1.) Assess your habits from week 1: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?
I'm behind on this career journal and other professional development tasks because I'm allowing project work to dominate my time. This has been a consistent issue since Mod 1. I think that project work should be prioritized, but I need to make sure I block off some time every week for other tasks, especially now that we're beginning to network and search for jobs.
2.) Write a draft of your professional story here as 1-2 paragraphs. Focus on answering the questions who are you, why are you here, and what’s next? Consider how to talk about your motives and values, the turning points that led to your career change, and what you envision for yourself going forward.
I am a front-end software developer with valuable experience in communications and digital marketing looking to learn new programming languages and technologies, and ultimately grow into a full stack role.
After three years of working as a local TV news reporter, I decided that journalism and the consistent exposure to human tragedy that it entails, was not a good fit for me. I then spent 18 months in a digital marketing role while doing some serious soul-searching to devise a career plan that would provide me with both security and fulfillment. That's what led me to software development. I relish the challenges of writing and understanding code, and I am eagre to learn more.
3.) Update your LinkedIn profile with the following: updated photo/headshot, headline, summary statement using your story, and Turing added to your experience and education sections. Include a link to your profile here in the journal. Remember the guidelines and tips from the lesson here.
linkedin.com/in/cameron-mackintosh-1341b173
4.) What other steps will you take this week to update your branding or practice your story?
I'll rehearse my professional story with my mentor and ask him to review my LinkedIn page to get his opinion on what I should change or reword. I'm also planning to add instructors and cohort-mates with whom I have worked directly so far at Turing. Finally, I've made an appointment with a photographer/friend of mine to get some new professional headshots taken on Friday.