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Blog: Confessions of an IT/Networking Professional
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David
Deitch has been an IT/Networking professional for
over 35 years, and while he hasn't seen it all,
he's seen a lot and he is sharing some of what he
has learned here. In this blog, he is going to
touch on topics related to the NPA Core Pillars of
Professional Development, Career Growth and
Ethical Integrity. Check out what he has to
confess this time!
David Deitch
Crystal Connections
Atlanta
daviddeitch@crystalconnectionsatl.com |
The
First Confession
The Second Confession - How To
Recognize Your Job Has Run Its Course
The Third Confession: How To Bridge
The Unemployment Gap
The
Fourth Confession: Navigating the Return to Office -
Can IT/Networking Employees Be Forced Back?
The Fifth Confession: Strategies for Reducing Mistakes - Tips for Improving Accuracy in Daily Life
The
First Confession
In
this space, I am going to post on a variety of subjects,
topics that I think are relevant to IT/Networking
Professionals and the core Pillars of the NPA:
Professional Development, Career Growth and Ethical
Integrity. But first, a confession. I am an engineer by
education and a IT/Networking professional by trade. But
I am not a writer.
First, a brief introduction. I have been an
IT/Networking Professional for over 35 years. I started
out as a programmer, had a disappointing experience in
technical support, then decided to become a Novell
Certified Network Engineer. This helped me land a job
with the Entertainment Networks at Turner Broadcasting
System (think TBS, Cartoon Network, TNT, Turner Classic
Movies).
After
11 years, I decided to focus on a niche area of IT
called Business Intelligence and embarked on a targeted
career as a Crystal Reports Developer. My diverse
background in IT/Networking as well an interest in
understanding how a businesss utilizes information has
helped me reach a level of experience and expertise.
The IT/Networking profession looked a lot different when
I started out than what today's young IT/Networking
professionals face. There are a lot more areas of
Information Technology in which to embark on a career,
but there are still some key skills every IT/Networking
professional should bring to the table.
As was discussed in the March NPA Public Webinar, in
this data-driven age, Information and Network security
is essential to every company. If you are interested in
a career in IT/Networking security, you should
familiarlize yourself with firewall and router security,
data encryption, software and hardware security, risk
analysis and mitigation, regulatory and industry
compliance standards, and resources and tools for
testing.
If you want to be a programmer like I did initially, it
is not enough to know C++. You should be fluent in
Python, JavaScript, Ruby and PowerShell as well. Not
only will you be able to develop applications but you
can also build automation tools to improve in-office
tasks. You should also be familiar with application
development and project management methodologies, such
as Agile and Waterfall. If you are interested in app
development, having experience with vendor-specific
development platforms makes you ready-to-code for
prospective employers.
Back in the day, Systems and Networks was an
IT/Networking Professional's whole world. You installed
and managed the network and servers, and installed
off-the-shelf or custom designed client/server
applications. There is still a need for professionals
who can administer Windows, Linux or Mac servers and
workstations, who are experienced at installing and
maintaining customized applications, who can manage
Local Area Networks (LANS) connected to Wide Area
Networks (WANs) connected to Storage Area Networks
(SANS) connected to Virtual Private Networks (VPNS) and
Cloud Hosted Networks (CHN).
If, like me, you find yourself in the Data Analysis
world, it is important to have a strong foundation in
SQL (Oracle or Microsoft) or NoSQL (MongoDB) databases.
A mathematical mastery of statistical analysis is a
plus, as is experience with a variety of data
visualization tools. An understanding of how business
use information to drive decision making is a strong
plus, as is an ability to translate complex data
constructs into easy-to-understand business models.
If management is somewhere in your career plan, consider
exploring a path in DevOps, serving as a bridge between
application development and information technology
(software and hardware). These are systems that delve
into the skills of continuous delivery theories,
container technologies, scripting languages and how to
leverage cloud application and storage operations.
Speaking of clouds, there are four basic platforms that
a prospective employer is likekly to use: Amazon Web
Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure or Oracle.
