We started off with a welcome meeting which went extremely well. Luckily I knew a few people who had also agreed to work for him, but the other I didn’t know seemed friendly and helpful. This was a good standard networking activity which I think will be a key attribute in my future as a journalist, and I think I did really well to interact with people I had just met. This is one of the most important things I have taken from this experience because it will directly affect me in my career.

Once we had exchanged contact details, we were put into smaller groups where we were asked to team up to complete tasks. I was paired up with Cormac Kelly on the interview team, which suited me because I already knew him quite well. Together, we were giving our first task, which was to organise, set up and execute an interview with the founder of the company, Jason Kurmoo. Unfortunately, we didn’t complete this task in time due to a number of reasons; the first being a lack of communication between Cormac and myself. When we were told to organise the interview, this meant that we had to write up a recce, treatment, filming permit forms and a script. Cormac wrote out the treatment without informing me, which did annoy me because it was a job for us both to do. However, once I had spoke to him, he agreed that he would communicate better with me and arrange times where we could do the work together. I think this was partly my own fault too because I tend to stutter a bit while trying to get into the work, so I don’t really blame him that much for just getting on with it. This has taught me in future to keep liaising with the people I work with to check the progress of the task.

Another reason why the interview failed to work was a lack of communication with the client, which I think is very unprofessional. On the day of filming, the film crew told Cormac only two hours before, so he only text me at the last minute. Due to this lack of communication between the team and the lack of planning in advance, I was unable to attend due to my commitments with work. This proved to be a waste of time anyway because they had also forgot to ask Jason in advance too, and unfortunately he too was unable to attend due to a meeting in Milton Keynes. It proved to be a complete waste of a day, where we could have been doing other work. To be honest, I am grateful that we have all learnt this hard lesson now with Jason rather than with someone might not be as understanding or as lenient.

I was also given the task of analysing data retrieved by another member of the team. Natalie was asked to hand out a questionnaire written by Jason to media students around Campus. This was meant to be finished by the end of March so I had a month to complete the final results. This was extremely important for the business if not the most, because it would determine whether the whole idea was going to work and how much Jason should charge his clients. It was potentially vital research. I was extremely disappointed with the lack of communication with Natalie and her lack of time keeping. She didn’t get the results handed to me until the May 5^th, which was the date I had to hand in my own coursework. Although this effected what I could write about for my own portfolio, I was more concerned that Jason has already set a date for his company to go online, yet he hasn’t had the opportunity to see this vital information. I did have several unofficial conversations with him about this, but luckily my experience is going to continue and I will hopefully have this done within the next two weeks. Again, although it was Natalie’s fault for not getting the work done, I think that I could of done more by maybe having an official meeting with Jason, as I would in a real life office situation. I understand that in a real business I have to do what is best for my own results rather than worry about others. So in one sense, I have gained some valuable experience from this situation.

Despite the lack of communication I felt that we were close as a team. We all got on really well, but this could also be part of the downfall. ‘Don’t mix business with pleasure’ comes to mind when I think of this experience, and it has taught me to just get on with the job and keep a professional attitude, despite who I am working with.

On a positive note, I surprised myself how easy I found it to motivate myself when I am on my own. With University work, I tend to struggle to get in the mood to work, but when under pressure to work for a real company I just took the reins and got on with it. The only time I struggled was when I had to work with other people. I have noticed that my communication skills need a dramatic improvement if I am going to survive in the media industry, but I am happy that I have had the opportunity to make these mistakes now and learn from them.

Tim March, Cormac Kelly, Jason Kurmoo, Natalie Morley, Nic Urmston, Katie Jones and Lauren Wilkins.

I would like to think that should they need help with anything in particular that I may be good at, they will not hesitate to contact me for help. In the same respect, if I ever need someone who is good with a camera, I know that Tim would be more than happy to help, as will Nic with research.

It has also come to my attention that like Jason, Tim is setting up his own business too, so I will email him to see if he needs any help with that.

