Flashback... (Part 2)

1 last day and my week is over.

Has been rushing to update my log for the past 10 weeks, apparantly doesn't really work out well. I need a more systematic way of doing stuff than doing stuff when required.

Darn, was initially on time for my job before my bowels complained making me rush to the toilet. I'll need to set aside more time for contigencies. Had a busy morning, going by ticket to ticket, trying to resolve them, apparantly, I think I need more knowledge before I can carry out my tasks more efficiently; a more efficient system at the UK side will also help, as I can spent less time on mistakes clicking the wrong button and more time on work.

Today was all smooth before SingNet network backbone gave a major outage helping our team create more than 4 tickets in a go.

My Tutor
After that went over, my oh my, it's already noon and my tutor arrived soon after; quite early actually, 15 mins before 2pm. I show him around the place and tried explaining what my role and responsibilites were. He doesn't look too impressed with what I had. Well, at least I still have 10 more weeks to change that before he finalises my grades. Well, just a note of what I could work on.

1. My logbook - obviously, nothing really technical in it... I was afraid that I might need to copy Sybex CCNA word for word. *Sigh*
- I supposed I could make the whole experience more beneficial by abstracting what I had learnt into diagrams and simple step-by-step methodology.
- Improve my knowledge of more commonly used technology in networking and start bombing him with all the technical details the next round he steps into the office

2. Set interim targets to send him my logs for him to take a look; it would definitely help in getting a good grade for the IA; or at least I could get a guide on what more I could add in.

3. Well then lay out an action plan and start working on it.

After the visit
Work and more work, some easy issue such as chasing customers to chase telco to restore the line. The one thing that I find a challenge to deal with in the NMC is actually good communication skills, without that, everything will come to a halt - imagine that you can't communicate well with the customers, vendors and telcos - that's a nitemare especially when a major outage occurs and you don't manage to communicate clearly your ideas/thoughts to the point of contact, now I know why good communication skills are worth a hundred times more than a good technical brain - what's the use of a super brilliant product if you can't communicate to your customer what so good that he should buy it.

After work coffee
Went with the girls for a break at TCC... Sure enjoyed the hot coffee, had some Latte that had some sort of liquor-taste syrup in it... I think I'll go for Hazalnut latte the next round. The good environment that TCC provides was relaxing, they could improve further on the chairs they were providing... too small for me to stretch out and relax... Good enivonment, good coffee, plus some interesting conversations, sure sounds like an ideal way of taking away all the tension that I had handling the tickets as well as knowing my colleagues better. Maybe the next time we'll go for satay at Lau Pai Sat, it's juz beside the building... Accessible and great food (hopefully). LOL
Almost 12am... Well, maybe I'll juz go through some network troubleshooting videos before resting for the nitez.... It's going to be another long day ahead tomorrow.

Flashback...

Almost 3 months of 2006 flew in a flash, how time flies...

Life in Vanco
Think it's time I do a flashback on what I did LOL.
My time in Vanco flew fast and furious, learnt a lot about Cisco networking but definitely more room for improvement. Although I had previous experience with Cisco networking, nothing comes close to having to troubleshoot a live network - the trill of finding the root cause and providing solutions - as well as dealing with customers, assuring them that things are under control. It's not hard, still it require balance and tactfulness. That's something that I think I'd need to learn from Sheena; very flexible in approach and the right balance to get the task done.

From the initial newbie to the current still beginner, really have to thank all those in the company that had helped me along the way. Esp Kim Huat and Sheena - teaching me the ropes of the game.

Definitely the work there had taken a lot of my personal time... A lot of challenging tasks are pouring in, yet there is so little time and so much to do; further more that the fact that a proper training system is not really in place, so a lot of things are OJT. Time, time, time... everyone has the same amount yet everyone wants more of it. Well, that reminds me - I think I need to be a better time manager.

My 2 new juniors (Sharks, I accidentally deleted what I typed earlier on…)
Well, this week I had 2 juniors joining us in the company, Jasmin and Pearl (What a combination – Jasmin Pearl tea, more about them when I know them better =P) Well, a good time I must say, I kindda felt the lack of manpower and these 2 are like saviors to the team; but of coz, they are now like unpolished jewel. I’ll make sure that they will be trained up to the mark by the end of Mar so that they can handle more things within the NMC and of coz leaving me more time of handling more technical tasks. I am expecting a lot from them coz they are from my Alma Mater.

CCNA
Flanked my Sat exam by a close score of 60/1000. There goes my $258 dollars. An expensive lesson, I must say. I’ll take my revenge on April Fool day when my next scheduled exams will be.

Health
Think I need to pay more attention to this area, all the hectic work has taken some precious time from me. I’ll need to organize it to have exercise on a regular basis, otherwise I’ll be in for it missing out my goal for this year.

Well, a bit of tired after all the typing. Think I will take a break and continue another day=P