Having an online professional profile in today’s society is essential. 94% of all recruiters use LinkedIn to search for candidates (Harris, 2014), meaning that without a profile you are extremely unlikely to be found by the HR department of your dream job.
So, how DO you build an online professional profile?
I created a wordle with all of the key terms that I came across in my research. Each word represents an important point to consider when building an online professional profile. For example: Peter Bowes (2013) explains that it is important to differentiate ourselves from other candidates. In the same way as we would want our CV to stand out in the pile, our online professional profile must be engaging.
One article suggests that a blog can ‘make you a little different from everyone else’ (The Employable, 2014). Before UOSM2033 I hadn’t considered starting a blog. Now that I do, I have the start of a professional portfolio that I can show to potential employers. In our introductory lecture, it was mentioned that a previous pupil had actually got a job offer due to her blog. So, there’s always hope!
However, I do think that building an ‘authentic’ profile is the tricky part here. The best example that I read to illustrate this, was F.A.K.E. Anyone can create a convincing profile with a list of achievements and qualifications, but how do we know its genuine? My first thoughts on this, was a sketch from Friends, whilst the CV is not online it still conveys the point.
Linking back to last weeks topic, I suggested that there is a difference in content between the same individual’s personal and professional profiles. It’s very unlikely that someone would post their pictures from a night out onto their professional profile. Therefore, can a profile ever really be fully authentic? Yes it’s still us, but its a version of us that we want other people to see.
A guide on how NOT to do it:
References:
UOSM2033 Living and Working on the Web 
Hi Hannah,
I really enjoyed reading your topic 3 blog post. I liked the wordle you created – it’s a good way to highlight some key information and stands out to me. I also like the link you made to Joey’s resume on friends – it helps to convey the key point you are trying to raise within the post and makes it clear to the reader.
Maybe you could have included an outside source summarising the key features of ‘HOW TO create an authentic professional profile online’ like the youtube video you inserted at the end, but for the other side of things? This may give an overall conclusion for the readers to sum up the information you have just given them.
Other than that, an enjoyable and thought-provoking post which added to my knowledge of whether we really are being authentic and genuine online, and the key things to avoid.
Thanks!
Alice
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Hi Alice, thankyou for your comment!
I’m glad that you enjoyed the post, I thought this week the topic was quite broad so theres probably quite a variety between everyones.
Thankyou for the advice, I will keep it in mind for next weeks post. I also agree that videos are a nice and engaging way to clearly make your point. As well as not adding to the word count!!
Hannah
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Hi Hannah,
Your wordle was what caught my attention to click on your blog, it is a great idea to sum up relevant terms to do with this topic. I too had never considered writing a blog, in fact I use to be quite embarrassed to have any self-written content online. I completely agree with you that I now see it as a way to express your passion and show off much more than a CV could represent.
I enjoyed the “F.A.K.E” article you linked, I had no idea you could pay companies to give you fake followers; this has made me realise that a large following does not necessarily mean authenticity. You are right, our professional profiles portray the personalities we are permitted to be at work, I feel the scale of allowance depends on the industry, in my blog I mention creative industries are more lenient.
Tiffany
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Hi Tiffany, thankyou for your lovely comment!
I’m glad that you enjoyed the wordle and article that I used. I thought that they were both different ways that I could share similar information to everyone else.
I also did not realise that you could pay companies to give you fake followers or positive reviews. I assumed this would be illegal or perhaps it’s just unethical. I just thought it was a nice way to show that a person’s CV may sound amazing but really its fake.
I agree with your point that the scale of the allowance depends on the industry. On further thought, I also think that your position within the organisation. For example, a sales assistant may have more allowance than a manager.
Hannah
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Hi Hannah,
I really enjoyed your blog and it is well laid out. Like you I’ve never done a blog before and don’t really know what i want people to see and was scared writing mine as I’m dyslexic and written word isn’t my strongest attribute. But it has really opened me up to the internet and I can see how beneficial it is and is an escape from all my other uni work!
One thing I would ask you would be do you think your authentic online? Are you holding back? because i believe being authentic online is different to real life. Online authentic is like real life with a filter element and everything goes through that filter first. I wanted your take on this as you mention online its the version we want the world to see, so is online authenticity different to offline?
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Hi Joe, thankyou for the comment!
I completely agree with you that having a blog is beneficial and I find the writing style far more enjoyable than an essay. I think it gives you more freedom to express yourself however you want and play on your own strengths.
I guess in some respect, yes online authenticity is different to offline. I would also say that in real life I would act differently in certain situations also. For example, I would still filter certain things in front of my manager at work that I wouldn’t around my friends. I think in this case, this would be reflected almost identically on my online profile. I think its a very sketchy area. I would say that I was being me in both situations but I would be more ‘authentic’ in front of my friends!
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