The first thing I brought up at the meeting is that Natalie had still not given me the questionnaire results, which could potentially make me look bad for not doing one of my biggest jobs. Jason understood the situation and was happy to give me another week to complete it as I will continue to work for him after the module has finished today. Luckily Natalie brought in the results today for me to look at, and, at a quick glance I was able to see exactly what I have to do over the next few days. I am a little disappointed that I can’t write what I have done with the results on here because of the knock-on effect others have caused, but I am still part of Jason’s team and this information s very important to the final part of setting up his website.

Jason told us he is hoping to have the payments made and the website fully functional by August this year.

He was extremely happy with the work I have put in over the past few months with the interview, the photography and the research. However, he is a little bit disappointed with the group as a whole that we didn’t complete the interview in time. This was purely down to a lack in communication between everybody.

Firstly, despite me writing up the script, treatment and recce, I was only told that the filming of Jason was going to commence 2 hours before it was supposed to, and I couldn’t attend because I had work. Secondly, the interview didn’t go ahead anyway because they had forgot to tell the client (Jason) himself, and he was away at a meeting in Milton Keynes. This, I believe was very unprofessional on all of our behalf. On a positive note, it is a valuable lesson learnt and I’m sure everybody involved with the filming will be writing the same.

From this experience I have gained a lot. One of which is the ability to approach people appropriately, which will help me in the future as a journalist. I have also learnt to keep my time well by not leaving things to the last minute. Both of these are key attributes which I will need within the industry and are clearly something I needed to work on.

I have also become aware that I need more practice at working in a team. I think my communication skills could improve more, and I could possibly push harder for things that I want other people to do for me in order for me to complete my tasks. I think I did work well on my own (I’d go as far as saying I work best on my own) because I got the work done, I knew what I needed to do and I just did it and got on with it without having to rely on other people. However, I understand that this is not always going to be the case in the real working world, hence why I am adamant that I will work harder to work as a team in the future.

Ryan Beasley CV

Personal Details

• Full Name: Ryan Edward Beasley             
• Date of birth: 7^th November 1989
• Address: 36 Hermitage Road, Wyken, Coventry, CV2 5GG
• Contact Number: 07731 722 155
• Marital Status: Single
• Full UK Driving License
• Non Smoker

Education

Coventry University                                      2009 – Present

• Currently studying a three year BA Hons degree in Journalism and Media.
• Successfully passed a module in Supporting Fundraising.
• Passed a module in Media Projects, where I created an advert for Coventry University’s new Students Union building.

City College Coventry                                               2007 – 2009

• DMM – BTEC National Diploma in Media Moving Image                 
• PASS – Level 3 Key Skills Communication                                             

Caludon Castle Comprehensive School       2001 – 2007

• C    -  AS Level  Moving Image                                                                               
• D    -  AS Level Media                                                                                
• A* -  GCSE Drama                                                                                      
• A   -  GCSE History                                                                                     
• A   -  GCSE English Language                                                                 
• B   -  GCSE English Literature                                                                
• B   -  GCSE Maths                                                                                      
• B   -  GCSE Biology                                                                                     
• B   -  GCSE Statistics                                                                               
• Merit (equivalent to 4 Bs)   -  GNVQ BTEC Business Studies 

Work Experience

Crew Members Direct, Team Member + Research                   2010 – Present

• Working closely with the founder to set up the website
• Research potential customers

The Painted Lady Pub – The Sizzling Co, Kitchen Manager     2010 – Present

• Took charge of the kitchen, working on my own to provide food for customers
• Passed health and safety refresher training
• In charge of food deliveries and stock checks
• Also worked as a Barman

The Walsgrave Pub and Carvery, Barman/Waiter                   2006 – 2010

• Fully trained in bar, cellar and till including PDQ
• Gained 100% on both food hygiene and health and safety tests
• Took charge of gas, food and beer deliveries, including stock rotating
• Interacted with customers by dealing with small complaints and issues
• Also worked in the Kitchen for backup purposes

CVS DJ Superstore, Shop Assistant and DJ                                2006 – Present

• Assisted customers with all enquiries, including sales and hire agreements
• Took charge of promotions, marketing and online sales
• Supervised two Junior Staff Members
• Installations of fixtures and fittings with all DJ and electrical equipment across Coventry
• Have been a DJ and operated the lighting in many clubs and bars across the UK including: Barracuda Bar in Macclesfield,  Xtra in Kettering and The Kasbah in Coventry

