Communication

Communicating As a Professional

Information Networkers are becoming the modern day backyard mechanic of the 1960's. In the future, Information Technology will be so prevalent that IT network technicians will be sought out by many individuals; however education and professional communication are the key to success. For example, as a technician it is neccassary to have written, oral, and attentive listen skills in order to help others become informed about the new era of technology. For this reason, it is important for me to continue to improve on these communication skills. The importance of proper grammar continues to grow as technology expands.

This argument was made by CEO Kyle Weins of iFixit and Susan Adams of Forbes magazine. Even though there were numerous arguments for why proper grammar is essential, I found I was in agreement with many of the points that were made. Kyle Weins that the use of proper grammar shows a person’s tendency to pay attention to detail. Also, Weins argues that a person’s reliability is negatively impacted by incorrect grammar. From previous experiences, improper grammar has raised question as to whether business and personal sources are providing accurate information. Weins’s remaining argument includes improper grammar affecting an individual’s ability to complete tasks (Weins).

Susan Adams argues that proper grammar gives positive insight into a person’s intellectual ability. Also, Susan argues that correct grammar represents showing respect to others and taking the conversation seriously, however, if either of these are lacking within a conversation, the topic might be misunderstood. Recently, companies are spending more money and time educating their employees on grammar use because of its importance to the work environment; however, language continues to evolve due to this lack of awareness (Adams). For this reason, it is actually beneficial to society for employers to educate their employees about grammar.

This theory can be applied to the career field of Information Technology. In IT the level of education that is required depends on the company and job title. A bachelor’s degree is the most common; however, an associate’s degree can be sufficient (Burea of Labor Statistics). For example, certifications can give those with an associate’s degree employment advantages over those with a bachelor’s degree. For this reason, it is essential to be proficient at writing, reading, listening, and speaking. For an IT network technician it is critical that communication, in the written form, is mastered. It is important to use proper grammar in order for customers, co-workers, and supervisors to comprehend emails, work documents, and instruction manuals for various procedures.

In addition, it is necessary to stay up-to-date with the latest computer and software complications. These complications can include virus protection, network monitoring, and administration software. This requires extensive research, through articles and internet sources, in order to find solutions to these problems (o-net online). These complications must first be communicated to IT network technicians. For this reason, it is critical to be attentive to customers concerns about computer difficulties. This requires a technicians full attention to the conversation, whether in-person or on the phone. Once the concern has been addressed, it is important to be able to walk the customer through the process step-by-step using oral communication skills. In addition to these essential communication skills it is also important to become knowledge about physical tools such as cable accessories, hard disk array, and server load balancer tobe able to explain the use of each indusival tool. It is obvious that IT networking requires high levels of communication and the ability to use various physical tools.

Throughout life I have found that these communication skills, which include reading comprehension, public speaking, and writing, are obstacles that must be faced before becoming an IT network technician. While attending community college, and throughout my career as a IT network technician, there are several ways that I can improve these skills. For example, when reading an assignment, or doing research, it is important to highlight unfamiliar words. After making annotations, it is critical to investigate the meaning of each. A sentence can then be constructed to further reinforce the material. In addition to comprehension, it is important to accurately portray specific information to a large number of individuals. Therefore, I must overcome my anxiety of public speaking by putting myself in a situation in which I must do so. Also going to my professors office hours for addtional help with assignments I do not fully understand; or simply going to the writing center for help. In order to feel more confident, at center stage, preparation is key. Even though it is essential to master reading comprehension and public speaking, it is most important to become a skilled writer. For this reason, it is essential to proofread and edit with diligence.

IT networking is an interesting field to pursue, however, the quantity of information and the communication skills that must be obtained in order to be successful is extensive. For example, it is necessary to be knowledgable about various hardware and software. An IT networking technicians background can be improved through education and certifications. However, it is not only important to become educated but it also important to have the ability to communicate with customers and co-workers. In order for this to occur an IT networking technician must have well developed written, verbal, and attentive skills. This skill set is crucial due to the advancements in technology. Because smart phones and laptops are becoming more important in everyday life, IT technicians are more high in demand.

Work Cited

Adams, Susan. "Why Grammar Counts At Work." Forbes. 20 July 2012. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/07/20/why-grammar-counts-at-work/>.

O-net."Network and Computer Systems Administrator." O-Net Online.1 Jan.2010.Web. 28. Jan. 2015. <http://www.onetonline.org/link/updates/15-1142.00>

Occupational Handbook."Network and Computer Systems Administrators".Occupational Outlook Handbook. 8 Jan. 2014 Web. 28 Jan.<http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technolgy/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm>.

Wiens, Kyle. "I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why." Harvard Business Review. 20 July 2012. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. <https://hbr.org/2012/07/i-wont-hire-people-who-use-poo>.