Developing skills on one platform can prepare you for a
variety of careers on that platform as well as to
develop the knowledge and understanding to quickly adapt
to the other platforms. Being well versed in the Cloud
can prepare you for careers as a Cloud Developer,
Administrator, Architect, and probably new roles as yet
unimagined.
And lastly, everyone is talking about Artificial
Intelligence these days. Whether you are working on the
first self-driving car, creating a realistic
meta-experience, or creating algorithms that can make
reason out of massive amounts of data, having a
fundamental understanding of parametric and
nonparametric algorithms, kernels, clustering and deep
learning techniques can help you move along in your
Machine Learning career.
The pace of information technology innovation is so much
faster today than when I started out as an IT/Networking
Professional some 4 decades ago. I admit to often having
trouble keeping up with it all. But it is also exciting
for the next generation of IT/Networking professionals -
you - because the opportunities awaiting you are
infinite.
To quote Dr. Seuss, oh the places you will go!
TOP
The Second
Confesion: How To Recognize Your Job Has Run Its
Course
Photo
by cottonbro studio from Pexels:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/silver-macbook-on-brown-wooden-table-4069291/
I
once knew a man named George. George is not his real
name, because he does not know I am writing about him.
George did not realize the value he brought to his
employer and felt he had no choice but to continue
working a job that was not going anywhere. Eventually,
the company's mismanagement of its resources led to it
being a wholesale headcount reduction, leaving George
looking for work.
But
George did have skills and was a valuable employee. He
found a job with a new employer who saw in him what he
did not yet see in himself, and from that he grew in
both skill and confidence. When that role eventually
came to an end, he was quickly snapped up by another
company just a couple months into the pandemic,
literally sight unseen.
George's
story has had a happy ending, but for many IT/Networking
professionals, it can be hard to realize your career is
going nowhere. It is easy to get comfortable with your
daily routine. You know what is expected of you and you
know the exact amount of work required to meet those
expectations. Perhaps it is the fear of change or a lack
of confidence as was in the case of George, but many of
us do not even realize we are in a dead-end job.
It
wasn't always that way. Once upon a time, employees
started their career at a company, worked their way up
the managerial and corporate ladder, then retired after
a few decades with a gold watch. As the pace of
technological innovation sped up, IT/Networking skills
became more valuable and professionals became more
mobile, moving from job to job. I remember during the
period before Y2K, my employer brought in a contractor
to help with the detection and mitigation of potential
flaws in our software systems. This person was
incredulous that I had been at the company for 8 years.
But in the new century, the pendulum began to swing back
the other way again. The tech bubble burst, the economy
suffered a recession, and IT/Networking professionals
began to worry that the next role would not come quickly
enough to cover the bills and support their families.
But as the lesson of George shows, not being able to see
that one job has taken you as far as you can go and that
moving onto the next could be greatly beneficial.
To
help you see what is right before your eyes, here are
some simple signs that it may be time to effect a change
of workplace scenery.
Do
you look forward to going to work each morning, or does
the thought of another day slaving over the keyboard
cause anxiety and dread? Do you look forward more to the
end of the week than the start? Do you find yourself
wishing your next vacation is sooner rather than later,
or are contemplating early retirement? These are signs
you do not enjoy your job anymore.
Over
time, this work-related stress can turn you into someone
your younger self might not recognize. You may find
yourself growing impatient with your coworkers or
reacting angrily to the slightest inconveniences. You
may even start driving people away, both in the office
and at home, rather than face the truth behind your
career misery.
It
is not unusual for your values and character to be
impacted. Shortcuts seem like an acceptable solution to
the doldrums of doing things the long way. You might
fake reasons to skip monotonous meetings or come up with
excuses to avoid work. A drop in moral integrity at work
can also result a feeling of tediousness in home life
and a desire to avoid what may feel like inconveniences,
such as maintaining familial relationships.
According
to statistics, the average time an IT/Networking
Professional stays in a role is around 4 years after
which employees feels stifled in their career and either
experience an itch to do more, or the opposite, feeling
unmotivated to effect change. Maybe you are passed over
for promotion or are led to believe promotion is not in
your future. It is not fair but not unusual for a
company to want to keep skilled, experienced
professionals in their current roles. The company does
not realize, or maybe does not care, that their culture
of stagnation limits the growth of the business as well
as its employees.
If
you feel you are getting trapped in a career path to
nowhere, do not let it eat at you until you become
angry, unproductive, or even unethical. You do not have
to wait until you get fired for cause or wake up one day
and realize the best years of your professional life are
behind you. Keep your resume updated and your profile
fresh on LinkedIn. Participate in professional
networking opportunities and maintain your digital
profile. That way, if you feel your current job has run
its course, you are prepared to change direction and
embark on the next exciting act in your career journey.
TOP
The Third
Confesion: How To Bridge The Unemployment Gap
Image
by Nathan Cowley,
https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-and-brown-plaid-dress-shirt-touching-his-hair-897817/
I have a confession.
I
am between jobs right now. That's what I say when
someone asks what I do for a living. Fortunately, I
don't get asked very often. It's not the first time, and
probably won't be the last. Such is the life of a
freelance contractor. Sure, I've had direct-hire roles,
but for the last 20 years, it's been mostly going from
contract to contact.
Sometimes,
the next job comes quickly. The last time wasn't one of
those times, and it was a struggle. I am hoping this
time won't be nearly as long. I learned a few lessons
then that I'm already applying to my current situation.
But there are some lessons, though, that I still
struggle to put into practice.
Here
are a few lessons you can apply should you find yourself
in a similar situation.
-
The first lesson is you can't live off unemployment
insurance benefits. If you and your previous
employer parted without cause, meaning you didn't do
anything to get yourself fired, you may be eligible
for unemployment insurance benefits under your
state's labor laws. But for the average person, for
most people, it won't be enough to cover living
expenses. And it only lasts a short period of a few
months. It is not a long-term financial solution.
-
Your
best defense against having money during a period of
unemployment is having a good offense. You should
establish a savings account valued at 3-6 months of
living expenses. Yes, this can be a lot of money to
park on the sidelines, but you should think of it as
a self-insurance policy against an unexpected and
unwanted loss of income. You hope you will never
need it, but if you do, you'll be glad it is there
to soften the blow. An online money-market account
or credit union usually has the best interest rates,
so the funds aren't totally wasted. Check out NPA
Partner Alliant Credit Union for options.
-
You
should pull back hard on expenses. Going out to eat,
going to the theater, taking a vacation, these are
all luxuries you cannot afford. Your Emergency Fund
is not intended to keep you living the lifestyle to
which you are accustomed; it is to give you a
cushion until you land your next job, and the
paychecks start flowing again.
This
is a hard lesson to follow, especially if you have
kids who don't understand why they can't have a huge
party at Chuck-E-Cheese. But you can still have a
small party at home. The point isn't to deny
yourself or your family, but to be responsible with
your spending.
-
The
corollary to #3 is you need to give yourself an
outlet. You aren't meant to be couped up at home
until you find work again. It's not healthy for you
or your family. But there are ways to recreate that
won't cost you an arm or a leg. Public parks are a
good start. Some communities offer free summer
concerts or movies under the stars.
If
you cannot find free activities to keep you sane,
find opportunities that keep costs under control. A
movie subscription service can save you money if you
just can't miss the summer blockbusters. A picnic
can be just as romantic as a night out on the town.
Instead of expensive sporting events, attend local
high school or recreational sports. All it requires
is an adjustment of perspective.
-
You
don't want to tap your retirement savings. First, if
you have a SEP IRA, a Traditional 401k or
Traditional IRA and you are under age 59 ½, then if
you take an early distribution, you will incur a 10%
penalty on top of paying income taxes on the amount
withheld. If you have a Roth 401k or Roth IRA, then
you can take a tax and penalty free distribution up
to the amount of your original contributions, but
not of any earnings. That is because your
contributions were after-tax. But you should try to
avoid doing so – it is those original contributions
that are driving the investment gains you hope will
be there in retirement.
-
Similarly,
if you have a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC),
you should resist the temptation to draw on it to
supplement your income. This is not free money.
Depending on the terms of your loan, you will either
have to pay monthly minimums, if not interest, and
this just adds to your expenses at a time when you
are trying to cut down.
The
same thing goes for cash advances on credit cards.
Financial institutions love these because they hit
you up with big interest charges. They might tease
you with low-rate balance transfer offers, but they
are counting on you slipping up on minimum payments
so they can retroactively hit you with all the
deferred interest.
-
Put
a curb on hobbies and obsessions. We like to think
we are in control of our lives, but we all have
hobbies or activities that, as hard as we might try,
we cannot quit. For me, it is Disney and the Atlanta
Braves. For others, it may be smoking, drinking,
sports or stamp collecting. The trick is to not try
and go cold turkey but to keep doing what keeps you
alive in moderation. Set a budget for yourself or
give your spouse or significant other the power and
permission to set limits. You don't have to give up
what gives your life meaning, but you can keep it
under reasonable control.
-
Consider
volunteering. For some, going to work, whether it be
in an office or remote, is a reason to get up in the
morning. Work gives you purpose, and without it, you
feel directionless. Volunteering with a local
organization that has personal meaning to you or
allows you to exercise your professional skills
outside of the workplace, can have multiple
benefits. They can help you fill your time, they can
have a positive impact in your community, and they
can give you a response when asked the dreaded
interview question, ‘What have you done since your
last job?' You may even discover new opportunities
or career directions by pursuing things that
interested you when you were younger but fell by the
wayside in pursuit of supporting your family.
-
Go
back to school. Continuing Education is a
cornerstone of the NPA under the Core Pillar of
Career Growth, as well as fundamental to the
Certified Network Professional program. Maybe you
are seeing job requirements seeking skills that have
become popular since the last time you hunted for
work. Or maybe you want to freshen your technical or
soft skills, or even take them in a different
direction. You could take on the challenge to learn
something completely different or out of character,
just for fun. Even if it costs money, investing in
yourself is never a bad bet.
-
Consider
freelance work. I'm not talking about joining the
Gig Economy as an Uber or Lyft driver, though if you
dedicate your time and effort, you can make decent
money. But you can exercise your work brain on
freelance websites such as Fiverr or Upwork (not an
endorsement) with small projects that could run the
gamut from performing work to providing training to
the next generation. Many experts in their field
find they can produce real income working freelance.
At the very least, it demonstrates to a prospective
employer that you are actively keeping your skills
up. And one of these projects may even turn into a
longer-term contract or full employment.
-
Don't
let your health suffer. So maybe you can't afford
that expensive gym membership anymore – you didn't
use it enough anyway. Walking is free and some
communities even have public outdoor gyms. Find
cheap alternatives to hand weights. Consider yoga,
meditation or free recreational sports to keep
active. If you are under medical care, you may be
offered continuing coverage of your healthcare
benefits under COBRA but be sure to explore the
Healthcare Exchange for lower cost plans.
If
you are under medication, seek out generics. For
brand name medications, sign up for manufacturer
prescription discount cards to keep the costs down.
Don't avoid visits to your doctor – have a talk and
work out a plan. Most doctors are more interested in
making sure their patients are healthy than billing
insurance. This applies not only to medical, but
also your dental and vision health.
-
Professional
Network Everywhere. The best way to get your next
job is to be active in your search, and that
includes networking professionally. Create an online
resume on a free website platform where you can list
your work history and accomplishments and expound
further on your work philosophies. Make sure you
have a complete profile on LinkedIn and actively
participate in groups where you can stay in contact
with those who share your interests.
The
same goes for Facebook Groups and Pages. Attend
local professional networking events and activities.
If there is a cover charge, consider it an
investment in finding your next job. Attend NPA
Public Webinars and NPA Member Advocator meetings
for both professional development and professional
networking. Keep a supply of job-search business
cards on you to hand out when the opportunity
presents. You never know where your next role will
come from, but the more you put yourself out there,
the more likely you are to find it.
As
I mentioned, I still struggle with these guidelines for
how to make the most while between roles. I think I have
cultivated a strong digital presence and have the
benefit of having previously purchased various
entertainments that enrich my life this summer without
costing me extra. I am volunteering with the NPA. I am
building out my digital profile with a website that will
help me offer consulting and training services. I have
been trying to stretch my dollars further, pursue
appropriate job opportunities, and generally keep a
positive attitude.
That's
all those of us who are �between jobs� can do.
No
AI was used in the creation of this blog article.
TOP
The Fourth
Confession - Navigating the Return to
Office - Can IT/Networking Employees Be Forced
Back?
Source:
Pexels
In
the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of work
has undergone a significant transformation. Remote work
became the norm for many industries, including IT and
networking, as organizations adapted to new realities.
However, as vaccination rates rise and restrictions
ease, the question arises: Can IT/networking employees
be forced back to the office?
The
debate surrounding the return to the office is
multifaceted, touching on issues of productivity,
employee well-being, and organizational culture. Let's
explore the various factors at play:
Productivity
and Flexibility:
Remote
work has proven to be a viable option for many IT and
networking professionals. With the right tools and
infrastructure in place, employees can effectively
perform their duties from anywhere with an internet
connection. Studies have shown that remote work can even
boost productivity and job satisfaction, thanks to
reduced commute times and increased flexibility.
Employee
Preferences:
One
of the key considerations in the return-to-office debate
is employee preferences. Many IT and networking
professionals have grown accustomed to the flexibility
and autonomy that remote work affords. For some, the
ability to work remotely is a major factor in job
satisfaction and work-life balance. Mandating a return
to the office may lead to dissatisfaction and even
attrition among employees who prefer remote work
arrangements.
Organizational
Needs and Culture:
On
the other hand, organizations may have legitimate
reasons for wanting employees back in the office.
Collaboration, innovation, and team cohesion are often
cited as benefits of in-person work environments.
Face-to-face interactions can foster creativity, build
relationships, and strengthen organizational culture.
Additionally, certain roles may require access to
specialized equipment or facilities that are only
available on-site.
Legal
and Regulatory Considerations:
From
a legal standpoint, the ability to mandate a return to
the office depends on various factors, including
employment contracts, labor laws, and government
regulations. Employers must navigate these complexities
while balancing the needs and preferences of their
workforce.
Finding
a Middle Ground:
As
organizations grapple with the return-to-office dilemma,
finding a middle ground may be the most prudent
approach. Hybrid work models, which blend remote and
in-office work, offer a compromise that accommodates
both organizational needs and employee preferences.
Flexible scheduling, hot-desking arrangements, and
staggered office attendance can help strike a balance
between remote and in-person work.
Mutual
Satisfaction:
In
conclusion, the question of whether IT/networking
employees can be forced back to the office is not easily
answered. It requires careful consideration of
productivity, employee preferences, organizational
needs, and legal requirements. As we navigate the
complexities of the post-pandemic workplace,
flexibility, communication, and empathy will be key in
finding solutions that benefit both employers and
employees alike.
This
article was written by a human for the Network
Professional Association with the help of ChatGPT.
TOP
The
Fifth Confession: Strategies for Reducing Mistakes - Tips for
Improving Accuracy in Daily Life
Microsoft
AI Generator
I have a
confession: I’m a perfectionist. I don’t like making mistakes, and I am
hard on myself when the work I’ve performed gets kicked back to me. As
seasoned and experienced as I am, and considering the compensation that
I expect to be paid, I feel guilty for not delivering my best. Am I
being too hard on myself?
In our fast-paced,
distracted, and demanding world, making mistakes is inevitable. From
simple errors in judgment to more significant lapses in performance,
mistakes can have consequences ranging from minor inconveniences to
major setbacks. However, by implementing strategies to enhance attention
to detail and improve decision-making processes, individuals can
significantly reduce the frequency and impact of mistakes in their daily
lives. In this article, we'll explore effective techniques for
minimizing mistakes and enhancing overall accuracy.
