What Digital Platforms are Students Using to Develop Their Professional Network?
Linkedin is one of the most relevant platforms for students to develop their budding professional networks, as it allows for connections to be made with individuals in potential future career paths, mentorship to take place, advice to be shared and job opportunities to be explored. It allows for students to connect with peers and mentors all over the world and make valuable connections with individuals they may have never known otherwise. This allows for the sharing of new perspectives, the cultivation of ideas and the trading of insider tips that can help a student jumpstart their professional journey into their field of choice. Especially when looking to gain initial experience and find jobs, Linkedin is an extremely helpful tool as it provides easily accessible job posting and internship opportunities, and puts companies that are looking for new hires in the same space.
What Could the Student Consider in Expanding their Professional Learning Network?
There are many ways in which a student could expand their professional learning network. One of the most beneficial ways is through active engagement in opportunities in ones community and taking part as a member in spaces that pertain to areas of interest both professionally and personally. Like Lily said this week in our learning pods, getting engaged by attending conferences and meetings is key when it comes to expanding ones professional learning network. At UVIC, there are many opportunities to do so through co-ops, meeting sessions within fields of study, and clubs and councils that support career opportunities. As a psychology student, I know there are multiple events throughout the year where we can attend, mingle with graduate students and professors, ask questions, gain information on future paths of study and make connections with professionals and peers in areas relevant to us.
How Does Data Privacy and Security Limit and/or Promote a PLN?
Data privacy can limit or inhibit the creation of connections in a personal and professional learning network, as it may be more difficult to connect with others to share ideas if certain individuals accounts are private or if settings are in place to limit comments or direct messages. In our learning pods this week, Lily made a great point about how secure platforms of communication can promote trust within a personal or professional l.earning network, and is a productive way to encourage meaningful and open conversations as there is less worry about factors such as data mining.
In Your Network, How can you Create a Digital Identity and Reputation?
You can create a reputation for yourself online by remaining consistently mindful about the way in which your online presence is portrayed and the implications of what you are commenting and posting online. For me, it is important to refrain from taking part in negative interactions with others online, for example leaving hate comments, posting a harmful video on TikTok, making fun of someone else or being apart of negative forums and chats. It is important to be mindful of the fact that everything we say, post and interact with on the internet contributes to the building of our digital identity, and that we should do what is possible to make sure it is a positive one.
Consider How an Employer Would Respond if you Applied for a Job With Them and They Assessed your Social Media Presence via your Digital Identity
In my opinion based on my review of my own digital foot we completed last week, if an employer assessed my social media presence there would not be any causes for concern. I tend to remain pretty private online, with private social media accounts that I do not post consistently on. I found that everything attached to my name on google was pretty tame and would not raise any red flags if I was applying for a job.
This is my Visitor and Resident Map:
