What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?

The digital platforms used by students to develop their professional network is ever growing. Many students use apps like LinkedIn or twitter to showcase a professional portfolio, but in more recent times apps like Tiktok can be an important and effective way to market yourself for certain job prospects. There are plenty of jobs for social media teams for orgs or marketing teams so having a successful Tiktok, Instagram, or twitter page could really put you ahead of the pack in terms of showcasing your social media success and what you bring to the table. I think there are more and more jobs appearing that requires the use of people who are experienced in running social media platforms and having a personal successful one is becoming more and more of a benefit for potential employers in that field.

What could the student consider in expanding their professional learning network?

There are many things that could be expanded upon in a students social network . The importance of networking is not stressed enough. Developing ones PLN and making connections online has never been such an essential part of life before. I myself am bad at networking and making these connections so it is something that could be expanded upon for me personally. Making more connections with UVIC students online whether it be Brightspace/matter most etc. developing professional and personal connections has so many benefits that are often overlooked by many students. Students should look to use the online connectivity tools given to them by the university to develop their professional learning network with other students and profs at school, interacting is key.

In your network how can you create a digital identity/ reputation?

You can carefully curate your digital identity/reputation in your network. Just like in real life, respect I think is key, which is something many people forget on the internet due to the sense of anonymity. Conducting yourself in a respectful manner is incredibly important, as any comment or post that you make that could be interpreted as something damaging to your reputation is now permanently there for everyone to go back and see over and over again. The thoughts you articulate, the kind of pictures you post, how you conduct yourself with others online are all important aspects of shaping your digital identity and reputation.

Find out what a local employer would do if you applied for a job with them?

Speaking from my personal experience. My boss first saw my resume, looked over it to make sure I was first qualified. He personally told his staff the second thing he checks is if they have a Facebook page that he can find. He has said that many people have posted things on their Facebook which lead to them not getting the job. Now for me my Facebook is private and unsearchable so he was unable to gain access to my personal network, not that I post much on their anyways. I think this is not uncommon amongst many employers as personal and professional lives may be separate, if you have a public personal identity that is not conducted in a certain manner it may lead to less job prospects. I also think LinkedIn is a very important tool for getting more successful applications as its a place for employers to find you, rather than you to find them. If you have a good list of achievements and qualifications it could get you a lot of offers.