I almost didn’t bother with this assignment. It seemed redundant to fix something that wasn’t broken. I had already obtained several recruitment messages with the profile I had initially. I soon realized how arrogant this was of me; profiles, resumes, and cover letters always require updating and improvement. There is always something that can be worked on, revised, and further analyzed. This assignment helped me realize the importance of constantly updating your job application portfolio.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the process of creating a LinkedIn profile<\/b><\/p>\n
This was an interesting experience for me because I had already created quite an in depth LinkedIn profile quite a while ago. While I would consider it quite a successful profile, this assignment forced me to revisit and revise it. This gave me the opportunity to improve it and consider things I hadn\u2019t before, such as:<\/p>\n
Had I not done this assignment, I most likely would have left my profile as is, and as research shows, readily editing your profile is necessary.<\/p>\n
How do you feel about creating a professional social media network?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
In regards to how I feel about creating a professional social media network, I felt quite comfortable with it. Again, I already had experience with LinkedIn. I am still striving to increase my network though. A personal goal of mine is to hit 500+ connections, as that seems to be a marker of success on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n
Reflect on the process of brainstorming and preparing your report proposal and outline; how do you feel about your progress with the report?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
I thought the requirement to write a schedule was interesting. I\u2019m not someone who usually sets hard deadlines for myself, I tend to just fit in the work whenever and wherever possible, but I think some structure will be an interesting experiment. I also think it\u2019ll keep me accountable and prevent procrastination. In terms of progress, I think it\u2019s going quite well. This is an issue that\u2019s plagued me for quite some time, so I\u2019m more than happy to explore it and look into it.<\/p>\n
Do you have questions about how your investigation is going to become a Formal Report \u2014 or, put more simply, with how this is all going to come together?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
To be completely honest, I\u2019ve had so many deadlines and exams from other classes that I haven\u2019t really had a chance to fret over it. I\u2019m someone with a \u201clet\u2019s cross that bridge when we get there\u201d attitude. I have no doubt that it\u2019ll be quite stressful, but I\u2019m also confident in my writing, problem-solving, research, and synthesis abilities.<\/p>\n
Reflect on your peer review for your partner\u2019s proposal; what did you learn?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Reading my partner\u2019s proposal was very interesting. I think we often operate in a closed environment and forget that other people\u2019s ideas even exist or are just as interesting as our own. I really enjoyed reading Brenda\u2019s proposal, and thought she brought up an excellent problem that should be addressed, self care for healthcare professionals. I learned that ironically, dental hygienists aren\u2019t forced to follow hygiene procedures that would protect themselves from harmful bacteria. We\u2019re so inwardly focused that we often forget about the people on the frontlines of healthcare. Brenda\u2019s proposal reminded me to consider the health and safety of those who take care of us.<\/p>\n
And finally, reflect on the peer review process: what have you learned about your writing and reading by reviewing your team\u2019s writing forum.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Again, I think we write in a vacuum sometimes. It\u2019s hard to edit and critique your own work, so having it peer reviewed by someone has been so helpful. My team has made points I never would have considered; I think it\u2019s smart to have people from diverse backgrounds and different majors review your work. I\u2019ve learned that my writing is decent, but can definitely get a bit too jargon-y. I have to remember that not everyone understands the same terminology as I do, I\u2019ve just become habituated to the terms. In regards to reading, I\u2019ve learned that it\u2019s important to read someone else\u2019s work with the same care and scrutiny you\u2019d want them to give your work. I do my best to read my peer\u2019s work thoroughly and provide them with comments that are positive, but still helpful. I think I\u2019ve really learned to be straightforward, but tactful.<\/p>\n
Have you been surprised by what you have read in your colleague\u2019s work?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Absolutely. Like I mentioned before, we often work in solitude. In traditional classes, there usually isn\u2019t any opportunity to view anyone\u2019s work but your own, so you never know what your peers are doing. In this class, it\u2019s been so nice to see other people\u2019s unique ideas and backgrounds. \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
How do you think peer reviewing has impacted your view of your writing?<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s made me realize how important the peer review process is. If not a peer, at least someone who has NOT written your work should read it through to catch any grammatical or clarity issues. I\u2019m actually surprised I made it through most of university without consistently asking someone else to look over my work. It\u2019s not like having someone else review my work is a foreign concept, it\u2019s something I\u2019ve always been well aware of, but just haven\u2019t realized HOW important it is.<\/p>\n