With the advent of technology in the current era, it has been convenient and efficient to connect with people and build a professional network. Several different platforms are available such as Linkedin, Twitter, meetup, and even Facebook. Linked is a great platform that is used by students and professionals to build networks, join industry-specific groups and simply to connect. 

There are various factors that could be considered for expanding professional learning network. The easiest and most used is to join relevant online communities. Students can stay updated about industry trends and new jobs in their areas of interest and is a great way to connect and learn from people who are already in that field. Other ways could be attending workshops, webinars, and connecting with alumni. Data privacy and security limit can play a crucial role in limiting the effectiveness of PLN. People might be reluctant to share their personal details on online platforms fearing the misuse of their data. However, if data privacy and security measures are put into place, a safer environment can be built on these platforms and people could easily participate and benefit from these. 

To create a digital identity/ reputation in my network, one could take several steps such as-

 1) Curating content 

Sharing valuable content such as articles, posts, blogs, and insights can help in demonstrating knowledge and also benefit others in my network. 

2) Interacting and engaging with members 

3) Being consistent and thoughtful in participation 

I believe it is really essential to build and maintain a professional demeanor across all social media platforms. To no surprise, many employers these days review the candidate’s social media presence to gain insight into their personality and values. Speaking of myself, even I try to stay decent and professional across my social media platforms because I am aware that they could be scrutinized by the employer I would apply for a job with. We need to understand that it could be hard to maintain our personal and professional digital identity but just like a personal and social self, these are the identities that we need to present carefully to the people around us. 

Finally, I would say we should appreciate the convenience we are all born with and try to utilize it in the best ways possible. With this, I would like to end the blog.