Researching LinkedIn
I setup my LinkedIn account 7 years ago; however, I never utilized its functions even though I have been well-acknowledged of the advantages and the potential of LinkedIn that could help me boost my career path. I do not use any social media such as Facebook and Instagram because I am reluctant to be exposed to whom I do not know, and the same goes for LinkedIn. While researching LinkedIn profile tips, I noticed that the benefits of LinkedIn may outweigh my concerns. I should admit that I underestimated LinkedIn, and it has become an essential tool in the current job market. I will reconsider the use of LinkedIn and in order to open doors to the opportunities that I would not be aware of without the help of networking that I can attain through LinkedIn.
Process of Report Proposal and Outline
To come up with a topic was the hardest part of writing the report proposal. My initial idea was related to my previous work which I thought I am knowledgeable enough to deliver practical solutions and persuade people in the field. (The topic was Implement post-layout simulation to ensure consistency and runtime error before release.) However, I noticed that I need to have direct contact with people from my previous work and have to have access to the data and resources to conduct simulations to include the results in my paper. There was no way to use the company’s system since I am no longer an employee. Thus, I had to change my report topic. It was hard to come up with a new topic considering all factors such as something I should have a certain level of knowledge to address problems and suggest realistic solutions. I eventually chose a topic that is deeply related to my daily life which is about the rooftop patio in the apartment I have lived since 2018. The topic is not what I can utilize my professions in computer science and electronic engineering, rather, construction and civil engineering. But the topic was interesting, and it is what I can also contribute to the community.
Writing outline and progress process helped me figure out what to include and exclude and set a due date for each step. Before doing this, all seemed too vague. I was actually overwhelmed by the amount of work and the packed schedule. Breaking it down into smaller tasks and having a plan mitigated my stress.
Peer Review
The peer-review assignments have been significantly beneficial to improve writing skills. I found that reviewing someone else’s writing is as difficult as writing my own, and it requires more skillsets and a comprehensive understanding of technical writing. At a glance, it was not easy to give feedback to the writer because it was well-written with no errors. To give constructive and productive feedback, I had to re-read the assignment instruction, the textbook, and the writing, which helped me to understand the task better. In addition, I could practice clear communication that is objective and specific.
The peer reviewed proposal helped me a lot to enhance my writing. Akaya kindly gave me very detailed feedback in each section, which was easy to find where and what she meant. Her suggestions to include more details in my research method and use less pronouns were definitely strengthen my writing.
Revised proposal: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-98a-2021sa/2021/06/28/301-jieun-kim-fo…proposal-revised/
Peer review of my proposal: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-98a-2021sa/2021/06/18/assignment-21-peer-review-for-jieuns-formal-report-proposal/
Report Outline: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-98a-2021sa/2021/06/25/83048/