magpie for hire!

“After spending an illuminating first two years of my working realm at the account handling helm of direct marketing in London, I decided it was time to broaden my vista and life’s experiences. My year long around the world adventure began on October 8th 1999, and I hope to return from my travels inspired, wiser, and lighter, if not a little older, to embrace the new millenium with a fresh outlook on my future.”
john kerswell

Work experience pre-packed:

Work experience pre-packed:
Financial Times- Energy; July 1999- September 1999
Freelancing at the Financial Times as a copywriter and marketing executive, i performed the tasks of several agency personnel rolled into one! I wrote the sales leaflets and catalogues for management reports in the energy sector, selected the 15,000 people who would be mailed in each campaign and managed the data processing, list buying and production.

Evans Hunt Scott; January 1999- July 1999
(Agency clients include: BMW, Tesco, Vodafone British Gas, Microsoft and Proctor and Gamble)

I freelanced at EHS, one of the UK’s leading Direct marketing agencies, for six months on the Tesco supermarket account. I worked on both the ‘Tesco Personal Finance’ and several major commercial mailings for Tesco Clubcard, utilising data from the 14 million strong Clubcard database.

Barraclough Hall Woolston Gray : Sept 1997- January 1999
(Agency clients include: Volkswagen, British Telecom, Pepsi Co
Mars confectionery, PC World, The British Red Cross and Unilever)

My first job after graduation was at BHWG, in the role of Account executive. During my sixteen months there, I worked on the Prudential Home Insurance account and the Birds Eye Wall’s and Van den Bergh foods accounts as part of the pioneering Unilever ‘Jigsaw Consortium’.

Past agency responsibilities have included:

Managing all Prudential Home Insurance national press and insert activity- schedules,test matrixes, liaising with media buyers and Prudential's call centre, briefing artwork and coding of ads and developing new creative executions.

Co-ordinating the monthly doordrop of 3 million leaflets to households nationally to generate leads.

Campaign analysis - Compiling and updating details of coupon redemptions for Birds Eye Wall’s and constantly updating the business case which i developed.

Financial management including cost estimating, client billing and ensuring the account meets it's monthly forecasts.

Client contact: Producing weekly Client status reports, writing contact reports, drafting timing schedules, ensuring deadlines are met from inception to production and keeping the Client smiling and content at every stage.

Print and production: Managing traffic teams, proofing artwork, writing lettershop briefs, and ensuring the best production value and service is obtained for the client.

Creative: Developing creative briefs, briefing teams on new work, ensuring concepts and copy are ‘on brief’, presenting work to the client, writing photographic briefs and liaising with art buyers to ensure shoots run smoothly and on budget. I have also undertaken occasional copywriting in the case of emergencies or when the need arose.

How did I get here?

I was offered my first job at BHWG as a result of winning third prize in the Institute of Direct Marketing's national UK student competition, which the agency sponsored. My team won the contest on the strength of our creative ideas. I subsequently joined the Agency as a graduate in conjunction with the IDM's GAP scheme. This involved studying for the IDM diploma in direct marketing, while working full time at BHWG, which was demanding, but rewarding.

Supplementary training:

During the scheme I went on a number of placements to different businesses within the direct marketing industry. These included printers, mailing and fulfilment houses, list brokers and suppliers, a data processing and enhancing bureau, a telephone call centre, the Royal Mail’s main sorting depot, the Radio Advertising Bureau Capital Radio, The Daily Telegraph and ITV’s headquarters. These enabled me to experience first hand how the industry interlocks, while gaining a better understanding of the requirements of each and how relations can be improved.

Other employment:

Summer 1996: Riverside Theme Park, Massachusetts, USA
A summer job as a ‘nostalgic photographer’ in the merchandising team, giving me a chance to experience the saccharin joys of Americana, while dressed as a cowboy. I had to serve a wide cross section of enchanting and infuriating people of all nationalities, and even when they were drunk or ill mannered, remain calm in the overwhelming humidity. I made a myriad of new friends, and won the parks customer service award. By Labor day I had enough dollars to leap into an exhaustive, yet inspiring, three week dash around the nation.

Summer 1995: Norglaze windows, Norwich
For three months the fearful job of ‘double glazing salesman’ was mine, as suited and smiled up, I wore down shoe leather and doorbell batteries in rural Norfolk. The most dangerous encounter being with a farm ‘guard goose’ sporting a rather evil hiss and an unhealthy attraction to my left leg.

Work experience post-packed?….

When I return I am poised to pursue a more creative angle of the business world, possibly in new media or in copywriting. Whichever path I choose, I need a position that requires lateral thinking and the generation of ideas to sustain my enthusiasm.

Education:

 1998: Gained the IDM diploma in Direct marketing
 1997: Achieved a 2:1 degree in marketing and psychology from De Montfort University Leicester
 1994: A levels in Geography, Economics and Design, grades: A,B,C.
 1992: 9 GCSE’s. 4A’s, 3B’s, 2C’s.

