Can your pln be used to help professional development post-course?

I feel that my PLN will definitely be used to help my professional development after this course. In fact, I feel that this course can help to open your eyes in reflecting on your PLN and educate you on the ways that social media and online communications can accelerate your professional growth. As Giudice et al. (2014) explain that through the growth of social media, knowledge is essentially what fuels professional and economic growth, thus, through using your PLN to gain knowledge and educate, your opportunities go through the roof. Giudice et al. (2014) also states that the upper hand of knowledge also creates a competitive atmosphere for growth and opportunity. The learning done throughout this course draws me to the idea of being in the public eye on social media that we discussed. If you are in the public eye, your range of opportunities, connections, and knowledge is broadened, thus putting you at an advantage over those whose PLNs afford them less access to such opportunities. In sum, the learning done throughout this course has allowed me to further understand and reflect on the opportunities that can come from your PLN, which will definitely help me in my professional endeavours in the future.

Can your pln be relied on to open professional opportunities?

Your PLN can be one of the most useful tools in gaining connections and expanding your professional career. Through the use of apps such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Instagram, Tiktok, and many more, people have the ability to reach far and wide in order to find opportunities that fit their specific needs. And while I hope that there is not a day when we do not have access to these professional and personal supports, I do think it is important to not solely rely on your PLN to engage with others and create professional opportunities. There is still a large component of interaction that comes from face-to-face communication and the ability to present yourself professionally without your online presence being at the forefront is still important. For instance, while your Instagram might create the picture-perfect view of the ideal candidate for an employer, at the end of the day, you still have to be the person behind those images and posts in order for the employer to want to hire you. Thus, in this case, I feel it is important to strengthen your PLN as much as you can, while also ensuring to still make efforts to expand your professional endeavours in other realms that aren’t online. Personally, I do not think that my PLN could be solely relied on to open up professional opportunities, as I use it mainly for personal use at the moment. Additionally, I enjoy the face-to-face communication that comes with networking and while I use my PLN to expand these communications, I still try my best to find these opportunities in everyday life as well.

References

Giudice, M.D., Peruta, M.R.D., & Carayannis, E.G. (2014). Social media and emerging economies: Technological, cultural and economic implications. Springer.