Tom Gifford
San Rafael,CA
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic professional seeking a full-time role that presents meaningful challenges while leveraging strong interpersonal skills, effective time management, and proven problem-solving abilities. Committed to fostering collaborative environments and driving results through innovative solutions. Eager to contribute to a forward-thinking organization that values initiative and adaptability. Prepared to tackle complex tasks with a strategic mindset and a focus on continuous improvement.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Seasonal Front End Associate
Best Buy Inc
11.2025 - 01.2026
- Replaced merchandise stock throughout check-out lines and end-cap displays.
- Performed carry-out and order preparation for pick-up services by packaging, transporting, and loading customer purchases.
- Gathered shopping baskets and carts and relocated to designated areas.
- Welcomed and engaged customers, offering assistance with locating or retrieving merchandise.
Cashier
The Home Depot
07.2018 - 09.2025
- Operated cash register for cash, check, and credit card transactions with excellent accuracy levels.
- Restocked and organized merchandise in front lanes.
- Welcomed customers and helped determine their needs.
- Helped customers complete purchases, locate items, and join reward programs.
- Addressed customer needs and made product recommendations to increase sales.
- Greeted customers entering store and responded promptly to customer needs.
- Answered questions about store policies and addressed customer concerns.
- Assisted customers with returns, refunds and resolving transaction issues.
- Stocked, tagged and displayed merchandise as required.
- Learned duties for various positions and provided backup at key times.
Barista
Peet's Coffee
11.2022 - 06.2025
- Pleasantly interacted with customers during hectic periods to promote fun, positive environment.
- Trained new employees, sharing knowledge and expertise of coffees, teas, and merchandise.
- Maintained regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
- Cleaned counters, machines, utensils, and seating areas daily.
- Operated espresso machines and commercial coffee brewers to create beverages.
- Listened carefully to customer requests and created personalized, delicious beverages, which improved sales.
- Created wide variety of hot and cold drinks in average shifts with consistently positive customer satisfaction scores.
- Maintained and operated espresso machines, blenders, commercial coffee brewers, coffee pots, and other equipment.
Barista
Starbucks
04.2017 - 11.2022
- Controlled line and crowd with quick, efficient service.
- Trained new team members with positive reinforcement and respectful, encouraging coaching.
- Made and served brand-specific café beverages with focus on speed, quality and consistency.
- Used POS system to accurately enter orders and process payments.
- Restocked display cases with attractive arrangements to promote specialty food items like bagels and muffins.
- Repaired minor issues and maintained espresso equipment and coffee machines for smooth functioning.
- Sanitized equipment and wiped down counters and tables to prevent spread of germs.
- Prepared specialty drinks such as cappuccinos, lattes and mochas.
- Packaged bagels, muffins and other food items for customer purchase.
- Prevented infections and maintained store professionalism by cleaning and sanitizing work areas daily.
- Minimized spoilage with proper use of first-in-first-out stock procedures.
- Learned every menu item's preparation and numerous off-label drinks to meet customer needs.
- Elevated customer loyalty by using strong communication abilities to resolve customer problems.
Target Tech Associate
MarketSource Inc.
11.2016 - 02.2017
- Worked flexible schedule and extra shifts to meet business needs.
- Signed up for cell phone plans, recommended accessories and cases.
- Ran Electronics boat as needed
AdSet Associate
Kohl's Department Stores
05.2016 - 07.2016
- Presented merchandise and custom displays to increase sales.
Tasker
TaskRabbit
07.2015 - 02.2016
- Gig economy work
- Jobs varied depending on Task taken on app
Seasonal Sales Associate
Macy's
11.2015 - 01.2016
- Provided positive first impressions to welcome existing, new, and potential customers.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
- Prepared merchandise for sales floor by pricing or tagging.
- Engaged with customers to effectively build rapport and lasting relationships.
- Organized racks and shelves to maintain store visual appeal, engage customers, and promote specific merchandise.
Courtesy Clerk
Safeway
04.2015 - 05.2015
- Returned unwanted items to correct store locations and restocked shelves.
- Addressed customer needs for price checks and merchandise retrieval from upper shelves or stockroom.
- Collected more than 5 shopping carts from parking lot daily and cleaned and dried soiled and wet carts.
- Bagged customer items efficiently using proper techniques to protect delicate items and separate different groups of merchandise.
- Helped customers take merchandise out of store and loaded items into vehicles.
- Assisted customers with large purchases by carrying items to vehicles.
Sales Support Associate
Macy's
11.2014 - 01.2015
- Keep clothes folded, keep fitting room clean, assist customers/guests if needed
Volunteer inventory
Goodwill Novato
10.2013 - 12.2013
- Recover inventory.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
Sonoma State University
Cotati, CA05-2024
Associate of Science - Computer and Information Sciences
College of Marin
Kentfield, CA05.2013
High School Diploma -
San Rafael High School
San Rafael, CA01.2002
Skills
- Cafe
- Barista Training
- Coffee
- Fast typist (100 WPM)
- Cashier
- Software Diagnosis
- Order selection and preparation
- Merchandising and display assembly
- Merchandise display set up
- Retail transactions
- Mutliple self-taught programming languages (Python, HTML, etc)
- Learning to train AI LLMs
Languages
Japanese
Interests
- Video Gaming
- Coding and Programming
- Camping
- Martial Arts
- Strategy Games
- Avid Reader
- Watching Movies and TV Shows
- Music
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Excel
- Python coding
- HTML Coding
- Java coding
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Access
- Perl coding
- C++ coding
- SQL coding
Certification
State of California Food Handlers' Certification
State of California Responsible Beverage Service Certification
Timeline
Seasonal Front End Associate
Best Buy Inc
11.2025 - 01.2026
Barista
Peet's Coffee
11.2022 - 06.2025
Cashier
The Home Depot
07.2018 - 09.2025
Barista
Starbucks
04.2017 - 11.2022
Target Tech Associate
MarketSource Inc.
11.2016 - 02.2017
AdSet Associate
Kohl's Department Stores
05.2016 - 07.2016
Seasonal Sales Associate
Macy's
11.2015 - 01.2016
Tasker
TaskRabbit
07.2015 - 02.2016
Courtesy Clerk
Safeway
04.2015 - 05.2015
Sales Support Associate
Macy's
11.2014 - 01.2015
Volunteer inventory
Goodwill Novato
10.2013 - 12.2013
Bachelor of Arts - History
Sonoma State University
Associate of Science - Computer and Information Sciences
College of Marin
High School Diploma -
San Rafael High School