Senior Internship - Week 3 Journal Entry

What are your personal and professional IT strengths (technical and non-technical (soft) skills)?

From the time I have spent at working at an IT Help Desk I have worked with nearly 10 different student technicians and 3 full time technicians. It is apparent to me that something that sets me apart from others in this industry is that I have strong interpersonal skills. I have been able to thrive in a customer support environment because I enjoy helping people with mundane issues, I enjoy speaking with them, and more often than not they enjoy speaking with me too. I have an ability to 'punch above my weight class' as I've been told in regard to how I take ownership or leadership of things beyond my own purview. While I suppose this is a bad thing, to me it shows I naturally want to take charge and make sure that the ship is sailing.

Most people in IT have an understanding of programming, though I still consider my love of coding to be one of my greatest strengths. Automation of the workplace is one of the most useful and applicable skills across any department and it is a passion of my own.

What are your professional IT goals? Be CLEARLinks to an external site., and include at least 1 immediate goal (0-1 year) and 2 long-term goals (5-10 years out).

I like where I work, but the goals I have regarding it are misty and uncertain. I will be leaving my role as student technician when this program ends. However, it is a goal of mine within the next year to get brought on as a full-time technician. I believe there is a chance for this, and here is why: system administrators are leaving my workplace, and I believe that the College will want to recruit from within. Do I expect to become a system admin? No. I expect those above me to climb the ranks and to leave the full-time position empty. I hope to fill that position this year.

To become a candidate for this role, though, I will need to gin certificates that make me more valuable than 'just somebody who already works here.' I have plenty of connections in the IT department to learn about what certificates are most valuable and there are two I am looking at just to get my foot in the door: Network+ and Security+.

Long term, though, I don't want to remain a Help Desk technician. Sure, I love the work, but there is more out there for me. I can see myself filling leadership roles like Help Desk manager just as much as I see myself filling technical roles like system administrator. Regardless of what the future holds, I hope that my career can continue to provide opportunities to learn and that I don't stagnate. I believe I have what it takes to fill roles such as CIO due to my desire to learn, hold responsibility, and to effectively communicate. These roles require sociable people and to become more sociable is always a goal of mine.

How well do your strengths and goals align?

I believe my goals are based on my strengths. I know what I am and am not capable of. I am not capable of sitting still, I am not capable of doing the same thing every day. I like my job at the Help Desk because it is never the same. To become a full-time technician at Olympic College is - in my eyes - the best step forward I have in my life.