I think it is a really good platform for headhunters to find and identify professionals, and recruit them to the companies.
We can also post status updates or even upload photos on our profile, quite similar to what we do on Facebook but I think it would be more about formal stuff like getting professional certifications, graduation ceremonies or attending conferences, rather than posting things like, "I had a good breakfast at Starbucks!".
You can also find networks that are related to you (I found the SAF) but most of the profiles are private, which I can understand because of security reasons. When I was updating my profile, I was also thinking about the potential implications of the professional information i.e. overseas exercises and military training, which I put up on the profile. I don't want to reveal too much information because there is always a risk involved as we do not know who is lurking out on the internet. But things like education backgrounds are fine!
With the information that I provided like the universities that I have been to, you can follow the university community, specifically University of Queensland, there are constant shares or updates on news or anything pertaining to UQ.
Great comments about LinkedIn. I just started exploring it today myself and joined the class group. I have heard the same things about LinkedIn being a more professional environment, and I agree with you that it seems like a great way to building a PLN of instructional designers. I am excited to be able to explore LinkedIn even more as we go through this week and in the future.
ReplyDeleteI would probably be using LinkedIn as my professional social media tool where I get myself acquainted through the network with professionals within the field of Instructional Systems. I think it will be really beneficial for us down the road as we progress through our career path!
DeleteLinkedIn is great for all of those reasons (depending upon your field). I also enjoy LinkedIn because of the opportunity to follow leaders within your field and gain from their insights. Many of them will regularly create "posts" (like a blog post) about topics of interest within the field. Some of these can be quite extensive, and are thus great professional development opportunities. There are also many helpful communities of practice that exist on LinkedIn.
ReplyDeleteHey Jonathan! Thanks for your additional insights on LinkedIn, I think I will start looking out for the leaders and follow them, it will definitely be of help to our professional growth!
DeleteWhat a great post, Ernest! I am just curious about do you guys (SAF) have any official regulations of social media use? For instance, "do not post any job-related activities on your social media"? For some security reasons, I think armed forces are not allowed to use social media, even their social media activities can be monitored.
ReplyDeleteHey Taehyeong! I think there are regulations on social media use but I have not really seen it though. However, we are pretty clear (at least for me) that we shouldn't be discussing military-related information on these social media platform. We are not allowed to take pictures in training camp and we are not allowed to post photos too. Only photos taken during official events specifically course graduation ceremonies, and approval has been sought from the security department, than we can post it. But for me, I usually don't post them at all.
DeleteI think they do monitor social media activities in general but not targeted on specific people. This is a pretty grey area that we are not really sure about haha!
I tried LinkedIn way back when and didn't like it. Perhaps it was because the day after I opened an account, I got notifications from people from my various Facebook accounts (yes I have several for different purposes) asking to be linked/added. I didn't add everyone but the notifications kept coming to the point of annoyance. I'm hearing good things from you guys, your post here is very positive, about what's happening there now so one day, I may be tempted to cross over into the LinkedIn platform again. Maybe! Great post!!! I love the backgrounds on your blog. Everytime I visit it seems to be different!
ReplyDeleteI have been receiving tons of emails notifications too! It gets pretty annoying! I think there is a way to mute the notifications under application settings, to inform the apps to not send any notifications at all! Thanks Sophia! Haha I am always trying to play around with the colors and pictures!!
DeleteYup, you will be surprised to find a lot of senior officers on the LinkedIn platform. I think a lot of them are using the platform to network with private sector people, perhaps not so much for the purpose of conducting business, but to create and grow those networks in anticipation of transiting to another career after retirement from the Army. We should start using it as well!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea! Planning ahead for second career and getting yourself acquainted with other people in the private sector!
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