Wyken Working Men’s Club, Glass Collector               2006

• Became barman for private functions
• Working as a team and individually to manage three separate rooms

Cash Converters, Sales Assistant                                                2005

• Assisting customers with enquiries and in-store sales
• Set up loop alarms on all electrical equipment and appliances
• Stock checking and rotating

Other Achievements and Interests

• Became Kung Fu Junior British Champion aged 9
• Gained fourth place in the W.U.M.A World Martial Arts Championship aged 10
• Gained several Awards for effort throughout secondary education
• Gained Awards for attendance and service to the school aged 15 for mentoring younger students, helping them with English, Maths and general personal problems
• Represented the school for Football, Cross Country and Triple Jump
• Was one of only 50 students across the country to have a parliamentary debate about lowering the voting age in the House of Commons at the age of 14
• Captained the North Midlands Junior County Bowls team aged 17
• Currently playing Sunday League Football at a good standard
• Also playing Saturday league football at a high standard
• Competing in the Monday night pool league
• Completed an 18 mile run from Birmingham NEC to Coombe Abbey for comic relief aged 17
• Took part in the Walsgrave Pub’s ‘Think Pink’ fun day raising £7500 for Breast Cancer research aged 19
• DJ at Yates’ Bar, Puerto Rico aged 18
• Made a promotional DVD for YMCA England which was screened and sold nationwide aged 19
• Ran the Paris Marathon on the 10^th April 2011 for Children with Leukaemia raising nearly £1000
• Currently the Sub-Editor of the sports section for the Coventry Univeristy Newspaper, The Source

Overall I would say that I am a hard working, self motivated individual who can adapt from working in a team to working on my own, which is emphasised through my exceptional history of punctuality. However, I am a firm believer in teamwork and agree that a job shouldn’t be done, unless it’s done properly. I am also a very proud person as I take pride in all of my work, regardless of the size of the job.

References Available upon request

Today Cormac had wrote the first draft of the script and sent it to me to proof read it (using my my skills as the the new sub-editor at the Source). I read through it and changed a few minor things before forwarding it to Jason. I haven’t heard back from him yet, but he was happy with the progress of the first draft so I am confident it should be alright.

Another problem I have encountered is the fact that I am waiting for someone else to complete their work in order for me to complete mine. Natalie was meant to have the questionnaire results ready for me nearly a month ago, which is a little bit frustrating because nobody is pushing her for it and it is causing a knock-on effect for my work. I have tried to deal with this by sending her an email over the Facebook group, so hopefully she will deliver them soon.

As it is coming towards the end of my official experience for the module, I am starting to realise that I can manage my time well. However, I understand that I can be lazy and I just need to find a way to motivate myself a little more. I also think I need to work harder at working as a team. I think if i took responsibility for chasing Natalie for the work it might motivate her too.

In the meeting, Jason asked me and Cormac how the interview had been coming along. He didn’t actually give us a time limit on this, so we hadn’t done anything other than get some media students to agree help us with filming. He was happy that we had done that, but urged us to get a recce, treatment and proposal done during the Easter break. This should work out alright for me and Cormac because we are both staying in Coventry and we have obviously just handed all of our other modules in, which will give us ample time to complete it.

I also offered volunteered to do another job for Jason. One of Natalie’s jobs was to hand out questionnaires. These are a top priority for Jason because it will determine if people are interested in his business, and much they are willing to pay. My job was to collect all the information and put them into graphs, analysing the potential customers and their needs. He said he would also like this to be completed by the end of the Easter break.

After this meeting, I am content that I am now being given enough work. It did take a little bit of persistence, but it is started to pay off. I believe this is an attribute I am learning, and I will need in the media industry.

PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF.

In order for us to use these pictures, I had to get Jason to send me some forms through which the students would have to sign. Unfortunately Jason was busy with his radio show at the time and was unavailable to answer his phone, so I had to use my initiative and make up my own forms using a template I got from some of my Media  Student friends.

I spent the best part of the day writing out these forms, printing them off and taking pictures, but I was really pleased with the work I had done. I feel like I have proven to myself that I can work efficiently on my own when I put the effort in, which, in this instance, has become rewarding.

