© 2026 Emily Valentine Inc. All Rights Reserved.
An emerging IT professional with practical experience running game servers, supporting online communities, and creating engaging digital content. I enjoy building reliable systems that bring people together. Tech-driven, player-focused, and always levelling up
I’m an IT student, server administrator, creator, and business owner with a strong interest in technology, community building, and digital design.
I’m currently completing a Diploma of Information Technology at Griffith University, where I’m developing practical skills in programming, databases, application systems, and backend infrastructure.
I have hands-on experience running and maintaining Ark: Survival Ascended servers, managing automated restarts, database-driven plugins, MySQL integrations, performance optimisation, and live service troubleshooting. This work has strengthened my technical problem-solving, scripting, and system-management skills while supporting a large, active online community.
Alongside my technical work, I’ve built and managed my CMXO brand, creating digital content, streaming, and designing branding assets for both myself and my gaming community. My work blends technology with creativity, spanning website design, server administration, and community engagement.
I also have entrepreneurial experience managing multiple businesses and creative projects, which has strengthened my leadership, communication, and project-management skills and taught me how to deliver meaningful experiences for diverse audiences.
Outside of work and study, I enjoy activities that challenge the mind and encourage strategic thinking, including poker, chess, Pokémon GO, and Ark: Survival Ascended. These interests reflect how I approach challenges: analytically, creatively, and with curiosity.
At my core, I’m driven by continuous learning, problem-solving, and building systems and communities that bring people together. I thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy working at the intersection of technology, creativity, and community.
I value honesty, accountability, and doing the right thing, especially when no one is watching. Integrity guides my decisions, my work, and the communities I build.
Whether it’s server uptime, project deadlines, or supporting a team, people can count on me. I show up consistently and deliver results that others can trust.
Technology evolves fast, and so do I. I’m committed to expanding my skills, exploring new tools, and staying curious in everything I do.
Great things happen when people feel supported. I believe in building strong, inclusive communities, from gaming spaces to professional teams, through communication, empathy, and shared goals.
I love finding fresh solutions, experimenting with new ideas, and blending technical skills with creativity. Whether designing systems or content, I make experiences that feel modern and engaging.
I take full responsibility for my work and outcomes. If something needs improving, I fix it, no excuses, no waiting. I believe in being proactive and leading by example.
My customer service experience is built on being the first point of contact and the person people rely on when they need help. Whether supporting patients in a healthcare setting, assisting users in online communities, or managing client enquiries in business environments, I focus on listening first, solving problems clearly, and making people feel supported. Over time, this has strengthened my ability to stay calm under pressure, communicate effectively, and deliver positive experiences across both in-person and digital spaces.
Aug 2025 - Present
2021-Present
2024-Present
2019
2018
2015-2021
2010-2024
2016-2020
2012-2013
2009
2008
2025-Present
Aug 2025 - Present
2021-Present
2024-Present
2019
2018
2015-2021
2010-2024
2016-2020
2012-2013
2009
2008
2025-Present
Aug 2025 - Present
2021-Present
2024-Present
2019
2018
2015-2021
2010-2024
2016-2020
2012-2013
2009
2008
2025-Present
In my role at Your Podiatrist Brisbane, I manage front-of-house operations while supporting both clinical delivery and practice systems within a busy healthcare environment. This role requires balancing patient-facing responsibilities with operational and technical oversight to ensure the clinic runs efficiently, compliantly, and with a strong focus on patient care.
My responsibilities extend beyond administration to include staff recruitment, onboarding, and training, where I take ownership of preparing new team members for front-of-house and support roles. I am actively involved in coordinating clinic workflows, managing schedules, and supporting the day-to-day operation of clinic technology, ensuring systems are reliable and processes are followed accurately.
A key component of my role involves working closely with podiatrists and management to maintain regulatory compliance, data accuracy, and confidentiality, particularly when handling sensitive patient information and healthcare claims. I also provide hands-on technical and systems support, assisting with practice software, digital workflows, and in-clinic technology to minimise disruption and maintain service quality.
Through this role, I have developed strong skills in customer service, leadership, and problem-solving, while gaining practical experience supporting real-world systems in a regulated environment. The position has strengthened my ability to manage competing priorities, communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and take accountability for outcomes that directly impact patient experience and clinic operations.
This role strengthens my ability to balance customer service, leadership, and technical responsibility within a regulated healthcare environment. I continue to build confidence in managing systems, people, and competing priorities, while adapting my communication to suit both clinical staff and patients.
The experience reinforces my interest in roles that combine technology, process improvement, and operational support, while increasing my awareness of the importance of prioritisation and boundary-setting in sustaining performance. It supports my ongoing development in accountability, professional judgement, and effective communication across both technical and non-technical contexts.
In my role as Creator Network Manager at RedXMedia, I oversee and support a network of TikTok Live creators, focusing on creator growth, performance, platform compliance, and technical readiness. I work closely with creators to optimise live content strategies, resolve technical issues, and improve audience engagement while aligning individual goals with broader network and brand objectives.
The role involves recruiting, onboarding, and managing creators, as well as providing ongoing technical and operational support related to live streaming tools, platform features, account setup, and performance optimisation. I assist creators in troubleshooting live-stream issues, adapting to platform updates, and implementing best practices to ensure stable, high-quality live broadcasts.
I also act as a liaison between creators, internal teams, and external partners, supporting collaborations and brand opportunities while ensuring technical requirements and content standards are met. Through this role, I balance people management, technical problem-solving, and data-informed decision-making, contributing to the sustainable growth of both individual creators and the RedXMedia creator network.
Working in this role allows me to operate in a remote, self-employed environment (contracted to RedXMedia) where I manage my own time while supporting a diverse network of creators. On a casual basis, I regularly shift between problem-solving technical issues, guiding creators through live content challenges, and responding to fast-moving platform changes, which keeps the work dynamic and engaging.
The experience continues to strengthen my independence, adaptability, and communication skills, particularly when supporting creators across different schedules and technical skill levels. It reinforces my ability to stay organised, take ownership of outcomes, and remain responsive without direct supervision, while still delivering consistent support and maintaining strong professional relationships in a digital-first workspace.
As the Server Administrator and Community Manager for 4ArkSake, I design, deploy, and maintain a self-hosted Ark: Survival Ascended server cluster, managing both the technical infrastructure and the player community. This role involves end-to-end responsibility for server reliability, performance optimisation, automation, and live service support in a real-world production environment.
I self-host and manage multiple game servers using GameServerApp (GSA), configuring automated restarts, updates, backups, and monitoring to ensure uptime and stability. I integrate and maintain database-driven plugins and systems, including MySQL-backed services and Tip4Serv, enabling automated rewards, purchases, and in-game economies. I regularly customise configurations, permissions, and workflows to align server behaviour with community needs and gameplay balance.
In addition to infrastructure management, I implement automation and tooling to streamline administration tasks, reduce downtime, and support live operations. This includes scripting, configuration management, and troubleshooting across server software, plugins, networking, and data synchronisation. I also provide active technical support during live gameplay, resolving crashes, sync issues, and player-impacting incidents in real time.
Alongside the technical responsibilities, I manage the community ecosystem, including Discord integration, ticket-based support workflows, moderation systems, and player communication. This role requires balancing system performance, user experience, and operational efficiency while continuously improving the server environment based on analytics, player feedback, and platform updates.
Through 4ArkSake, I apply and strengthen practical skills in server administration, automation, database integration, and live systems support, gaining hands-on experience that closely reflects real-world infrastructure and service management roles.
Through 4ArkSake, I intentionally use a live, self-hosted server environment as a practical learning space to expand and refine my IT skills. Rather than relying solely on default configurations or simplified solutions, I often choose more complex approaches to server management, automation, and integration in order to better understand how systems function at a deeper level. This deliberate experimentation allows me to learn through hands-on problem-solving, testing, and iteration in a real-world context.
Working with self-hosted infrastructure, automated workflows, database-backed systems, and live service integrations has strengthened my confidence in troubleshooting, system design, and operational decision-making. Managing changes in an active player-facing environment has also reinforced the importance of planning, testing, documentation, and rollback strategies to balance learning with reliability and user experience.
