Karen Hawkins
Torquay,Devon
Summary
A seasoned professional with extensive expertise in tenancy management and financial management competence, demonstrating a strong customer-first approach and local market awareness. Proficient in budgeting, organisational expertise, and professional networking, ensuring efficient property maintenance and adherence to building safety regulations. Adept at navigating uncertainty with a comprehensive understanding of tenancy laws, fire safety regulations, and cost estimating. Committed to enhancing property value through strategic advertising and time-efficient solutions while maintaining high standards of building inspection and maintenance knowledge.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work history
Landlady
Myself
Torquay, Torbay
06.2016 - Current
- Kept detailed records of rental payments, facilitating accurate financial management.
- Handled administrative tasks efficiently, leading to smooth day-to-day operations.
- Coordinated daily breakfast service for enhanced guest experience.
- Introduced innovative room decor ideas, elevating overall ambiance of the bed and breakfast.
- Ensured adherence to health regulations during meal preparation, maintaining food hygiene standards at all times.
- Adapted quickly to unexpected situations like last-minute cancellations or early check-ins, ensuring minimal disruption in operations.
- Procured fresh local produce to provide quality meals for guests.
- Managed financial records accurately, aiding transparent business transactions and budget planning.
- Delivered high standards of customer service with prompt response to queries.
- Improved guest satisfaction by maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.
- Managed bookings, ensuring seamless reservation procedure for all guests.
- Executed regular maintenance checks to ensure safety and comfort of guests.
- Adjusted room arrangements according to individual guest requirements for personalised experiences.
- Prepared and served continental breakfasts to guests, meeting strict dietary requirements as needed.
- Prepared rooms for new guests through [Task], ensuring impeccable cleanliness and quality standards.
- Replenished room amenities, including toiletries, welcome packages and tea and coffee facilities.
- Handled guest check-in procedures with warmth and professionalism, offering advice on facilities and local attractions.
- Handled customer complaints calmly and professionally to maintain hotel reputation.
Taxi driver
Price first Taxis
Torquay, Torbay
07.2024 - 09.2025
- Conducted financial transactions for fare collection efficiently, ensuring accuracy.
- Used knowledge of local area to suggest tourist spots or restaurants to passengers.
- Documented daily logs detailing work hours, fares collected and distance travelled.
- Transported passengers to desired destinations, resulting in satisfied customers.
- Ensured timely arrivals for client appointments by utilising advanced navigational skills.
- Achieved smooth rides by driving carefully and defensively at all times.
- Handled high pressure situations during peak hours, maintaining excellent service standards.
- Assisted with luggage handling, enhancing the customer experience.
- Facilitated easy payment options including cashless transactions for customer convenience.
- Managed difficult driving conditions during inclement weather to ensure passenger safety.
- Communicated effectively with dispatchers about pick-up locations or potential delays.
- Provided support for elderly or disabled passengers, ensuring a comfortable journey.
- Possessed up-to-date knowledge of current road diversions or construction works ensuring efficient journeys.
- Followed procedures for handling lost items left behind by passengers.
- Maintained safety by adhering to road regulations and traffic laws.
- Enhanced passenger comfort by maintaining clean and orderly vehicle interiors.
- Improved customer satisfaction with friendly, professional demeanour and prompt service.
- Kept vehicle in top condition through regular maintenance checks, prolonging its lifespan.
- Followed safe driving practices for safety of fellow travellers and passengers.
- Maintained clean, well-functioning vehicle through regular attention and care.
- Cleaned vehicle's interior and exterior to meet high presentation standards.
- Supported physically challenged customers to enter and disembark vehicle safely.
- Communicated clearly with dispatch centre about route changes and customer issues.
- Assisted passengers with managing and securing personal belongings.
- Inspected vehicle and maintained road worthiness, carrying out periodic checks and requesting repairs.
- Accepted and organised work requests using company app.
Painter and decorator
Myself own business
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
01.1995 - 06.2016
- Selected appropriate materials for each job, maximising quality of finished work.
- Maintained clean workspace to ensure safety and efficiency in task completion.
- Prepared cost estimates for clients based on material needs and labour hours.
- Adhered strictly to health and safety regulations throughout all tasks undertaken.
- Met tight deadlines, ensuring minimal disruption to clients' daily routines.
- Operated power tools efficiently, enabling precise cuts and alignments.
- Applied primer coats effectively to ensure vibrant final colour pay-off.
- Prepped surfaces for painting to ensure smooth application and lasting results.
- Repaired walls before painting, resulting in a flawless finish.
- Secured protective coverings over furniture and fixtures, preventing damage during work process.
- Achieved client satisfaction by delivering high-quality painting and decorating services.
- Executed wall papering jobs neatly for polished final appearance.
- Completed exterior paintwork tasks with attention to detail for long-lasting results.
- Carried out painting and decorating work on large properties to exceptional standards.
- Levelled surfaces by filling holes and cracks.
- Refreshed walls, doors and trims with strict attention to detail.
- Applied varied types of paints, stain products and decorative finishes to all types of surfaces.
- Primed surfaces, laid down dust sheets and prepared materials.
- Stripped old wallpaper and old paint.
- Completed thorough snagging and finishing.
- Maintained painting tools through regular cleaning, care and maintenance for optimum performance and reliability.
- Climbed scaffolding, staging, ladders and planks to reach work area surfaces and observed safety protocols to prevent falls.
Education
T
Skills
- Tenancy management
- Budgeting proficiency
- Organisational expertise
- Customer-First approach
- Local market awareness
- Financial management competence
- Building safety regulations
- Property maintenance knowledge
- Comfort with uncertainty
- Basic plumbing understanding
- Basic electrical understanding
- Building inspection
- Knowledge of tenancy laws
- Professional networking
- Fire safety regulations
- Cost estimating
- Advertising
- Building maintenance knowledge
- Time efficiency
Timeline
Taxi driver
Price first Taxis
07.2024 - 09.2025
Landlady
Myself
06.2016 - Current
Painter and decorator
Myself own business
01.1995 - 06.2016
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