Joe Dibben
ACADEMIC
2007- present: BA Hons European Studies with German and ab initio Italian, University of Bath, Bath, UK
I have found the content of both years of my course extremely interesting. I have supervised several group presentations and established valuable research methods, while further enhancing my linguistic expertise. There has also been an opportunity for me to utilise self management skills by having to schedule my university work, while managing my social and sporting commitments, not to mention my employment, something I strongly believed that I have succeeded in doing. (2nd year mark- 66%)
2000-2007: Bournemouth Grammar School, Bournemouth, UK
A-Levels in German (B), French (B), Politics (A) and General Studies (B)
13 GCSEs (4 A*s, 8 As, 1 B)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Oct 2005-present: Barman, The Pure Drop, Ferndown, Dorset and The Huntsman, Bath, UK (Marstons Public Houses, UK)- As part of a team, it is my role to interact with customers to advise them of products, as well as sell them, both in person and on the telephone. I am often a team leader, which involves delegating jobs to my colleagues and occasionally providing assistance to the police with their inquiries into drunken or disorderly behaviour in the city centre. I have enjoyed working in both public houses, one being in the incredible city centre of Bath, whereas the other is in a more rural location. This regular income has allowed me to manage my personal finances more effectively.


Aug- Sept 2006:Planning Department, East Dorset District Council, Wimborne, UK- I helped to formulate proposal lists while liaising with several councillors and observing their meetings. This was unpaid work experience.

Jul-Aug 2005: Cashier, Abbey National, Wimborne, UK- I often handled large sums of money, while maintaining a high quality of service, informing them of products of services available to them. This gave me valuable experience of working in large corporation.

Summer 2004-present:Qualified Hampshire Football Association Referee, Bournemouth, UK- I referee regularly at youth football tournaments and matches, communicating with league and club secretaries in order to plan a personal refereeing schedule. I often meet face to face with total strangers and sometimes deal with parental criticism, but always ensure that I upholding a respectful and dignified manner.
LANGUAGES
English: I am a native speaker of English and have lived in the UK all my life.
German: I have studied German for 7 years and have a comprehensive knowledge of both grammar and vocabulary.
Italian:I have studied Italian for 5 years intermittently and have a similarly thorough grammatical knowledge and range of vocabulary.
French:I have studied French for 9 years with a good working knowledge, and I am currently doing additional units in French which will count towards my degree.
I also have basic conversational knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.
IT SKILLS
Supplementary to my extensive knowledge of the Internet and e-mail, I also have a proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and Powerpoint, as well as a basic knowledge of Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Visual Web Developer. I also have some background web design knowledge using HTML code.
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
(2007 to present): Chairman of Team Bath Futsal- Having played football at a high level, at university I was introduced to futsal, a small-sided indoor version of football being actively encouraged by the English Football Association which is played worldwide. As well as playing for the team itself, I have helped organise training sessions as well as regularly attending Sports Association meetings, making a presentation while successfully applying for futsal’s membership earlier this year, and also successfully applying for £500 of funding. I have enormous pride in being a university ambassador to my sport in the embryonic stages of its development in England, and in this regard I look forward to the future with great anticipation. I have also organised a team trip to Montenegro this Summer for the European Universities Championships.

(2004-2007): School Prefect- Chosen by staff, I provided a supervisory role in arranging activities to encourage interaction between older and younger members of the school. Although I was selected to fulfil this role, it was still a voluntary decision on my behalf to do so.


(2007): Yearbook Committee- I was an integral part of the Yearbook Committee at school, providing suggestions as regards to the production process and financial management of the project, before assisting in the eventual selling of the yearbook.

(2004-2005) Trading Standards- I have twice volunteered with Dorset Police to act as a decoy in bars and nightclubs as part of licence enforcement operations. This involved going into the premises and trying to be served, before reporting back to the police. I feel that this helped me in my responsibility as a barman.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
When I travel, improving my linguistic skills and immersing myself in the local culture are important to me. I have been lucky enough to visit many places around the world, such as the Dominican Republic, New Zealand and the USA as well as several European countries, and I enjoy immersing myself in the local culture.
I went to New Zealand with my school for a 3 week football and rugby tour in 2003 which I enjoyed thoroughly, whereas recently I went to Venice, somewhere where I could build upon my existing language skills, a challenge which I always relish. Last Summer I travelled by train from Milan to Barcelona and I enjoyed the task of organising my own holiday and deciding my itinerary. This July I am organising a futsal trip to Montenegro.
SPORT AND OTHER INTERESTS
Football/Futsal and other sport- I have played for 2 professional football clubs’ youth teams (Southampton FC and AFC Bournemouth), as well as my county. At University, I was introduced to futsal, and have been playing at a national level for Team Bath Futsal Club, based at the University of Bath, and I have recently attended trials for the Great Britain Universities Team at the World Championships in Slovenia. At school, as well as captaining the football team, I was a member of several other sports teams. Overall, I feel that over the course of time, I have been fully dedicated and self motivated to these activities, sometimes having up to three matches in a week, and consequently have established valuable team work and time management skills.

Politics and current affairs-. I am a member of a mainstream political party, although my role has become more minimal of late due to other commitments and a change of political beliefs. I have completed work experience at the local council offices and I was part of the Debating Society at school. In my research for my A-level politics coursework, I even had the chance to interview my local member of parliament.


Journalism- I have a strong interest in journalism, and wish to follow units in journalism at university as soon as the option becomes available to me. I have also written occasional articles reporting sporting events in the university newspaper, and I am due to commence work experience soon at my local newspaper in Bournemouth before my return to university.
REFEREES

Dr Axel Goodbody- University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, Avon, UK, BA2 7AY tel: +44
1225836659 email: