Activity 7-3
My growth plan will make me a
better student and a better Information Technology Specialist (IT). I recognize
that I am at the point where I may or may not be burnt out with school and work.
The first thing I need to do is find a nice school, work, life balance.
Dedicate an hour a day for school work and at least 30 minutes for IT training.
I am the IT lead for a group of six highly skilled and motivated individuals.
Since I only get the tickets that no one else can figure out, I have found that
I do not come into contact with the customers as much. Thus, my empathy is almost
gone for the customers. First step is to stop automatically assuming it is the
customers fault and place myself in the customer’s shoes. Second step is to
work on my communications skills via CBT`s and face to face communications workshops. I am often the last line of saving grace to
communicate to the customers what needs to be done to fix the issue. I often
have the task of trying to diffuse more than hostile situations. Advanced communications
technique can be very useful know and in the long run.
My immediate supervisor states I
will eventually become a full-fledged IT Manager. GOD, I hope not. I choose to
go into a more specific technical field. I have been toying with IT Security,
Networking, Computer programming. I currently have my CompTIA A+, DOD NEC 2735
(Network Administrator), and ITILv4 certifications. I have three classes left
to receive an AS in Cyber Security. After I graduate, I would like to get my CompTIA
Network and Security + certificates and maybe a CCNA, or CISSP certification. I
believe with my new found communications skills, my more than 18 years of IT
experience, the new IT certifications, the AS in Cyber Security, and my Veteran
status I will be a little more than appealing to most employers.
New
Ideas
After reading everyone else’s blogs
I believe it would be extremely beneficial if I continued my education at a four-year
school and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree. It would definitely help me get a
Government job as an IT, which is my ultimate goal. It would also help me in
getting promoted from my current position. I have never gone to an IT conference
before. I am sure I can create some great contacts at a meeting of the minds. I
showed also get more familiar with MAC`s. I was just actually issued a MAC Pro
at work because they are apparently going to be more of them around our site.
These new skills should help me in all my endeavors.