This role continues to shape my approach to technology as both a technical discipline and a problem-solving practice. It encourages curiosity, adaptability, and continuous improvement, while developing my ability to take ownership of systems, respond effectively to incidents, and learn independently. Overall, 4ArkSake provides an ongoing platform for translating theory into practice and developing skills directly relevant to infrastructure, systems administration, and live IT support roles.
As CMXO, I have developed and grown a personal live-streaming brand over several years, evolving from initial content creation into the management of a successful, multi-platform digital presence across Twitch, MeetMe, and TikTok. Throughout this journey, I have consistently refined my skills in live production, community engagement, and digital strategy, adapting to platform changes and audience expectations as the brand has grown.
Over time, I have taken full ownership of the technical and operational aspects of streaming, including configuring live-streaming software, managing audio and visual production, and troubleshooting technical issues in real time. Each stage of growth has required learning new tools, improving workflows, and responding to increasingly complex technical and community challenges, contributing to a high-quality and reliable live experience for viewers.
Alongside technical development, I have built and sustained an engaged online community by fostering inclusive, interactive spaces and maintaining consistent moderation and communication standards. As the CMXO brand has expanded, I have leveraged performance analytics and audience insights to refine content strategies, support audience retention, and achieve strong engagement and growth outcomes across platforms.
Through this ongoing progression, CMXO has become both a creative outlet and a professional learning environment where I continuously develop skills in technical problem-solving, digital communication, analytics, and independent project management.
This journey reflects my ability to learn iteratively, adapt to evolving digital environments, and achieve sustained success through deliberate skill development and strategic decision-making.
Building CMXO over time has been both a creative outlet and an ongoing learning journey that has shaped how I approach digital work and community engagement. What began as an interest in live streaming has gradually evolved into a space where I consistently develop technical confidence, communication skills, and a strong sense of responsibility for the communities I help create. Each stage of growth has required me to adapt, learn new tools, and respond to change while maintaining authenticity and consistency.
Managing live broadcasts has strengthened my ability to think quickly and solve problems in real time, particularly when technical issues arise unexpectedly. At the same time, fostering an inclusive and welcoming community has deepened my understanding of communication, moderation, and leadership in digital spaces. Balancing technical execution with human connection has been a key learning outcome of this role.
Most importantly, CMXO has reinforced the value of persistence, reflection, and continuous improvement. The experience highlights how digital platforms can be used not only for entertainment, but also to build meaningful connections and shared experiences. This journey continues to influence how I approach learning, creativity, and professional development across both technical and people-focused roles.
In my role as an Uber Driver, I provided customer-focused transport services while operating independently within a platform-driven environment. The role required maintaining a high standard of professionalism, safety, and reliability while adhering to platform guidelines and regulatory requirements.
I operated under Queensland Driver Authorisation (DA) and used Uber’s rideshare application to accept trips, navigate routes, manage bookings, and communicate with passengers. Working within a system-led workflow strengthened my ability to follow digital processes, respond to real-time instructions, and adapt to changing conditions while maintaining service quality.
Through this role, I developed strong skills in customer service, situational awareness, and self-management, while consistently meeting safety and compliance standards. The experience reinforced my ability to work independently within structured systems and deliver positive outcomes in a fast-paced, public-facing environment.
I enjoyed this role because it provided meaningful in-person social interaction at a time when much of my work and success as a streamer was taking place online. Engaging with passengers face to face offered balance and reinforced my enjoyment of direct communication and human connection. The experience highlighted the value I place on interpersonal interaction alongside digital and platform-based work.
As the Owner of Shine Clean, I established and managed a commercial and residential cleaning business delivering services across insurance cleans, medical and allied health practices, residential properties, and bond cleans. I held full responsibility for business operations, service quality, and client relationships while ensuring work was completed safely, reliably, and to a high standard.
Following the disruption caused by COVID-19, I restarted and scaled the business, adapting service offerings and operations to meet changing market conditions. I recruited, trained, and led a team of 10–15 staff, overseeing scheduling, job allocation, and performance across multiple sites and service types.
