Sharon Heweston
Footscray,Australia
Summary
Experienced professional with over 35 years in global Customer Service, including roles in Banking, Project Management, and IT Network Administration. Currently engaged in face-to-face customer service as a volunteer, seeking a new challenge in an Inbound Call Centre Customer Service role. Proven adaptability, resilience, and customer-focused attitude underscore my approach. Known for establishing rapport with clients, I am motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and contribute to company success. Specialising in quality, speed, and process optimisation, I bring articulate communication, energetic engagement, and results-driven passion to every interaction.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Assistant
Brotherhood of St Lawrence
01.2021 - 12.2023
- Used consultative sales techniques to understand customer needs and recommend relevant products and services.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
- Assisted customers with prompt and polite support in-person and via telephone.
- Engaged in face-to-face customer service and sales interactions, catering to a diverse customer base with varying backgrounds and preferences.
- Managed stock inventory, ensuring accurate tracking, organisation, and restocking of products to meet customer demand.
- Operated electronic point-of-sale systems efficiently, handling transactions and maintaining accurate sales records.
Artist & Dynamic Freelance Specialist
Freelancer
01.2016 - 01.2021
- Kitchen hand / industrial cleaner / flier distributor / artistic model / painter
- Contributed to creative process through original ideas and inspiration.
Finance Administrator
Acknowledge Education
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Managed the administration of all student fees, including those at both the VCE and University levels.
- Verified accounts payable and receivable for overseas students and Agents, maintaining accuracy in financial transactions for both local and international entities.
- Facilitated day-to-day communication with students and Agents, ensuring clear and effective interactions to address inquiries, provide information, and maintain positive relationships.
General Manager - Operations
Internetone AG
01.2004 - 01.2014
- Established and organised all office operations, overseeing day-to-day activities to ensure smooth functioning.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Managed accounts, overseeing financial transactions, and handled staff management responsibilities.
- Coordinated logistics operations to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
- Acted as a point of contact for customers and creditors, fostering positive relationships and addressing inquiries or concerns.
- Completed comprehensive reporting tasks for financial, sales, stock, and logistics on both ad-hoc and regular intervals, including weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
Other Experience
Various Employers
01.1986 - 01.2004
- Freelance Business Administration Consultant/Artist - Cologne, Germany : I served as a consultant across industries such as fashion and startups, optimising day-to-day operations and establishing robust financial systems. Additionally, I curated and successfully exhibited my artwork, receiving both critical acclaim and commercial success.
- Network Administrator/Trading Software Maintenance - DSL Bank (now Deutsche Postbank AG): In this role, I administered the network for the bank's trading division, implementing crucial modifications to financial software for euro currency conversion and ensuring Y2K compliance.
- Network Administrator - Lee Jeans Head Office, Cologne, Germany (Part of Vanity Fair Corp, USA at that time): Managed network operations for the Head Office staff in Germany, maintaining seamless communication between sub-hub mainframes in Belgium and the USA.
- Freelance Consultant/Traveller/Project Manager - USAID El Salvador: Undertook diverse roles, including freelance consultancy, extensive travel, and project management with USAID in El Salvador.
- Freelance Consultant - Melbourne, Australia: Specialised in trading software for banks.
- Bank of Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia: Commenced as a reconciliation clerk, progressed through management training, and worked across various departments, concluding my tenure as an Assistant Accountant for the back office of 'Statewide Australia Ltd.'
Education
Diploma in Accounting
RMIT
Melbourne, Australia1986
Completed Year 12
Kilbreda College
Melbourne, Australia01.1979
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to succeed in a high-volume customer service environment
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact effectively with various internal and external stakeholders
- Resilient mindset with an open mind to performance feedback
- Customer-focused attitude and ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism
- Problem-solving skills to address unexpected challenges and adapt to changing circumstances
- Demonstrated proficiency in swiftly comprehending diverse business processes and software systems, ensuring seamless and accurate customer support
- Strong work ethic, consistently delivering high-quality service and meeting or exceeding performance KPI targets
- Commitment to upholding the ethos of the business, aligning with company values and goals
Certificates Training
- Working with Children Check (Expires 2027),
- Safety in the Workplace (2016),
- Traffic Management completion (2016),
- White card accreditation for working on building sites (2016),
- National police check, Working with children check
Professional Development:
- Staff Motivation | Delegation | interpreting Body Language,
- Organisation & Optimisation of work place | Priority setting |Time Management,
- Stress management | team building,
- Communication - written, verbal, rhetoric, negotiation, listening for detail,
- IT courses for both Mainframe & Network environment in both software & hardware
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
German
Full Professional
References
- Dimi Jason, Relieving Store Manager, Vinnies, Footscray, 0403 047 222
- Cathy McNicol, Bus. Manager Uniting Op shop, Uniting, Melbourne, 0413 417 731
- Charmaine Cobbett, Stores Manager, BSL, CBD, Melbourne, (03) 9650 3011
- Steve Honey, Freelance Software Consultant, 0475 887 197
- Claire Mcgrath, Producer/Director/Screenwriter, Film and Documentary, 0418 353 361, Melbourne Australia for over 30 years
* A written reference from Internetone AG (in English) my last position in Germany can be provided upon request.
Timeline
Sales Assistant
Brotherhood of St Lawrence
01.2021 - 12.2023
Artist & Dynamic Freelance Specialist
Freelancer
01.2016 - 01.2021
Finance Administrator
Acknowledge Education
01.2015 - 01.2016
General Manager - Operations
Internetone AG
01.2004 - 01.2014
Other Experience
Various Employers
01.1986 - 01.2004
Diploma in Accounting
RMIT
Completed Year 12
Kilbreda College
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