What?
My connect online results came back as ‘Intrepid Intermediate.’ This means, as an online learner you are quite confident about managing your Personal Learning Environment (PLE) and connecting with people online. You are already a member of a few professional focused online discussions but would like to expand this. Your ability and confidence to connect synchronously or asynchronously with people and information is developing momentum.
Previously, I have connected with colleagues over websites, apps and via email platforms. These are always done in a professional and polite manner as our company is Australia wide. I connect with my peers over multiple social media apps, such as- Facebook and Instagram. To connect with future employers, I have made a professional LinkedIn profile. (Please see all three hyperlinks at the bottom of the blog.) This can help me make connections and put myself out there for employers to see. To connect with mentors, I have an email address set up so I can communicate, interact and collaborate with them.
So What?
Being connected in 2020 is now normal. Whether you are connected for social need, professional need or day to day life, it is available. If you aren’t connected, you aren’t in the loop. Connecting online is important because without it, you wouldn’t be able to find information, complete tasks or gain contacts in the same way as being not online.
I now understand how to make a professional profile so future employers and colleagues can access and contact me directly. Significant knowledge I’ve learnt that helps me improve my connecting skills include how to write professional introductions, create professional sites and develop a professional social network. I have experienced new online communities such as those on LinkedIn. This is a professional online community. On my LinkedIn profile, I have added many groups become apart of their community. I have many connections on my LinkedIn profile with medical connections. I am yet to experience any interactions.
Now What?
I have had a few ‘aha’ moments while creating my professional profile, LinkedIn. When setting up my profile, my best ‘aha’ moment was when uploading a professional headshot. The head shot crop box is very little. I tried to upload a pre-cropped headshot, whilst doing this my picture enlarged. My headshot turned into an eyeshot. I fixed this issue by un-cropping my headshot and putting a background on it, so it expanded. It then fit perfectly into the headshot box. I misspelt ‘professional’ twice through my profile, but luckily, I fixed this before uploading my LinkedIn. I was also required to make a new email whilst making a LinkedIn profile. This was a lengthy, time-consuming process.
To move forward, I will be making changes to my LinkedIn profile so I can update it throughout my professional life. I plan to keep my professional contacts and at some stage contact them to make acquaintances. I will also look at gaining new professional contacts, who can help with my career plan. This could help me gain a future work-related role. If I am engaging with professionals over LinkedIn, this will increase my professional lingo. If I engage with professionals within the medical industry this will increase my knowledge and I will have some lingo already tucked under my belt for my degree.
Hyperlinks-
Facebook Profile (Peer and Professional Contacts)
Instagram Account (Peer Connections)
LinkedIn Professional Account (Professional Connections) 