build a foundation for the personal I am today in the workplace. Describe the benefits of working with others I would consider myself to be an excellent team player. Working with others means sharing knowledge with one another in the attempt to become a better employee. I on a daily basis share sucessful selling techniques in order to help our team meet daily targets. I listen to others when they too share their successful and unsuccessful techniques because its essentail to listen to others ideas as well as our own. Describe the benefits of working alone On the other hand I consider myself to work well alone as well as in a team. I am extremely motivated and driven and one of the benefits of working alone means that you are not distracted by others. When in group situations I tend to stand out and take command. I do like input from others but I also like to take control of the situation and make sure everything runs smoothly, and in an organised fashion. What was your worst working experience? My worst working experience was doing a job placement for a solicitors office in Belfast Northern Ireland. I was thinking of going into this profession once I graduated from university so I went on work placement for 4 weeks. It opened my eyes in the fact that I had very different expectations of this job role. I found out very quickly that this was not a glamerous job and I spent most of my work experience filing papers as opposed to sitting in the court room listening to cases. Not opposed to hard work but I found this very mundane. I like to be challenged in the workplace, this work experience didnt live up to my expectations. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? I have learned that you don't get anywhere by working away and being quiet. I am very vocal and voice my opinions daily. I find that my manager asks me advice because he knows i will speak the truth. I have become more forceful in my approach to things because people do not listen to someone if they cannot put across a convincing argument. Most importantly I have learned that in a situation where clients are acting irrationally that I can take an approach that is calming for them, no one knows whats happening in someones life that day. I have learned that essentially being nice to someone gets you the best outcome. What unique skills do you have? I am extremely well organised. I am highly motivated and I can motivate others. I work well in competitive environments and am target driven. I have great communication skills and often people open up to me, im approachable and very personable. I am trustworthy and I enjoy working as a team excelling when given the opportunity as team leader. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? My dream job would be one that offers job progression. I like to learn something new and I love a challenge. I tend to work well under pressure. I would essentially like to work in a team environement, one that is target driven. Essentially I am looking for a career that offers me progression and growth as a person. One where I can keep climbing the ladder. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? I love bringing new clients to the company. I enjoy building rapport wiht clients, i enjoy providing information most of all i love closing a deal. I enjoy speaking to clients and making reccomendations for them and i like it when I can take a customer who is generally unhappy about something and turn it around. I enjoy the challenge of my everyday job.I enjoy when a customer has found a cheaper deal elsewhere and I have to try and keep the business. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? I can safely say that i love my job and the people i work with. I love getting up in the morning and going to work but if you ask me what i find to be the interesting aspect of my field it would have to be the fact that i know that i have gone as far as i can in my role. I have been there for 2 1/2 years now and its slightly dishearting to know that if i spend another 5 years here i will be doing the same thing wihtout any progression. How can potential employers contact you? Please contact me by email clarelflanagan@hotmail.com Or phone 00447737104718 Or Post 18 Mount Pleasant Road, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, BT37 0NQ Thanks | 
