What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?
Since the covid-19 pandemic last year, students have begun to use digital platforms to develop their professional networks. The most frequently used is Zoom. The video chat service provided by Zoom greatly facilitates the instructor’s teaching. My Economic courses are all completed through Zoom. There is also Brightspace used by UVIC students. The instructor will post the materials needed for the course on it. Some quizzes and assignments are submitted through brightspace. EDCI 338 is an elective course of mine. In this class, the instructor used the Mattermost platform to establish a class group. The instructor and the students communicate in groups. Also, LinkedIn, which I started using recently to find a job, is also a network platform that can help students develop professional networks. You can get to know some people who belong to your professional direction through LinkedIn. Keeping in touch with them will be very helpful for your employment.
What can you (as a student) consider to expand your professional learning network?
As a student, I think the most important thing to do to expand PLN is to learn. All aspects and various professional studies. The content that the current network can provide is very rich. You can find a lot of your professional or non-professional content on platforms like Youtube, Instagram, Google, etc. As long as it is something you are interested in, you can find and learn from them. And you can get to know many people who have the same interests as you through the study of these contents. You build your own social circle. These social circles are very useful for expanding your professional learning network.
In your network, how can you create a digital identity/reputation?
Because of the development of the Internet, the audience of our online learning and social platforms is not just ourselves. In your network, digital reputation is very important. You must always remember that you are not the only one in your network. So publish positive content as much as possible. If you are publishing highly professional content, you must do enough research in advance. If something is really unclear, we can actively discuss it with people on the Internet.
Consider what a local employer would do if you applied for a job with them – can they search the content, is it of benefit to the career path, does it hinder the opportunity of employment?
If I were an employer, I would definitely search for candidates on the Internet. As long as you use the Internet platform, it is easy to find you on the Internet. Whether the results found at this time are good for our career path or hindering employment opportunities, it all depends on the digital identity you create yourself. The digital identity you create yourself represents the real yourself. These must be richer than you during a few minutes of interview. The employer understands you more deeply, and then makes a more accurate judgment: Are you really suitable for this position?