I managed operational systems using Jobber for job scheduling, workflow management, and client communication, and Xero for invoicing, payments, and financial tracking. I worked directly with insurers, medical practices, property managers, and private clients, maintaining professional relationships in time-sensitive and compliance-focused environments. Owning and operating Shine Clean strengthened my skills in leadership, systems management, and operational decision-making, while providing hands-on experience running a service-based business through periods of change.
Owning and operating Shine Clean provided valuable experience in leadership, resilience, and operational decision-making, particularly through periods of change and uncertainty. I ultimately wound down the business following a car accident that resulted in a temporary injury, which has since been fully resolved. While unexpected, this experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, contingency planning, and knowing when to make responsible decisions for both personal wellbeing and business sustainability. The role strengthened my confidence in managing people, systems, and complex operational demands, and continues to inform how I approach leadership and long-term planning.
During short-term contracts on the NAPLAN data entry project, I was promoted to Team Leader on my first day after rapidly learning the system and demonstrating strong accuracy, problem-solving, and workflow understanding. In this role, I supported team members, ensured data quality standards were met, and assisted with troubleshooting system and process issues to maintain efficiency under strict deadlines.
The position required a high level of attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to quickly master unfamiliar systems while working in a time-sensitive, high-volume environment. This experience highlighted my capacity to learn new technologies quickly, take initiative, and step into leadership responsibilities with confidence.
This experience reinforced my ability to learn new systems quickly and step into leadership roles with confidence. Being promoted on my first day highlighted the value of adaptability, accuracy, and initiative in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.
In my role as a Data Entry Operator and Administration Officer at Diamond People, I supported recruitment operations through accurate data management, payroll administration, and financial processing. The role required working closely with both client organisations and placed workers, acting as a key point of contact to ensure clear communication and smooth operational flow.
I regularly used Xero to manage invoicing, payroll processing, and financial reconciliation, ensuring records were accurate and aligned with internal and external requirements. I liaised with hiring companies regarding staffing needs, timesheets, and payments, while also supporting workers with payroll queries and administrative matters.
This position strengthened my attention to detail, system literacy, and ability to manage sensitive information while balancing multiple stakeholders. It provided practical experience operating within structured administrative systems while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and efficiency in a fast-paced recruitment environment.
At Diamond People I strengthened my ability to work accurately within structured administrative and financial systems while managing competing priorities. Using Xero for payroll processing and reconciliation reinforced the importance of precision, consistency, and attention to detail, particularly when handling sensitive financial and personal information.
Liaising with both hiring companies and workers also developed my communication skills and professional judgement, as I regularly navigated differing expectations and resolved enquiries efficiently. Overall, the experience enhanced my confidence in system-based administrative work and stakeholder communication, while reinforcing the value of clear workflows and reliable data management in recruitment environments.



As an Independent Thermomix Consultant, I operated a self-employed role focused on product demonstrations, customer education, and relationship management. I worked directly with clients to understand their needs, demonstrate product features, and provide tailored guidance to support informed purchasing decisions.
Through consistently developing networks and meeting high national sales targets, I earned qualification to attend ThermoFest 2017, the national Thermomix conference held in Auckland, New Zealand, recognising strong performance and engagement within the consultant network. In addition to sales activities, I assisted in delivering cooking classes, supporting customers in building confidence with the product through hands-on learning and guided instruction.
The role involved organising and hosting demonstrations, managing client enquiries, and providing post-sale support while representing the brand professionally. This experience strengthened my skills in customer engagement, education delivery, sales performance, and independent business management, while reinforcing my ability to build trust, communicate clearly, and work autonomously.
Working as an Independent Thermomix Consultant gave me another opportunity to blend confidence, communication, and independence in a people-focused, self-employed role. Alongside existing business experience, this role allowed me to refine how I connect with clients, read a room, and adapt my approach in real time, particularly through live demonstrations and cooking classes.
Achieving national sales targets and earning qualification to attend ThermoFest 2017 reinforced the importance of consistency, relationship-building, and trust. Helping customers build confidence with the product was genuinely rewarding and strengthened my enjoyment of teaching and facilitating learning in informal, hands-on settings. This experience further developed my presentation skills and autonomy, and continues to shape how I approach client engagement, training, and leadership across both technical and non-technical environments.
