THE RELEVANCE OF DIGITAL PROFILES AS EMPLOYABILITY TOOLS

Digital profiles have gradually gained relevance as employability tools. Digital profiles are
online platforms used to store and display information about a persons life, academics,
characteristics competencies and preferences. Employability refers to the set of qualifications,
achievements, competencies and personal attributes that a person needs in order to secure and
maintain an employment in a given occupation. With advancement in technology, digital
profiles have evolved over time and have changed the way people keep in touch with their
career. The call for digital literacy among employees, therefore, cannot be overlooked.
Digital profiles are a masterpiece in research for both learning and employment opportunities.
People can also fill application forms online and communicate with employers in their job
searches (Michal et al, 2010, p.48). This offers a professional communication platform for the
involved parties through the social media. it then follows that jobseekers have to be not only
digital literate, but they also require to be well versed with use of digital profiles as an
employability tool. Students will need to develop an understanding in how to use this type of
digital profile as an employability tool. This calls for training. Potential jobseekers (e.g. students
in institutions of higher learning) should be taught to learn and develop skills for effective use of
digital profiles.
Having a digital profile is extremely significant in todays world. For instance, digital profiles
enable employers are able to follow the career goals and experiences of prospective employees
via the Internet. This is possible because the person with a digital profile exposes him/herself to
potential employers. The owner of the profile has control of the amount of information he/she
intends to be on his/her profile. Companies and individuals are then able to access the
information about the profile holder. This offers them a ground to find out about a prospective
employee and communicate with him/her through the social media.
Every modern employee must have a well developed digital profile. This follows the fact that
most employers seek to find as much information concerning the employee as possible (Nicole,
2010, p.89).This allows individuals and companies select the most competent candidate in
accordance to their needs. Having a digital profile enables one to expand his/her networks and
connections and develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes. One can share ideas and meet
successful members of the society.
Having a digital profile enables one create an effective impression easier than they could do in
person. Employers can see the appearance of a profile holder and build an impression just like in
a face-to-face interview. Uploading a photo in the home page is vital as clients/companies, might
require see ones appearance. The profile photo will also generate an idea of who one is.
Employees can harness this chance to express their goals, skills and abilities to prospective
employers. This can further be achieved by creating memorable pages on the social networks in
an attempt to build a more interactive profile.

Having an online digital profile enhances accessibility. Being online allows digital employers to
search an employees name long before they actually meet with them. The holder can be easily
searched and found quickly without much hassle or struggle. This is made possible because
making the profile fully updated to enhance the ease of searching. Usually, employees grasp this
opportunity to create a digital profile where they are able to talk about anything, some even
making up a story to make their pages win attention. Users can hence effectively identify who
they are and air their career goals and objectives, while still offering insight concerning their
expectations.
Some digital profiles may allow users upload a video. The video narrates the confidence of the
profile holder in front of a camera which suggest the confidence before an audience. This can
also create an impression of ones goals or experiences you which will in turn give the audience
a plot of what one is planning to do (Gross, 2005, p. 26). This is very significant because it
explains the actual nature of the profile holder. This ranges from posture, grooming, language
and motor skills.
Despite the above merits, having a digital media also has its own limitations. It is evident that
most people like having their social life private and well separate from their career life. Everyone
longs to guard his or her reputation. For instance, a photo may offer information that might not
be relevant towards the job opportunity at hand. People may also willingly avoid having a digital
profile to maintain privacy in their life and when they do, they offer minimum information as
much as possible. This follows the presumption that by not having a digital profile will hide
ones privacy.
The information on the profile might also be sensitive. For instance, if one is currently employed,
it is outright that posting for a job search might be disastrous to his/her present employment
status. In case the company one is currently working for accesses the information of the job
search, one might suffer general jeopardy. This is because the job search questions ones trust
and commitment to his/her current job, working climate and employer.
It is also unfortunate that not all employers are digitally literate. Not all will be found on social
media. Its really true most of the big companies are now on social media, but there still exist lots
of smaller and medium companies that are not effectively utilizing social media. Some
companies may choose to find their most suitable candidate manually. This implies that the
modern jobseeker might not get in touch with such a company if he/she solely relies on his/her
digital profile.
In conclusion, the relevance of having a digital profile is cannot be overlooked. As seen, digital
profiles enable employers are able to follow the career goals and experiences of prospective
employees via the Internet. It is also clear that having a digital profile enables one create an
effective impression easier than they could do in person. People can also fill application forms
online and communicate with employers in their job searches .This offers a professional

communication platform for the involved parties through the social media. Lastly, it is easier to
create a digital profile than to mail ones credentials to everyone, which shows that having an
online digital profile enhances accessibility.

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Michal, K, Ruben Cuevas, Carmen, G, Eiko Y, Arturo, A, 2010. "A first

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Nicole A, 2010. "Social Networking in Undergraduate Education".

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