Journal Entry: Professional Networking Strategy

Building a strong professional network is essential for career growth, especially in the IT field. My networking strategy focuses on three key areas: workplace connections, online networking, and industry events.

First, I am working on building relationships within my current workplace. As a Technology Technician, I regularly interact with IT staff, administrators, and occasionally vendors. By demonstrating my technical skills and problem-solving abilities on the job, I am establishing credibility and creating opportunities for future growth. I also make an effort to engage with my supervisors and colleagues, seeking advice on career development.

Second, I am utilizing online platforms like LinkedIn to connect with IT professionals and stay informed about job opportunities. While I have started following industry leaders and sharing insights from my work experience, I recognize the need to be more active in these spaces. Additionally, I plan to join online communities focused on networking and system administration to expand my knowledge and engage with professionals in those fields. A key area for improvement is updating my digital portfolio to showcase class assignments, such as creating websites using HTML and CSS, working with React, and developing a database using MySQL and PHP.

Lastly, I aim to attend local job fairs and industry conferences to connect with professionals face-to-face. These events provide valuable opportunities to learn about emerging technologies, meet potential mentors, and explore job prospects. I recognize that this is an area where I need to improve, as I currently do not have many professional connections within the field.

My education has provided me with the technical knowledge needed for a successful IT career, and I am actively working on developing a stronger professional network. By continuing to engage with industry professionals and demonstrating my skills, I hope I am positioning myself for long-term career success.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Module 7 Journal Entry

Although I didn’t work this week due to the school’s mid-winter break, I’m reflecting on my previous week to address this journal prompt. Easiest Accomplishment: One of the more straightforward tasks was handling two teacher laptops before the break. The first involved a Surface laptop infected with ransomware. After disabling the teacher’s accounts and notifying the system admin, I performed a fresh Windows installation and reinstalled all necessary drivers. The process went smoothly since I’ve done similar resets before. The second laptop was outdated, running Windows 10 21H1, which prevented system updates and Outlook from working properly. I manually upgraded it to Windows 10 22H2 and then to Windows 11. Although the install took time, the process itself was routine. Hardest Accomplishment: The most challenging task was dealing with a middle school student misusing the school’s network. Investigating their actions revealed they were sending malicious scripts through SharePoint, all...
Read more

Journal Entry: Internship Overview and Goals

 My internship as a Technology Technician at a school district involves maintaining and supporting the district’s IT infrastructure. In a nutshell, I troubleshoot hardware and software issues, assist with network maintenance, and ensure that the technology used by staff and students operates smoothly. This role demands both technical problem-solving and effective communication, as I often work closely with educators and administrators to address their needs. What I know about my role is that it’s pivotal for the day-to-day functioning of the district’s technology systems. My tasks so far have included repairing devices, resolving connectivity issues, and providing user support. I understand the basics of troubleshooting, maintaining hardware, and following best practices for IT operations. To fully excel in this position, I’ll need to deepen my understanding of network administration, learn more about advanced system configurations, and refine my ability to manage multiple tasks ef...
Read more

Module 10 Progress Report

I worked 40 hours this week, bringing my total hours for the quarter to 360. This week was packed with tasks, and honestly, it’s hard to keep track of everything I did. There’s never really a set list of things to tackle — issues pop up randomly, and I handle whatever comes my way. I started the week with 28 more laptops that needed either the DRC testing software reinstalled, Windows updates, or a full reset. After that, I helped a teacher at the other high school who was having Wi-Fi issues. I suggested using a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to hardwire her computer for a more stable connection. She wasn’t a fan of that idea since she wanted to keep using her external keyboard and didn’t want to be "tethered." I explained that it was either this or continue dealing with Wi-Fi drops until we could figure out what’s going on in that room. Later, I teamed up with our tech specialist to troubleshoot a middle school projector that wasn’t displaying anything. Aside from the rack being c...
Read more