Cultivate
Mindfulness and Presence
One of the most
effective ways to reduce mistakes is by cultivating mindfulness and
presence in everyday activities. By focusing on the present moment and
paying attention to the task at hand, individuals can avoid distractions
and increase their awareness of potential errors. Simple mindfulness
practices such as deep breathing, meditation, reducing background noise
and activity, and taking regular breaks can help maintain focus and
clarity, leading to improved accuracy in tasks.
Embrace
Continuous Learning and Growth
Mistakes are
valuable learning opportunities that can provide insights for personal
and professional growth. By adopting a growth mindset and embracing the
learning process, individuals can approach mistakes as opportunities for
improvement rather than failures. Try to identify not just what went
wrong but why it went wrong. Encourage curiosity, experimentation, and
feedback-seeking behaviors to identify areas for development and refine
skills over time.
Utilize
Checklists and Systems
Implementing
checklists and systems can help streamline processes and minimize the
likelihood of errors. Whether it's a pre-flight checklist for pilots, a
surgical safety checklist for medical professionals, or a simple to-do
list for daily tasks, checklists provide a structured framework for
ensuring thoroughness and accuracy. Establishing routines and standard
operating procedures can also help automate repetitive tasks and reduce
the risk of oversight.
Prioritize
Time Management and Planning
Effective time
management and planning are essential for minimizing mistakes and
maximizing productivity. By allocating sufficient time for tasks,
setting realistic deadlines, and breaking down complex projects into
manageable steps, individuals can reduce the likelihood of rushing and
making errors due to time constraints. Prioritize tasks based on urgency
and importance, and allocate resources accordingly to optimize
efficiency and accuracy.
Foster
a Culture of Open Communication
Do not be afraid –
or too proud – to ask for a second set of eyes when looking at a problem
or checking your work. It is a sign of strength, not distrust in your
work, to ask a trusted coworker, friend, or mentor to proofread or
double-check your calculations or written product. Often, we get so
close to something we are doing that we lose perspective and miss things
others would catch.
In collaborative
settings, fostering a culture of open communication and
transparency is crucial for minimizing misunderstandings and errors.
Encourage team members to ask questions, seek clarification, and voice
concerns to ensure alignment and clarity on objectives. Establishing
clear channels for feedback and collaboration can facilitate effective
problem-solving and decision-making, reducing the risk of errors
resulting from miscommunication or lack of coordination.
Practice
Self-Care and Stress Management
High levels of
stress and fatigue can impair cognitive function and increase the
likelihood of making mistakes. Prioritize self-care practices such as
regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy nutrition to support
overall well-being and resilience. Incorporate stress management
techniques such as mindfulness meditation, relaxation exercises, or
hobbies to alleviate stress and promote mental clarity. If (when) your
post-lunch eyelids start getting heavy, take a quick walk outside or
close your eyes for a short nap, then you’ll be able to better
concentrate on the rest of the afternoon.
Learn
from Mistakes and Iterate
Lastly, it is
essential to adopt a growth-oriented approach to mistakes by learning
from them and building on solutions. Conduct post-mortem analyses to
identify root causes and patterns of errors and implement corrective
actions to prevent recurrence. Encourage a culture of psychological
safety where individuals feel empowered to admit mistakes, share
learnings, and collaborate on solutions to continuously improve
processes and outcomes.
Reducing your
mistakes requires a proactive approach of attention to detail, smart
decision-making, and self-awareness. By cultivating mindfulness,
embracing continuous learning, utilizing checklists and systems,
prioritizing time management, fostering open communication, practicing
self-care, and learning from mistakes, individuals can minimize errors
and strive for excellence in their personal and professional lives.
I’m still going to
make mistakes, and I’m still going to worry about how it makes my
employer look at me and whether they trust my work. But if I build into
my process a plan to learn and grow from my errors, that progress will
also be reflected in my work, and hopefully, that will be noticed as
well.
This article
was written by a human for the Network Professional Association with
the help of ChatGPT.
TOP
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