CV

This is a copy of my CV. I used this CV when looking for my 12 month internship.

By updating my CV from last year, i was able to make it look much more professional as well as include more information in a different format. To do this, I used the Abintegro CV tool to help me create this new layout, allowing me to input my information and be given a successful template.

Alejandra Ibarra

165B Lightwood Road, Buxton, SK17 6RN   | a.ibarra1@unimail.derby.ac.uk | https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-ibarra-145773106

---

PROFILE

I am currently a second year student studying International Spa Management (BSc). Once I have completed this year, I am looking to begin a 6-12 month placement that enables me to build and improve upon my customer service skills as well as spa specific skills such as developing my management and supervisory skills.

KEY SKILLS

·     IT skills - Using the premier booking system, comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Excel

·     Proactive - Always able to find tasks to complete

·     Able to work well in as well as lead a team

·     Fluent Spanish - Have completed both GCSE and A-level Spanish, as well as learning the language through going to school in Spain

·     Trained in Elemis, Ishga, Caudalie and Comfort Zone

·     Networking and Social Media - have done social media promotions as part of small jobs in order to make sales

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

·     Have been mentioned in company emails for sales achievements

·     Received bonuses on multiple occasions as a team for continuously meeting sales targets

WORK EXPERIENCE

Sales Associate | Diesel UK                                                                                Dec 2016 to Jan 2017

Designer clothing company est. 1978

·     Obtained a temporary position in the Ashford Outlet store over the busy Christmas period, serving customers, maintaining a tidy stock room and shop floor, and maintaining and exceeding sales targets.

Massage Therapist | The Devonshire Spa                                                             Sep 2015 to Present

The Devonshire Spa is an educational facility as well as an award winning commercial spa at the University of Derby, Buxton.

·     Started as a spa host whilst training in massage and facial treatments, am now trained in Elemis, Ishga, Caudalie facials, and Comfort zone body treatments. The job involves providing excellent customer care from when they walk through the doors to when they leave at the end of their visit.

·     Was a part of the spa team when winning the Day Spa of the Year 2016 award

·     Receive personal thanks on regular occasions from guests

Sales Associate | Guess UK                                                                                May 2014 to Jul 2015

Worldwide designer clothing company offering high-end fashion for a variety of people.

·     Providing top quality customer services

·     Maintaining shop floor standards

·     Being aware of and implementing loss prevention procedures

·     Keeping up standards in the stock room

·     Meeting sales targets

·     Numerous occasions of gaining bonuses through continuously meeting weekly targets

·     Being mentioned in national outlet email for exceeding targets

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Invicta Grammar School - GCSE, A levels 11 GCSE´s including English, Maths and Science: A*-C

3 A-levels (Dance, Spanish and Media Studies): B-C                                                                      2015

I studied at Invicta Grammar School from year 7 to year 13 studying a variety of subjects including Hospitality and Catering GCSE (A*), Business Studies GCSE (B), Media Studies A-Level (C) and Spanish A-Level (B). These subjects, amongst others, allowed me to gain knowledge in different sectors, which I would later carry through into my university studies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Training: Comfort Zone: Thermogenic Attack, Himalayan Salt Massage, Pro-Sleep Massage [2016], Caudalie: Facials, Pre/Post natal massage, Divine massage, Fleur De Vigne candle massage [2016], Ishga [2015], Elemis: Deep tissue, Advanced Facials, Scrubs [2015]

Languages: English, Spanish

INTERESTS

• Wellness
• Nutrition
• Fitness

REFERENCES

Sian Jones | Spa Manager, The Devonshire Spa

Zoe Williams | Store Manager, Diesel UK

Personal reflection within practicals

This years practical sessions were new to all students, which made me feel a lot more confident in my abilities as we were all learning completely new products together. Because Caudalie and Comfort Zone were only bought into the spa this year, we all had a lot to learn about the products, the brands themselves and of course the treatments, so that we could promote them to our existing guests in the best possible way.
I was not very confident going into this years practical sessions because I had just learned Elemis and Ishga and was ready to continue with and perfect these brands. However, as we progressed through the treatments, I found myself becoming more and more confident with the routines and the products. I had started to learn how to link products and treatments together as a way of learning the benefits of both.

