Open to opportunities

paul harding

@paulharding

Customer service and crisis-ready professional with 16 years at IKEA, seeking remote work using calm, independent problem-solving.

United Kingdom

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a remote or work-from-home role where independent working, reliability, and calm under pressure matter. I’ll bring my customer service and crisis management experience to handle enquiries, resolve issues efficiently, and communicate clearly.

I’m a highly motivated customer service professional with 16 years of continuous front-line experience at IKEA. I handle high volumes of customer enquiries, resolve complaints calmly and efficiently, and maintain exceptional service standards in a fast-paced team environment—often through returns, product guidance, and accurate sales transactions.

During my career break as a full-time carer, I strengthened my crisis management skills by coordinating across medical teams under pressure. I served as the primary point of contact between family, medical professionals, and support services, making rapid decisions during emergencies while managing complex scheduling, records, and correspondence.

I also bring a methodical, detail-oriented approach supported by a BSc (Hons) in Computer Aided Design. That combination shows up in my work style across administration, data entry, and written communication, along with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

Earlier roles strengthened my reliability and leadership: I supervised assembly operations with quality control, managed a team as a Sales District Manager, and de-escalated conflict as a self-employed door supervisor. I’m immediately available and highly motivated to secure a remote or work-from-home role where independent working, reliability, and calm under pressure are valued.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Primary Carer

Current

Family

Nov 2024 - Present (1 year 8 months)

Provided full-time care for a family member, coordinating day-to-day needs, medical appointments, and multi-agency support services. Acted as the primary contact for medical professionals and support services, making rapid decisions during emergencies and managing complex scheduling and records.

Crisis Management Calm Decision Making Under Pressure Scheduling Records Management Medical Scheduling Financial administration Written Communication

Sales Advisor — Textiles

IKEA

Oct 2008 - Nov 2024 (16 years 1 month)

Delivered high-quality customer service in IKEA’s textiles department over 16 years, handling queries, complaints, and returns while maintaining customer satisfaction. Advised customers on products and fabrics, processed transactions accurately, and supported new team members to uphold service standards.

Customer Service Complaint Resolution Returns Product Fabric Advice Stock Integrity Reliability Team Briefings

Self-Employed Door Supervisor

Alpine Security (GB) Ltd

Apr 2005 - Nov 2007 (2 years 7 months)

Worked as a licensed door supervisor in West Midlands venues, managing crowd control and de-escalating conflicts in high-pressure environments. Completed door supervision and emergency first aid training, responding to emergencies as required.

Crowd Control De escalation Emergency Response Door Supervision First aid

Field Sales Executive

Lawyers 4 All / Access 4 All

Oct 2004 - Mar 2005 (5 months)

Conducted face-to-face sales and client consultations across the West Midlands. Managed an independent diary and territory to drive sales activity.

Face To Face Sales Client Consulting Territory Management Sales

Sales District Manager

Scottish & Southern Energy

Dec 2003 - Aug 2004 (8 months)

Managed a team of field sales representatives by setting targets and monitoring performance. Recruited, trained, and motivated team members to achieve regional sales goals.

Recruitment Sales Team Management Target Setting Performance Monitoring Training

Supervisor — Assembly Area

Seconique Furniture Importer

Sep 1999 - Nov 2003 (4 years 2 months)

Supervised assembly operations, managing workflow, quality control, and staff allocation to support production. Coordinated the daily production schedule and ensured output targets were met consistently.

Assembly Operations Workflow Management Quality Control Staff allocation Production Scheduling

2D/3D CAD Operator

Compomotive Motorsport Wheels

Apr 1998 - Mar 1999 (11 months)

Produced technical drawings and CAD designs for motorsport wheel components. Applied strong attention to detail to maintain technical accuracy in design outputs.

CAD Design technical drawings Accuracy Attention To Detail