While speaking to Jason on the phone telling him what I had done, he told me how impressed he was, and emphasised the importance of the forms. He said if I hadn’t used my initiative to make my own forms and didn’t hand anything out, he could not use the pictures on his website, and my whole days work would have gone to waste.

I also told Jason that i felt like I wasn’t doing enough work, and he responded in a positive manner. He told me that we would be having another meeting soon so he could give me more jobs, which I pleased with.

Overall I am pleased with the progress I am making with this experience. It is difficult with the nature of the work, because I am juggling between this and other modules. However, this experience is proving to me that I can manage my time well, and, after today, it has given me more confidence approaching people. This is something I am going to need and will use throughout my potential career as a journalist.

I intend to bring my camera to university with me every day, just in case the opportunity arises for me to take some photos.

I also received an email last week from Desmond Cutchey, CUSU Communications regarding jobs available for ‘The Source’ newspaper. I applied for the Sub Editor role of the sports section. He later replied to my application asking me to come in for an interview. Again, I realised that I haven’t been given enough work, so I was hoping to use this as experience too.

Personal Details

• Full Name: Ryan Edward Beasley             
• Date of birth: 7^th November 1989
• Address: 36 Hermitage Road, Wyken, Coventry, CV2 5GG
• Contact Number: 07731 722 155
• Marital Status: Single
• Full UK Driving License
• Non Smoker

Education

Coventry University                                      2009 – Present

• Currently studying a three year BA Hons degree in Journalism and Media.
• Successfully passed a module in Supporting Fundraising.

City College Coventry                                               2007 – 2009

• BTEC National Diploma in Media Moving Image                  DMM
• Level 3 Key Skills Communication                                              PASS

Caludon Castle Comprehensive School       2001 – 2007

• AS Level  Moving Image                                                                C
• AS Level Media                                                                                  D
• GCSE Drama                                                                                        A*
• GCSE History                                                                                      A
• GCSE English Language                                                                  A
• GCSE English Literature                                                                 B
• GCSE Maths                                                                                         B
• GCSE Biology                                                                                      B
• GCSE Statistics                                                                                   B
• GNVQ BTEC Business Studies                                                     Merit (equivalent to 4 Bs)
• GCSE Physics                                                                                      C
• GCSE Chemistry                                                                                D

Work Experience

The Walsgrave Pub and Carvery, Barman/Waiter                   2006 – Present

• Waited on tables in the restaurant; made, served and took payments for desserts and beverages
• Fully trained in bar and cellar
• Fully till trained including PDQ
• Gained 100% on both food hygiene and health and safety tests
• Took charge of gas, food and beer deliveries
• Stock Rotation
• Interacted with customers by dealing with small complaints and issues
• Maintained a clean, hazard free, work place
• Also worked in the Kitchen for backup purposes

CVS DJ Superstore, Shop Assistant and DJ                          2006 – Present

• Assisted customers with all enquiries about DJ equipment
• Handled cash
• Took charge of promotions, marketing and online sales
• Kept the shop floor and equipment clean and tidy
• Took Charge and managed Junior Staff Members
• Assisted in sales and hires
• Installations of fixtures and fittings with all DJ and electrical equipment
• Have played music, installed and operated the lighting in many clubs and bars across the UK including:

Barracuda Bar, Macclesfield

Xtra, Kettering

Kasbah, Coventry

Wyken Working Men’s Club, Glass Collector                     2006

• Collected Glasses, rubbish and emptied ash trays
• Cleaned Shelves and glasswash area
• Became barman for private functions
• Working as a team and individually to manage three separate rooms

            Cash Converters, Sales Assistant                                          2005

• Assisting customers with enquiries and in-store sales
• Keeping all products clean and presentable
• Set up loop alarms on all electrical equipment and appliances
• Stock checking and rotating