Personal Reflection

Champneys
This was a trip as part of University. This trip was a good source of information to see the standards in one of the most popular health farms in the UK. Because of this, we all had very high expectations. Unfortunately these were not all met. I found that the range of facilities were lacking and for that reason I spent very little time in the spa area, and spent more time in fitness classes. These classes were sufficiently challenging and a good way to break up the trip. As a part of the visit, we all received a treatment. This gained very mixed reviews from all students due to which therapist they had and what treatments they usually enjoy. I found the experience at Champneys to be eyeopening. It was interesting to see what made the spa so popular from a professional point of view, and look at how it could be improved according to current trends and consumer demands.

Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference
The Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference is an event held by the university at the Devonshire Dome. It gives students the opportunity to listen to key note speakers across the industry on a variety of topics which can be contextualised, used to expand knowledge and possibly aid work in the future. In comparison to last year, I was able to choose the workshops I attended more strategically based on what I have learned in the past year and found an interest for. For example, I chose to attend a retailing workshop with Tracy, Caudalie's marketing coordinator, because I wanted to improve my retailing percentages in the spa as well as just learn more about their key products and why they sell the way they do.
I also went to a discussion panel. The panel consisted of managers of well known spas based in both the UK and abroad. I chose to attend this panel because I was in the process of applying for sandwich year placement and I knew I would benefit from asking the professionals what they look for in a candidate, and what sets you apart from others. I found this panel extremely helpful, and took on board a lot of the comments made such as using your passion to your advantage and getting as much experience in as many roles as possible in order to develop yourself both personally and professionally.

Industry Networking Day
This day was a chance to meet potential employers for both placement as well as after university. I know that I could have done a lot better on this day. Personally, it is a challenge of confidence and being able to promote myself as the good therapist that I know I am. However, when in a room with other therapists that may have more training and experience than myself, I find myself worrying that I wont be considered against someone else. However, I now know that I just need to put myself forward and see what happens because my passion and enthusiasm for the industry and the fact that I have been able to develop so quickly will work in my favour.

Barcelona Placement
This year I had the challenge of finding myself a placement for my sandwich year starting in September. I spent a few months searching employment and networking platforms such as Hosco and LinkedIn. When i had no luck finding exactly what I was looking for, I decided to contact potential employers directly. I knew that I wanted to spend my placement in Barcelona in order to improve my Spanish and learn about the way spa is received in other cultures. Because of this I looked into spa hotels in the area and sent my CV to the recruitment departments. For me, this was a big step in building my confidence because it enabled me to show my professional side through my CV before being offered a Skype interview and conveying my passion and desire to work in the industry. I eventually got offered a placement in the Majestic Hotel and Spa in Barcelona. A 5 star establishment which holds a high reputation in the area, with competition such as the mandarin oriental being very close by.

SWOT anaysis

A SWOT analysis allows me to monitor how I am progressing through my career and what threats and opportunities develop throughout my university studies. This will serve as the basis for my action plans in the coming months as well as over the next couple of years, allowing me to keep track of my progression.

PDP Hours

The majority of my hours gained came from my shifts in the spa. The rest of the hours consisted of other events such as the spa conference and the university trip to Champneys

 TOTAL PDP HOURS: 320 hours 45 minutes*

*Some unsigned

Action Plans

My action plans will help me throughout the year as well as throughout my next two years of my university career. By working to these action plans and coordinating them with my SWOT analysis, I should see significant improvement.

Confidence

Supervisory Skills

 Interview Skills

 Time Management

References

References

2011-2017, C. (2017). Numeracy Skills | SkillsYouNeed. [online] Skillsyouneed.com. Available at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/numeracy-skills.html [Accessed 20 Apr. 2017].

Skillsyouneed.com. (2017). Transferable Skills | SkillsYouNeed. [online] Available at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/general/transferable-skills.html [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Smallbusiness.chron.com. (2017). The Role of a Reward in Employee Motivation. [online] Available at: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/role-reward-employee-motivation-18814.html [Accessed 6 Apr. 2017].