I owned and operated Valentine Shine Cleaning, growing the business from an independent, solo cleaning operation into a small business employing up to 15 staff at its peak. During this period, I was responsible for both hands-on service delivery and the progressive expansion of business operations as demand increased.
As the business scaled, I implemented and managed operational systems using Jobber for scheduling, job management, and team coordination, and Xero for invoicing, payroll, and financial tracking. I recruited, trained, and supervised staff, while maintaining service quality, client relationships, and day-to-day operations across multiple jobs and locations.
I also leveraged Facebook and local community groups to promote services, engage with customers, and build trust through customer reviews and word-of-mouth referrals. Actively managing online presence and feedback supported business growth and strengthened relationships within the local community.
This role strengthened my skills in entrepreneurship, systems implementation, people management, and operational scaling, and provided early experience in building structured workflows and community-driven growth strategies to support sustainable business success.
Building Valentine Shine Cleaning from a solo operation into a business employing up to 15 staff provided valuable early experience in leadership, systems thinking, and operational growth. As the business expanded, I gained a strong understanding of how structure, processes, and people management support sustainable scaling.
Selling the business marked a natural transition point, allowing me to step back after successfully establishing and growing a viable operation. This experience shaped my confidence in decision-making, adaptability, and long-term planning, and laid a strong foundation for later business and management roles by reinforcing how thoughtful systems and leadership drive successful outcomes.





As a Volunteer Wildlife Administration Assistant and Transport Driver at the RSPCA, I supported animal welfare operations through a combination of administrative assistance and hands-on transport support. The role required reliability, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to animal care and ethical handling practices.
I assisted with wildlife-related administration, including record keeping and coordination, while also volunteering as a transport driver for the safe relocation and release of wildlife. This involved following strict handling, safety, and biosecurity guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of animals during transport and release processes.
Through this role, I developed a deeper understanding of animal welfare operations and strengthened my skills in responsibility, communication, and compliance, while contributing to meaningful outcomes within a community-focused, volunteer environment.
Volunteering with the RSPCA was deeply rewarding and grounded me in the importance of care, responsibility, and doing work that genuinely matters. Supporting wildlife behind the scenes through administration, and then being trusted to assist with transport and release, gave me a strong sense of purpose and connection to the outcomes of the work.
The experience reinforced my respect for structured processes, safety protocols, and teamwork in sensitive environments, while also reminding me how fulfilling it is to contribute to something bigger than myself. It strengthened my appreciation for community service and ethical responsibility, and remains one of the most personally meaningful roles I have been involved in.
In my role as a Managed Solutions Sales Representative, I specialised in telematics solutions, with a primary focus on Navman Wireless vehicle tracking and fleet management systems. I worked closely with business clients to understand operational needs and recommend tailored tracking, reporting, and optimisation solutions to improve fleet visibility, efficiency, and compliance.
A significant component of the role involved ongoing sales training and professional development, where I built strong product knowledge, consultative selling skills, and the ability to position technical solutions in a commercially effective way. I regularly attended networking events and industry functions, developing professional relationships, generating leads, and strengthening brand presence within the business community.
In addition to telematics, I supported clients with a broader range of business technology solutions, including phone systems, mobile services, and business IT offerings. This role strengthened my ability to combine technical understanding, relationship management, and strategic communication, while gaining experience in solution-based sales within complex business environments and contributing to long-term client partnerships and business growth.
This role strengthened my confidence in engaging with businesses and positioning technology solutions in a way that addressed real operational needs. Ongoing sales training and development pushed me to refine my communication style, build resilience, and become more comfortable presenting technical concepts in commercially meaningful ways.
Attending networking and industry events helped me develop strong relationship-building skills and an appreciation for the value of professional connections. Overall, the experience enhanced my ability to combine technical understanding, communication, and strategic thinking, and reinforced my interest in roles that sit at the intersection of technology, people, and business outcomes.
