Week 1 - Gaining Hands-on Experience in IT Support

1st On-The-Job Training week February 4, 2025 - February 7, 2025

This week marked the beginning of my On-the-Job Training (OJT), where I was introduced to real-world IT support and maintenance tasks. Being deployed on a Tuesday, I had four productive days filled with hardware management, system configuration, and documentation. Here’s a recap of my experiences and learnings throughout the week.

Day 1: Orientation and First Hands-on Tasks

The first day was all about getting familiar with my responsibilities. I was oriented to the tasks I would be handling, including hardware maintenance, system installations, and troubleshooting. Right away, I got hands-on experience by installing an operating system on a PC in the accounting office. I also learned how to use a hard drive cloner device, which simplifies the process of duplicating system configurations across multiple units.

Day 2: Hardware Documentation and System Updates

I started the second day by opening computer units in Computer Laboratory 2201 to document their component specifications, including the brand, serial number, and model of each part. This information was recorded in a spreadsheet for better identification and repair tracking. In the afternoon, I moved to Computer Laboratory 2203, where I replaced hard drives with updated configuration drives. Additionally, I pulled out older drives for cloning using Clonezilla, a tool that efficiently duplicates system images for deployment.

Day 3: Refining My Skills Through Repetition

My third day consisted of the same tasks as the previous day, allowing me to refine my efficiency and accuracy. The repetition helped me become more comfortable with identifying hardware components, replacing hard drives, and using Clonezilla for system imaging. I realized how crucial proper documentation is for tracking hardware conditions and maintenance history.

Day 4: Completing Documentation and Continuing System Maintenance

On the fourth day, I successfully completed documenting all component specifications in Lab 2201 and finalized updates to the PC identification and repair history spreadsheet. With that task finished, I focused on replacing hard drives in Lab 2203 and preparing older drives for cloning. This process has given me a better understanding of how IT teams maintain and update multiple systems efficiently.

My first week of OJT has been a great learning experience. I have developed a deeper understanding of IT hardware management, documentation, and system deployment. The hands-on experience has reinforced the importance of accuracy and efficiency in IT support. I look forward to learning more in the coming weeks and gaining new technical skills that will help me grow in this field.