Making the Right Mistakes

Whilst transition offers many new exciting opportunities it is often a time of unique vulnerability: new environment; new social scene and new freedoms. The move to higher education is designed not only to broaden horizons but also build a skill set that prepares an individual to succeed in a global society. And where online technology is concerned that means truly global.

Reputation is key to how a person interacts and is judged by others which can influence the life chances offered.

Microsoft research 2 years ago estimated that over 50% of UK recruiters now actively search through online content to shortlist applications. And what are they looking at?

• Search engines
• Social networks including LinkedIn
• Video and image sites to which candidates post
• Organisations to which the candidate belongs
• Gaming sites, guilds and clans
• Commercial sites like Ebay and Amazon (An Amazon wish list can be publicly searched)

Some even employ the use of professional online search services to do the groundworks for them.

And the reasons they have rejected candidates?

• Comments posted by candidates online
• Comments posted by other people regarding the candidate
• Inappropriate images of the candidate whether posted by themselves or others
• Poor communication skills
• Organisations to which the candidate belongs

Whilst there is a lot of information out there on how not to develop a bad online reputation there is little advice on how to shape and put things right if your digital footprint is at best a bit messy.

The South West Grid for Learning has produced a series of quick, “down & dirty” graphics to assist with understanding those issues and how to avoid the common mistakes and traps that many make. They cover:

• Online Communities
• Online Dating
• Pornography
• Privacy and Reputation

and are designed to provide a quick digest of information around best practice; risks; issues, regulation and law. There are also contact addresses for organisations that can assist if there are any questions or require support.

The UK Safer Internet Centre also has a useful mini-site aimed at managing professional reputation which you can find at ONLINE REPUTATION

Resources can be downloaded by clicking on the links above

There are more in the pipeline on “Plagiarism” and “Gender”. We’d welcome any comments you might have about whether these hit the mark and remember …

…tell your friends! You might be doing them a favour.