Other Achievements and Interests

• Became Kung Fu Junior British Champion aged 9
• Gained fourth place in the W.U.M.A World Martial Arts Championship aged 10
• Played Crown Green Bowls at County Level aged 12
• Gained several Awards for effort throughout secondary education
• Gained an Award for service to the school aged 15 for mentoring younger students, helping them with English, Maths and general personal problems
• Represented the school for Football, Rugby and the Triple Jump
• Was one of only 50 students across the country to have a parliamentary debate about lowering the voting age in the House of Commons at the age of 14
• Gained an Award for attendance throughout my time at Caludon Castle
• Captained the North Midlands Junior County Bowls team aged 17
• Currently playing Sunday League Football at a good standard
• Also playing Saturday league football at a high standard
• Competing in the Monday night pool league
• Completed an 18 mile run from Birmingham NEC to Coombe Abbey for comic relief aged 17
• Took part in the Walsgrave Pub’s ‘Think Pink’ fun day raising £7500 for Breast Cancer research aged 19
• DJ at Yates’ Bar, Puerto Rico aged 18
• Made a promotional DVD for YMCA England which was screened and sold nationwide aged 19

Overall I would say that I am a hard working, self motivated individual who can adapt from working in a team to working on my own, which is emphasised through my exceptional history of punctuality. However, I am a firm believer in teamwork and agree that a job shouldn’t be done, unless it’s done properly. I am also a very proud person as I take pride in all of my work, regardless of the size of the job. Due to my studies at university, I am looking for part – time work, where I have the opportunity to take on full – time if needed during holiday periods.

References Available upon request

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths: 
I believe that I work best when I am on my own, because I tend to get things done quicker. I also believe that this because I have very good motivational skills, which might be as effective in a group. I can also work in a team, but tend to be more of a leader, so I usually like to take control. This could also be another reason why I am better at working on my own. Other people have also saw me as a leader whilst working in a group, which can be a very positive aspect. I like to think that I am very well organised and punctual with my work. I like to get thing done on time, if not earlier. This is also reflected through my persistence to be organised in everything I do.

Weaknesses: 
Although I can be a good leader, this can also be a negative attribute. I usually like things to be my way, which is more than likely down to being a bit stubborn. I also tend to have a problem with concentration, especially if I am not enjoying what I am doing. This sometimes comes across as me being lazy, which I don’t mean it to; if I don’t enjoy what I’m doing and my heart isn’t into it, then I will not be bothered. This can be by thinking of something else, but it is usually to do with people who I work with. This is another reason why I prefer to work alone. I can also get a little bit argumentative as I am very opinionated, but this usually isn’t a problem as I have learnt that certain discussions don’t need to happen from a professional point of view.

 
Opportunities:  

Opportunities that face me are a little bit low within my field. I want to get into sports journalism eventually, which is going to be hard to get into. However, I play Sunday league football at the moment which offers me a good chance to write up some of our match performances, and interview people from my team about recent matches, our up and coming cup final etc. Also, because I am from Coventry, I know where all the sport happens and where the different sports facilities are. I also know what different sports societies there are for me to look into. I have also been invited to work with a friend who is setting up a business within the university. I shall be interviewing his crew, and other members involved throughout, and I shall also be involved with advertising. This will offer me firsthand experience what it could be like working in the industry. I think that because I shall be mainly working on my own, I will be able to get on with it a lot easier.

 
Threats:  

Probably the only problem I might face is working with a friend. I might struggle to get motivated and it might affect my work. One way to deal with this is to keep the relationship during this time completely professional. I have also said that maybe during our work time we shouldn’t communicate face to face unless necessary; an email with details of what he expects of me should be sufficient.

Later on, Cormac and I decided to hold our own sub-meeting to talk amongst ourselves and exchange ideas of how the filming will go. Upon this, we realised that we will need other members of the team to get involved with the filming because although our interviewing skills were standard for journalism students, we lacked the experience with a camera that was needed. We couldn’t get hold of Jason to arrange another meeting, so we posted on the team Facebook group immediately, asking for help to ensure that our work will be completed.

As for the first day of my professional experience, I think I am going to enjoy it. I like the fact that I can continue with my other work whilst working for Jason because he understands of the pressures we are under from other modules, being a student himself.  The way this seems to be working feels like I am more of a freelance worker because I am doing things at my own pace. The one problem I can see happening here is that I might leave it until the last minute. However, I am just going to try and keep on top of my jobs and get things done early.