I am computer literate and at ease with using Windows 97, Microsoft Word, Excel, DDS, e-mail, Internet applications and Powerpoint. I have recently taught myself basic HTML programming and have begun developing my own personal website. This can be found at: http://www.members.tripod.com/john_kerswell/star.html

Where can you find me?:

After September 15th try:

18 Vawdrey road
Drayton
Norwich
Norfolk
NR8 6EL
UK
Tel:
+44 (0) 1603 260 434

email: j_kerswell@hotmail.com


A Calling Voice “After spending an illuminating first two years of my working realm at the account handling helm of direct marketing in London, I decided it was time to broaden my vista and life’s experiences. My year long around the world adventure began on October 8th 1999, and I hope to return from my travels inspired, wiser, and lighter, if not a little older, to embrace the new millenium with a fresh outlook on my future.” john kerswell Work experience pre-packed: Work experience pre-packed: Financial Times- Energy; July 1999- September 1999 Freelancing at the Financial Times as a copywriter and marketing executive, i performed the tasks of several agency personnel rolled into one! I wrote the sales leaflets and catalogues for management reports in the energy sector, selected the 15,000 people who would be mailed in each campaign and managed the data processing, list buying and production. Evans Hunt Scott; January 1999- July 1999 (Agency clients include: BMW, Tesco, Vodafone British Gas, Microsoft and Proctor and Gamble) I freelanced at EHS, one of the UK’s leading Direct marketing agencies, for six months on the Tesco supermarket account. I worked on both the ‘Tesco Personal Finance’ and several major commercial mailings for Tesco Clubcard, utilising data from the 14 million strong Clubcard database. Barraclough Hall Woolston Gray : Sept 1997- January 1999 (Agency clients include: Volkswagen, British Telecom, Pepsi Co Mars confectionery, PC World, The British Red Cross and Unilever) My first job after graduation was at BHWG, in the role of Account executive. During my sixteen months there, I worked on the Prudential Home Insurance account and the Birds Eye Wall’s and Van den Bergh foods accounts as part of the pioneering Unilever ‘Jigsaw Consortium’. Past agency responsibilities have included: Managing all Prudential Home Insurance national press and insert activity- schedules,test matrixes, liaising with media buyers and Prudential's call centre, briefing artwork and coding of ads and developing new creative executions. Co-ordinating the monthly doordrop of 3 million leaflets to households nationally to generate leads. Campaign analysis - Compiling and updating details of coupon redemptions for Birds Eye Wall’s and constantly updating the business case which i developed. Financial management including cost estimating, client billing and ensuring the account meets it's monthly forecasts. Client contact: Producing weekly Client status reports, writing contact reports, drafting timing schedules, ensuring deadlines are met from inception to production and keeping the Client smiling and content at every stage. Print and production: Managing traffic teams, proofing artwork, writing lettershop briefs, and ensuring the best production value and service is obtained for the client. Creative: Developing creative briefs, briefing teams on new work, ensuring concepts and copy are ‘on brief’, presenting work to the client, writing photographic briefs and liaising with art buyers to ensure shoots run smoothly and on budget. I have also undertaken occasional copywriting in the case of emergencies or when the need arose. How did I get here? I was offered my first job at BHWG as a result of winning third prize in the Institute of Direct Marketing's national UK student competition, which the agency sponsored. My team won the contest on the strength of our creative ideas. I subsequently joined the Agency as a graduate in conjunction with the IDM's GAP scheme. This involved studying for the IDM diploma in direct marketing, while working full time at BHWG, which was demanding, but rewarding. Supplementary training: During the scheme I went on a number of placements to different businesses within the direct marketing industry. These included printers, mailing and fulfilment houses, list brokers and suppliers, a data processing and enhancing bureau, a telephone call centre, the Royal Mail’s main sorting depot, the Radio Advertising Bureau Capital Radio, The Daily Telegraph and ITV’s headquarters. These enabled me to experience first hand how the industry interlocks, while gaining a better understanding of the requirements of each and how relations can be improved. Other employment: Summer 1996: Riverside Theme Park, Massachusetts, USA A summer job as a ‘nostalgic photographer’ in the merchandising team, giving me a chance to experience the saccharin joys of Americana, while dressed as a cowboy. I had to serve a wide cross section of enchanting and infuriating people of all nationalities, and even when they were drunk or ill mannered, remain calm in the overwhelming humidity. I made a myriad of new friends, and won the parks customer service award. By Labor day I had enough dollars to leap into an exhaustive, yet inspiring, three week dash around the nation. Summer 1995: Norglaze windows, Norwich For three months the fearful job of ‘double glazing salesman’ was mine, as suited and smiled up, I wore down shoe leather and doorbell batteries in rural Norfolk. The most dangerous encounter being with a farm ‘guard goose’ sporting a rather evil hiss and an unhealthy attraction to my left leg. Work experience post-packed?…. When I return I am poised to pursue a more creative angle of the business world, possibly in new media or in copywriting. Whichever path I choose, I need a position that requires lateral thinking and the generation of ideas to sustain my enthusiasm. Education:  1998: Gained the IDM diploma in Direct marketing  1997: Achieved a 2:1 degree in marketing and psychology from De Montfort University Leicester  1994: A levels in Geography, Economics and Design, grades: A,B,C.  1992: 9 GCSE’s. 4A’s, 3B’s, 2C’s. I am computer literate and at ease with using Windows 97, Microsoft Word, Excel, DDS, e-mail, Internet applications and Powerpoint. I have recently taught myself basic HTML programming and have begun developing my own personal website. This can be found at: http://www.members.tripod.com/john_kerswell/star.html Where can you find me?: After September 15th try: 18 Vawdrey road Drayton Norwich Norfolk NR8 6EL UK Tel: +44 (0) 1603 260 434 email: j_kerswell@hotmail.com