Jessica Bentley
Dudley,West Midlands
Summary
I am a driven and personable individual with exceptional communication skills and ability to engage and educate diverse audiences. I possess strong presentation skills combined with talent for building rapport and understanding customer needs. I welcome opportunities that help me to deliver positive customer experiences and would like to find a career that helps me harness my creative thinking and genuine love of entertaining and informing the public.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Historic Character
Black Country Living Museum
Dudley, West Midlands
08.2022 - Current
- Took part in numerous public programmes representing local historical figures to engage the public and bring to light lesser-known parts of regional history.
- Demonstrated how people lived and worked in the past, enhancing public understanding of significant local history ranging from the Victorian and Edwardian period to the 1960s.
- Guided school groups around the museum to engage students' interest in history.
- Conducted research to validate historical events and figures and further my understanding of characters I was chosen to portray.
- Collaborated with programming team to deliver improvised scenes and stories to the public for themed events.
Imaginator
Hartbeeps
, West Midlands
11.2018 - Current
- Worked independently to deliver multi-sensory stories to children through music, puppets, lights and props.
- Liaise with venues to organise classes in numerous locations.
- learn scripts and songs to immerse children into themes ranging from fairy tales to creative role play.
- Communicate with team members to make sure everyone has the right props and scripts each week.
Reception Manager/PA
RAB capital
London
08.2008 - 01.2016
- Promoted to manager after a year.
- Managed a small team to ensure meetings ran smoothly.
- Diary management for several hedge fund managers and financial director.
- Inputted bank reconciliations and expenses using Excel and Xero.
- Assisted in event planning activities, delivering successful events on premises.
- Utilised software systems effectively to manage telephone calls.
- Built warm rapport with visitors and clients through friendly yet professional interaction.
- Ordered stock for building facilities, including refreshments and consumables.
- Resolved IT and technical issues during conferences and special events.
- Managed invoicing and payments for contractors, vendors and suppliers.
- Managed complex diaries, ensuring seamless executive schedules.
- Coordinated travel arrangements, resulting in smooth business trips.
Manager
Pied a Terre
Birmingham
09.2007 - 08.2008
- Managed a franchise of ladies shoe shop Pied a Terre within Selfridges in the Bull Ring, Birmingham.
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth workflow.
- Handled administrative tasks related to payroll, invoices, and reports.
- Coordinated staff schedules for efficient store functioning.
- Fostered a positive shopping environment by maintaining high standards of customer service.
- Assisted customers with shoe selection, resulting in high satisfaction rates.
- Ensured shop cleanliness and organisation to provide an appealing shopping experience.
- Monitored inventory levels for timely restocking of popular shoe styles.
- Handled customer complaints and returns, ensuring satisfactory resolution.
- Maintained visual merchandising standards to attract customers into the store.
Holiday Representative
Olympic Holidays
Greece
06.2006 - 08.2007
- Enhanced guest satisfaction by providing excellent customer service.
- Solved guest complaints for improved holiday experience.
- Improved company image with professional and friendly demeanour.
- Conducted resort tours to familiarise guests with facilities.
- Ensured safe and enjoyable excursions for guest satisfaction.
- Provided informative orientation briefings to enhance guest knowledge of the area.
- Handled administrative tasks, streamlined daily operations.
- Facilitated communication between guests and hotel staff for seamless service.
- Orchestrated special events to boost guest engagement.
- Handled customer queries efficiently, fostered a positive relationship between the company and clients.
- Prioritised guest safety by verifying hotel safety standards and completing risk assessments.
- Maintained in-depth knowledge of resort and local area through participation in product and destination training.
- Maximised guest enjoyment by encouraging socialising and involving new arrivals in activities.
- Handled client issues such as lost luggage and health problems.
- Enabled smooth running of excursions, liaising with local facilities and transport providers to ensure schedule adherence.
- Used destination knowledge to enhance customer trips with local recommendations.
Kitchen Manager
The New Inn
Coseley, Dudley
06.1999 - 05.2003
- Collaborated with front-of-house team to ensure smooth service during peak hours.
- Conducted regular inventory checks for more accurate stock control.
- Trained new hires on kitchen procedures, ensuring seamless integration into the team.
- Developed a superb rapport with staff to encourage better teamwork and productivity.
- Coordinated with suppliers for timely ingredient deliveries, avoiding shortages or interruptions in service.
- Managed daily kitchen operations efficiently whilst maintaining high quality standards.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English and Media & Cultural Studies
University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton 09.2002 - 07.2005
Higher National Diploma - Community Theatre
Dudley College of Technology
Dudley 09.1997 - 09.1999
Skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Computer literate
- Creative thinker
- Good organisational skills
- Capable of working independently and within a team
- Empathetic listener
- Eager to learn
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Historic Character
Black Country Living Museum
08.2022 - Current
Imaginator
Hartbeeps
11.2018 - Current
Reception Manager/PA
RAB capital
08.2008 - 01.2016
Manager
Pied a Terre
09.2007 - 08.2008
Holiday Representative
Olympic Holidays
06.2006 - 08.2007
Bachelor of Arts - English and Media & Cultural Studies
University of Wolverhampton
09.2002 - 07.2005
Kitchen Manager
The New Inn
06.1999 - 05.2003
Higher National Diploma - Community Theatre
Dudley College of Technology
09.1997 - 09.1999
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