Mapping My Digital Identity
Creating my Visitors and Residents map made me think more carefully about how I use different platforms for personal, academic, and professional purposes. LinkedIn is currently the main platform I use to develop my professional network. I have been using it more since finishing my final co-op because I want to continue expanding my connections within the biotechnology and and clinical research fields. I use LinkedIn to connect with previous coworkers, follow biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and keep up with people working in clinical operations, research, and other areas that interest me.
I could expand my professional learning network by becoming more active instead of mainly using LinkedIn to make connections. For example, I could interact with posts, follow researchers and biotechnology organizations, share relevant articles, and connect with people working in roles I may want to pursue in the future. Although doing so is still slightly outside my comfort zone, it could help make my network more useful for learning rather than just being a list of contacts.
If an employer reviewed my digital identity, I do not think my social media presence would raise many concerns. My personal social media accounts are private and contain very little publicly available personal information. LinkedIn is the main platform where I intentionally make information about myself public, including my work experience and professional interests, and I try to keep that information professional.
Privacy and security can both help and limit a professional learning network. Keeping personal accounts private helps protect my information, but building a PLN also requires some level of visibility. For me, this means being intentional about what I make public. I can keep my personal life private while still building a professional reputation through LinkedIn, Teams, and other work-related platforms by presenting my experience, interests, and professional connections in a way that reflects the career path I am developing.
Visitors and Residents Mapping Exercise
