Tim van Wijk

Personal Statement

As a technically minded individual, I have always found pleasure in working with computers. Ever since my first computer, a Sinclair Spectrum, a day has probably never gone past without me doing some work on a computer. I attended a Technical School, specialising in Electronics, and loved the logical aspects of my subjects, especially Mathematics. Since leaving college in the mid nineties I have worked in the computing field from sales and support through to Systems Development. This has enabled me to accumulate a wide knowledge base that has been augmented by my profound desire for learning. In my spare time at home I can often be found installing software just to learn more about it, be that Asterisk for VOIP through to RED5 for Video Streaming and collaboration. In the past few years, due to family commitments, I have worked from home doing consultancy and programming. I am customer focused and have supported the HQ of one of the UK’s largest energy companies, often having to install hardware in some of the director’s homes. I am proficient in Windows systems, both desktop and server, and the MS Office suite. I have worked with Citrix, assisting in the installation of a 60 server cluster to provide thin client services to hundreds of users and further reduce support costs. I also have a very good knowledge of Debian Linux and it’s derivatives, as well as the common linux server packages such as Apache, and MySQL.

Key Skills

• Problem solving
• Efficient communicator
• Customer focused support
• Systems development
• Windows (Server & Desktop)
• Proficient in MS Office
• Linux (Debian & Derivatives)
• Database (MySQL)
• Programming (Delphi, Visual Basic)
• Scripting (PHP)
• Comprehensive hardware experience from peripherals down to individual system components. I can diagnose and repair hardware issues.

Work Experience

Systems Consultant, Self Employed, Trowbridge
(2003 to 2011)
Develop and implement Internet based solutions as well as updating legacy systems.
I have developed solutions that tie in with multiple party systems, and interface with hardware to log  and present data in a human readable format.
General Assistant – Electronics, Sainsbury’s, Trowbridge
(2010 to 2011)
Advise customers on electronic goods ranging from TVs to laptops and memory.

Ensure high value stock is secured and accounted for.
Systems Architect, TXU Energy, Ipswich
(1998 to 2003)
Third Line Support as well as design, manage, document and implement solutions.

These included, amongst others:

• Company wide Internet access for 3000+ employees. This was achieved by utilising Microsoft ISA Server, with WebSense content filtering.
• Thin-client cluster using Citrix Metaframe XP to deliver a service whilst reducing support costs.

Education

George Campbell Technical College, Durban, South Africa
1987 to 1991
Equivalent of 6 A levels in:

• English,
• Afrikaans,
• Maths,
• Electronics,
• Science,
• Technical Drawing.

Hobbies & Interests

My hobbies mostly revolve around computers, installing and playing with software, building websites,
streaming video servers or home-brew NAS. I like to unwind with my children playing games on the
PS3. Where my weekends are normally spent outdoors, sometimes geocaching.