In my role as an Internal Sales Trainee at The Locker Group, a manufacturer and supplier of industrial storage, safety, and workplace solutions, I completed a Certificate III in Business Sales while supporting internal sales operations in a business-to-business environment. The role combined structured training with practical experience across sales support, customer service, and administrative processes.
Through a rapid uptake of product knowledge, I progressed to supporting Technical Sales Representatives, including those specialising in woven trommel screens for the mining industry. This involved assisting with technical enquiries, preparing supporting documentation, and ensuring accurate communication of product specifications to meet industry and client requirements.
I assisted with handling client enquiries, preparing quotes, processing orders, and maintaining accurate records, while developing an understanding of product specifications, compliance requirements, and customer needs within industrial and manufacturing contexts. This role created a solid foundation in B2B sales processes, technical product support, and professional communication, while reinforcing the importance of accuracy, teamwork, and continuous learning in a specialised industrial environment.
Working in a technical, industrial sales environment highlighted the importance of rapid learning and adaptability when supporting specialised products and teams. Quickly developing product knowledge and assisting technical sales representatives increased my confidence in handling complex information and communicating it accurately to both internal stakeholders and clients.
Completing a traineeship alongside day-to-day responsibilities strengthened my professionalism, attention to detail, and understanding of structured business processes. The experience contributed to a strong foundation in technical product support, systems-driven workflows, and business communication, and continues to shape how I approach learning and collaboration in specialised environments.
Completed
Application Systems (Distinction)
Programming Principles (Distinction)
Data Management (Distinction)
Foundations of Academic Writing (Distinction)
Currently Studying
Computer Systems and Cyber Security
Future of Work
Enrolled for Trimester 1
Creative Coding
Professional ICT Practice
This qualification introduced me to core principles of animal care, welfare, and behaviour, while building a strong foundation in safety, handling, and working responsibly in structured environments. It also strengthened my attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to follow protocols, skills I continue to apply across all professional settings.
Gained strong foundations in administration, data handling, communication, and process coordination, skills that directly support my transition into IT support roles. This traineeship also strengthened my ability to manage systems, follow procedures, and work efficiently in structured environments.
What actions can you take to really understand your interests, values, skills, personality and strengths?
I have refined my self-awareness through structured self-assessment tools, including the Holland Code, Myers-Briggs personality assessments, and the VIA Character Strengths Profile, alongside ongoing reflection on my academic and professional experiences. These tools have helped me better understand my interests, strengths, values, and preferred ways of working, particularly in relation to my career direction in information technology.
My Holland Code results indicate a strong preference for Building, supported by Persuading, Thinking, and Creating, reflecting my interest in designing, managing, and improving systems while engaging strategically with people and ideas. This aligns with my Myers-Briggs results, which commonly fall between ENTJ and INTJ, highlighting a strategic, analytical, and goal-oriented approach to problem-solving.
The VIA Character Strengths Profile further supports this, with key strengths including Perspective, Leadership, Love of Learning, Judgment, Creativity, and Social Intelligence. Together, these strengths influence how I approach challenges through continuous learning, thoughtful decision-making, and awareness of both systems and people.
While my Holland results show lower preference scores in Helping and Organising, reflection has shown these to be preferences rather than limitations. In practice, helping others is a consistent part of my work, and organisational challenges tend to arise from overcommitment rather than lack of skill. This awareness has highlighted the importance of prioritisation, boundary-setting, and sustainable workload management.
Overall, developing self-awareness has enabled me to align my career goals with my strengths, adapt to different environments, and continue refining areas that support long-term professional growth.
What do you need to research to be clear about your options? What could you do to learn more about career options in your areas of interest?
To clarify my career options, I have researched both formal education pathways and industry-based entry routes within information technology. This has included reviewing Bachelor degree options, exploring technical support and helpdesk career pathways, and investigating relevant industry certifications.
I have considered Bachelor programs in Information Technology, Computer Science and Cyber Security, reviewing course structures and skill outcomes to understand how higher education can support long-term progression into systems administration, infrastructure, or security-focused roles. This research has helped me evaluate how formal study complements practical experience.
