Zak Cuerden is a graduate seeking new career opportunities with experience in pensions administration and consulting. He has held roles at Capita Employee Benefits since 2015 where he was promoted within a year and selected for further qualifications. Prior to this, he held various part-time roles including at Build-a-Bear Workshop and as a lifeguard. Cuerden has obtained qualifications from the Pension Management Institute and holds a 2:2 BA in Drama and Theatre Studies. He seeks to utilize skills in communication, leadership, analysis and customer service.

1. Zak T. Cuerden BA(hons)
2a Ball Road, Sheffield, S6 4LY
07916574701 zakcuerden@hotmail.com
28/10/1993
I am a graduate presently looking for new opportunities to broaden my career. I have an
excellent work ethic, demonstrated by my constant employment since the age of 16. I take
pride in my adaptability, highlighted by the fact that I am thriving in a sector that I have no
previous knowledge in, however I am now wanting to change my current career path. I am
ready, willing and able to tackle anything that is placed in front of me.
Work History
August 2016 – Present
Associate Consultant/Assistant Scheme Secretary at Capita Employee Benefits, Sheffield
I was promoted into this role after only 1 years experience in the pensions sector. Although,
for this role I did have to go through an application process, as I was recommended for the
posting by senior management as they had identified my skill potential.
Key roles and responsibilities:
• Communication between clients and client relations.
• Meeting preparation, organisation and attendance.
• Effective and comprehensive minute taking for formal meetings.
• Basic technical guidance.
• Legal rule interpretation and implementation.
• Budget maintenance and business plan setting.
• Information and data gathering from internal and external parties.
• Production of performance reports.
July 2015 – August 2016
Pensions Administrator at Capita Employee Benefits, Sheffield
As my first full time job I was hired as a trainee, however after only 2 months I had dropped
the trainee title and was a knowledgeable team member. Within 6 months I was training new
members of staff, epitomising my developed skillset.
Key roles and responsibilities:
• Deep knowledge of pensions legislation and ability to decipher legal documents.
• Performance of complex calculations.
• High-level use of I.T. software including: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint,
Hartlink, Workman, Nexus and Workflow.
• Customer interaction, complaints handling and member queries.
September 2013 – May 2015
Sales Assistant at Build a Bear Workshop, Leicester
This was a part time role whilst at university. Here, I excelled at selling, frequently topping
sales targets and leader boards, whilst achieving employee of the month on several occasions.
September 2012 – July 2013
Cinema Team Member at Odeon Cinema, Leicester
May 2011 – August 2012
Lifeguard at Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield
Education and Training
• August 2016 to Present - Retirement Provision Certificate/ Advanced Diploma in
Retirement Provision (APMI) at the Pension Management Institute. I was nominated

2. to receive funding for this qualification, due to capita identifying the potential for
further developing and enhancing my pensions knowledge.
• May 2016 to Present - Certificate in Pension Scheme Member Scheme Guidance
(CertPMI) at the Pension Management Institute. Selected as 1 of 2 out of a total of
600 employees to undertake this qualification, of which Capita fully funded.
• September 2012 to July 2015 – 2:2 Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree to Drama and
Theatre Studies (including two credits in Education Studies) at De Montfort
University, Leicester. Im my degree I have learnt a multitude of transferable skills
such as; completing long term research projects, event planning, organising and
marketing, qualitative analysis, critical analysis, preparing and delivering
presentations to peers and colleges, public speaking. My degree allowed me to further
develop and refine my relationship building and communication skills, in addition to
providing me opportunities for creating and conducting detailed group and individual
projects.
• September 2005 to July 2012 - 4 A-Levels & 12 GCSE’s (including Maths and
English GCSE) A-C at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover. This was a
military boarding school that I attended from the age of 11, that required me to pass
an entrance exam and interview.
Skills and Competences
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• The ability to build rapport quickly with people from diverse backgrounds
• I am comfortable starting interactions with people whom I do not know.
• Fully computer literate.
• Extremely good communications and relationship building skills.
• Outstanding public speaking ability, highlighted by me on several occasions
delivered speeches to audiences of 5000 plus.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Teamwork.
• Strong analytical abilities.
• Fantastic sales abilities.
• Strong literacy skills.
• Organisation.
• Time management.
• Can concisely and effectively summarise extensive amounts of data for
communicating the most urgent and important pieces of information.
References
Reference 1:
Ms Tracey Austin
Relationship: Tracey was my Manager between July 2015 and August 2016
Address: Capita, Hartshead House, 2 Cutlers Gate, Sheffield, S4 7TL
Phone: 0114 229 8575
Email: TRACEY.AUSTIN@capita.co.uk
Reference 2:
RSM Stephan Dowle
Relationship: RSM Dowle was my School mentor when I was at Duke of Yorks, I consider
him a good judge of my character.
Address: The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, Kent, CT15 5EQ
Phone: 01304 245 022
Email: stephan.dowle@doyrms.com