Nesta's Froggy Bloggy

 As the course comes to a close, I look back on what we have worked on and notice several things that stand out. Being honest, this course has not been very reflective on things I expect to use in my future career. Expecting to become a technician or mechanic of some kind, learning to blog or write inter-office communication devices are not things I plan to ever use. With that said, they have taught me how to formulate concise thoughts, communicate effectively, and consolidate my professional background information. Everything I do, I try to approach with an open mind. There is something that can be learned from anything a person does with their time. Even though this course may not have felt like it checked a lot of the boxes for things I expect to use, it still helped me refine my previous writing skills as well as build upon some new skills. The e-portfolio in specific was useful for helping me create an easily accessible and universal portal for all of my professional informati...

 My job does not call for any public speaking, or really any speaking at times. In the past, when I worked in the kitchen, I was constantly speaking to my team. Although it was not in any formal sense, I was always addressing the whole kitchen. Being in charge of a whole kitchen that outputs up to $10k/hr in sales can be a tall task, and it gets loud. Having the ability to command my team with authority came in quite handy at times. Using quick, precise, well-timed commands helped take control of the situation when things get hairy. When a station would fall behind on orders, it has a snowball effect on the whole kitchen's output. Tickets are fulfilled altogether due to the size and logistics of our expo team, therefore if tickets start lagging behind, items tend to get lost, misplaced, sold out-of-order, etc. At these points, the chef on the line needed to take full auditory control of the communication between the cooking side and the selling side in order to bring them both back...

 To learn or not to learn. Whether a person enjoys what they are being taught or not, the attitude they carry throughout the process will have a significant impact on how much they can benefit from the material. When I was in high school I was presented with a fantastic  opportunity to learn at an extraordinary level. My school was not only ranked top three in the state of Arizona, we were ranked top ten nationally  for the level of learning and curriculum we had. Did I approach this with a willing and mature attitude? No. Hindsight always being 20/20, I decided that this time around I would not let my own self ruin another opportunity to learn. This technical writing class, although not my favorite material, has presented me with a wealth of valuable information. Learning how to efficiently consolidate information and translate that to professional-level documents is something I can use on a daily basis in the future. Whether composing work-place emails or writing servic...

 Tools. So many tools have been invented, all for different purposes. Some have only one very specific purpose, while others have multiple uses that a person can 'justify' the high cost they paid to buy it. When it comes to writing, the same principle can be followed. Some people use a lot of different writing techniques to gradually work their way through the process, while others may simply prefer one or two tried and true tools to get the job done. I prefer the second route. While writing was never my forte, I did find by my senior year I had developed a small enjoyment in the process, which came as quite a surprise. I usually follow a random route for each paper I write, which is not very helpful, but unfortunately has become a fact of life. I always incorporate an outline, and a web chart at minimum, followed by a rough-final draft. I like to use the outline and web diagram as a reference when I edit my final draft, as it gives me a good overview of what my focus is in the...

Creativity is probably not the first thing a person imagines when they picture technical writing, but it may be more prevalent than you think. Although it is generally assumed to be a boring, basic, and unimaginative, creativity plays quite a role in the process. When a person formats a document, they use their own personal flair to lay out the paper. They also decide how to word their documents, what information to add, and what coloring or formatting to use in the header and beyond. This also can be a drawback though. Some people may take it too far, adding way too much flair or laying down too many 'fun' words into a document that simply doesn't call for it. As with most things in life, there is a fine balance to the creativity level when it comes to writing any technical information. Always remember to keep it to a tasteful minimum. Only keep enough of your own personality in it to let them know you put effort into it, but not too much they think you ran the tank out of...

 In today's world it's hard to imagine doing anything without first involving the internet in some way. Even a task as simple as going to the grocery store often begins with a Google Maps search for the closest store. The search for a new job is no different. Websites like Glassdoor, Indeed, Monster, and others allow companies to quickly post their available jobs to the web, where it can reach a mass audience in seconds. Before, companies would be lucky to have a job posting reach farther than a local news paper or radio station. I personally have had the most experience with Indeed.com. I found a majority of my long-terms jobs there, as well as used its resume building tools. I also have found it useful when trying to compare available salaries, positions, or benefits to jobs I held at the time. The resume tool has by far served me the most, as it not only helps give you ideas for what to add, but it also then can automatically use the information within it to recommend you jo...