ALISDAIR CORNFORTH

PL12 4QR, Saltash · 07503396582

cornforth16@gmail.com

I have just graduated from doing a BA History degree and I am now studying for the MA in Publishing at Exeter University. I
am a driven, hard-working individual with excellent critical analysis and communication skills. Having played academy level
rugby for Wasps and Bath, and since been a social-secretary and vice-captain for university, I also have experience in
leadership, management, and working in teams. My work for Buffalo has also allowed me to develop key negotiation and
selling skills. I intend to combine these skills and pursue a career as an agent.

EDUCATION
09/ 2022/23
MA PUBLISHING, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
 Through meeting with one of the tutors and doing extensive reading as part of my course, I have
developed some understanding of contract law – including the key elements of a contract between
publishers, agents, and other parties.
 Played a considerable role in selecting fourteen stories from a longlist that was sent in, and proceeded to
edit, market, cover design and ultimately publish them in Riptide 15 in collaboration with Riptide literary
journal – in particular, I was the main designer and typesetter for the cover of this journal using InDesign.
 Moreover, as part of this editing module I created a full publishing proposal for Allen Lane imprint for a
book on the Haitian Revolution edited by a diverse range of historians and one novelist, complete with a
title costing profit and loss spreadsheet, and prototype InDesign typeset for two of the pages within it.
 Created an extensive marketing portfolio following the publication of the Riptide journal – this includes
my own role in organizing the highly successful book launch we had for it and using the photos to help
raise the social media presence of Riptide.
 Wrote my final dissertation on ‘How has the figure of the literary agent as a mediator of cultural
production changed over time?’

07/ 2022
BA HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
 Upper 2:1
 Wrote my final dissertation on the 'Constructions of White and Black Identity and its Impact on
Social Hierarchy in Jamaica and Barbados'.

EXPERIENCE
06/2022 – 07/2022
TELEPHONE FUNDRAISER, BUFFALO, BRISTOL
 Developed my negotiation skills to persuade prospects to donate when they were inclined not to.
 Used exceptional communication skills to speak to prospects, building rapport and encouraging
donations.
 Redirected questions and concerns towards beneficial aspects of available offerings.
 Followed company scripts to cover key points whilst simultaneously engaging with the prospects to
generate natural conversations.

07/2017 – 10/2021
BAR SUPEVISOR, THE BLOWING STONE INN, KINGSTON LISLE, OXFORDSHIRE
 Coached bar team to a comprehensive knowledge of menu, drink products and how to use the till.
 Oversaw bar inventory, restocked supplies, placed orders, cleaned the lines, and took deliveries
weekly.
  Opened and closed the pub.
 Developed excellent interpersonal skills with the customers to retain their loyalty.
 Leadership – as vice-captain I oversaw the general
management of the rugby club, working with the
different parts of the club to ensure everything ran
smoothly.
 Excellent communication and people skills –
working in the pub and playing high level rugby has
developed my skills in effective communication and
building relationships.
 Negotiation and persuasion – during the telethon, I
learnt key negotiation techniques to convince people to
donate when they were initially reluctant to do so.
 Awareness of what makes a good book/script – as
part of my MA I took a creative writing module under
the tutorage of a former agent. I learnt to recognize
what techniques are used to make great plots, how to
edit manuscripts, and the key elements of good stories.
 Dedication and work ethic – I have achieved my
grade 8 in piano and have worked tirelessly in my
extracurricular activities to constantly engage and get
the most out of my time doing those – both
professionally when working, and socially, playing
rugby and learning piano.
SKILLS
 Time management and organisation ability – as
social-secretary, I organised socials, tour, and
formal events such as the end of season dinner.
Organising tour involved booking events,
accommodation, travel for forty boys and ensuring
the smooth running of the long weekend.
 Critical thinking and analysis –from my history
degree, I have developed these skills through
examination of primary sources and scholarly
work. I have taken this further in MA, producing
extensive analysis of sources for my dissertation.
 Good computer literacy - Microsoft Office and
InDesign. I used Excel to create a title costing
spreadsheet for a publishing proposal; and
InDesign to create the cover for Riptide.