Résumé of Benjamin Melançon

33 Fisher Street (508) 655-7065
Natick, Massachusetts 01760 ben AT melanconent · com

Objective

I seek employment in the fields of media or technology.


Education Third year at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst:
  • Overall GPA: 3.63
  • Commonwealth Scholarship (4 years; tuition, room, and board).
  • Commonwealth College Honors Scholar.
  • Major coursework includes Journalism (4.0 GPA), Economics, Political Science, History, Legal Studies, Resource Economics, Computer Science, Sociology, Literature, Management, and Labor Studies.

Skills

Writing skills excellent:

  • Extensive experience writing both news articles and academic papers.
  • Practiced in tight writing for the Web.
  • Good syntax and spelling.
  • Highly capable researcher.

Computer skills extensive and often in-depth:

  • Web site design: usable, stylish pages viewable by any browser; full knowledge of HTML; can handcode in HTML or XML and use tools including Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, and Macromedia Fireworks.
  • Excellent with word processors: well versed in Lotus Word Pro, ClarisWorks, Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Works, and Microsoft Word.
  • Experience in using database and spreadsheet programs.
  • Working knowledge of presentation software.
  • At home on the Internet with any tool (E-mail, FTP) and on the World Wide Web with any browser; able to use general and specialized search engines to their full potential.
  • Self-taught in database design and SQL, MySQL.
  • Comfortable with Windows and Macintosh operating systems; have also used UNIX and DOS.
  • Programming experience includes PHP, Java, JavaScript, and BASIC; understanding of programming concepts, including Object Oriented Programming.

Foreign Language: some Spanish, still learning.


Employment
  • 2001 July 24 through November 25: obituary writing, “Local Hero” column, and feature writing at the MetroWest Daily News and an associated weekly newspaper, the Natick Bulletin & Tab.
  • 2001 May to present: Webmaster for startup company DEM Custom Computers.
  • 2000 February to May (6-10 hours/week): Web assistant, Massachusetts Daily Collegian (UMass-Amherst’s independent student newspaper).
  • 1998 to 2000, summers and vacations (35 hours/week): Shoe salesperson (commission) at Sears in Natick; extensive interaction with customers and use of interviewing skills.
  • 1997, summer: Stocker at Li’l Peach convenience store in Natick.

Other Experiences

Non-school, non-work activities I feel helped ready me for work.

  • 1998-2001: Periodic contributions to the Massachusetts Daily Collegian; active in various clubs and groups on campus; regular attendance at extra-curricular speeches, events, lectures, and Pizza and Prof nights.
  • 1996-1998: Reporter, Op-ed editor, Art editor, Assistant News Editor, and (re)founding member of the Natick High School student newspaper.
  • Volunteer work: A Place to Turn food pantry, Natick (1995-1999); Connecticut river litter cleanup with Masspirg (2000); Natick Town Forest cleanup with Students for Planet Earth (1998).
  • Travel: 46 U.S. states plus Canada, Switzerland, and Israel.
  • Leisure activities: wide reading of fiction and non-fiction; creative writing; photography; short-wave radio; soccer; running; hiking; and cooking.

References

References from professors and employers available on request.