Alongside this, I have explored the IT helpdesk pathway as a realistic entry point into the industry. Research shows clear progression from Level 1 Service Desk roles into Level 2 and Level 3 support, systems administration, and specialised technical roles, aligning with my existing hands-on experience.
I have also investigated industry certifications, including CompTIA A+, ITIL Foundation, and Microsoft certifications, as a way to validate skills and strengthen employability. To learn more, I seek advice from industry professionals, review job descriptions, and engage with professional networks, allowing me to make informed decisions about future career pathways.
What actions could you take to help you learn more about your industry or find opportunities to develop your skills or find work experience opportunities?
To continue developing my skills and industry awareness, I plan to engage in a combination of practical experience, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. I intend to utilise Griffith University’s Careers and Employment services, including mentoring programs, workshops, and employer engagement opportunities, to gain insight into industry expectations and pathways into IT roles.
I will continue to build hands-on experience through ongoing development and management of my self-hosted Ark servers, using this environment as a practical learning space to expand my skills in server administration, automation, troubleshooting, and system optimisation. This allows me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios while experimenting with increasingly complex technical solutions.
Volunteering and short-term work opportunities will also support my development by providing exposure to professional IT environments, customer-facing support, and collaborative problem-solving. Additionally, I plan to pursue internships or entry-level roles, such as service desk or technical support positions, to gain structured workplace experience and industry exposure.
Through mentoring, practical projects, and real-world experience, I will continue building both technical competence and professional insight within the IT industry.
What action can you take to find out more about what skills you might need to develop in your future career? How might you document/record these?
To effectively evidence my knowledge, skills, and attributes, I will take a systematic and reflective approach to identifying required competencies and documenting my development in a measurable way.
I will analyse job advertisements and position descriptions within my intended IT career pathway to identify commonly required technical, professional, and personal skills. These findings will be compared against industry frameworks, certification pathways, and professional standards to ensure alignment with employer expectations.
I have completed a skills audit to assess my current capabilities and identify gaps relative to industry requirements. This audit provides a baseline for targeted development and will be reviewed regularly as my skills progress.
To document my development, I will maintain a structured skills inventory within my ePortfolio, organised into technical, professional, and transferable skill categories. Each skill will be supported by evidence such as academic work, practical projects, certifications, reflections, and artefacts demonstrating application and outcomes.
Ongoing reflective documentation and feedback from lecturers, supervisors, and peers will support continuous improvement and validation of my progress. This approach ensures my portfolio presents a clear, credible, and current record of professional skill development.
List three things you could do to start building your professional networks.
1. Actively engage on professional networking platforms
I will use LinkedIn strategically to build my professional network by connecting with industry professionals, peers, and alumni. This includes maintaining an up-to-date professional profile, engaging with industry-related content, and participating in discussions to increase visibility and establish professional credibility.
2. Participate in industry and university networking opportunities
I will attend career expos, employer information sessions, workshops, and industry events facilitated through the university and professional organisations. These events provide direct access to employers and industry representatives and support the development of professional communication and networking skills.
3. Build relationships through workplace and learning environments
I will actively develop professional relationships with colleagues, supervisors, lecturers, and mentors through my current work and study environments. Seeking feedback, participating in collaborative projects, and maintaining professional communication helps establish meaningful connections that may lead to future opportunities, references, or mentorship.
Director - RedXMedia
I have known Emily for many years. Emily is a wealth of knowledge in assisting our creators with anything technical or behavioural. Emily’s vast and extensive knowledge is a benefit to the business. Emily is a great people manager who filters through the smoke and is fully transparent whilst relating to our clients on the skills they are required to focus on. I have also gotten to know Emily on the otherside of the fence where she is dedicated to providing customised enhancements and customisations with 4arksake. Emily is definitely a real asset to any business and a great genuine people leader who I wholeheartedly recommend.
I actively use LinkedIn to share my learning journey, professional experiences, and ongoing development within the technology and digital space. I enjoy connecting with fellow students, industry professionals, and anyone interested in technology, systems, or creative problem-solving. Whether you’re studying, working in IT, or simply curious about my work, I welcome genuine connections, conversations, and opportunities to learn from others.

