The Importance of a Positive Footprint

A positive digital footprint is data about you that is traceable online that employers can see to evaluate information about potential employees. Employers look for things they can see to get a sense of the applicant’s personality to see if they have good conduct and to see if they can get a grasp of what qualifications you have like communication skills so that they get a better understanding if they fit the job. Also to see if others have good comments about them and if they have received any awards or achievements. A digital footprint especially a positive one is important if you are looking for a job, as you need one for employers to look at to see if you’re a good fit for the job.

“A person’s online footprint is becoming an increasingly important part of their online brand. It makes sense that people should be promoting their brand (name) in a positive light. If someone is working hard, being creative, helping others or receiving awards, then surely promoting these skills and achievements online is a good thing. Students need to learn that using their real name online is not always a bad thing, it is part of creating a positive digital footprint that will be seen by others.” (edjudo.com). A digital footprint is important to build so that you can get the job you want. Different ways students can create a positive digital footprint about themselves to make employers have a good impression are social media apps like Facebook and Twitter being used to establish a good online reputation by collaborating or contributing to meaningful things they are passionate about. By creating or joining groups that further show their interest and connecting with other people who are passioned about the same things as them.

Another good way of showing your interests or skills online to create a positive digital footprint would be blogging. Blogging can display to employers your communication skills simply by writing about a topic you are passionate about. “The easiest thing you can do is write a blog, write about your internship or your senior research, write about the things you love you love about the job you’d like to have” (Ratzlaff). Even intellectual or constructive comments that the applicant puts on other people’s blogs with your name attached displayed can also leave a positive remark on your profile for the employer.

Students encouraged to participate in online competitions such as writing, photography, film, or creating digital media content is another great way to build a positive outlook on your digital footprint. Competitions like Adobe and Microsoft host design competitions for students and having their name and work published on the site is a great way to show your talent and hard work. Sometimes work at school that teachers make students do can encourage them to embody it into these online competitions, growing a positive digital footprint.

It’s also important to consider practice and create a digital resume for themselves to further show their skills and abilities, especially in the growing field of digital media or design, a digital resume that showcases their competence will get them noticed by employers giving them a job.

A negative digital footprint can also happen. You have to think about what you post before you post it. It might not let you have the job you applied for–employers could see it and essentially not like it. The won’t hire you.

“I have cartoon footprint making feet.” by mkanoap is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.