086: What is a digital footprint and how can it (negatively or positively) impact my career?
What is a digital footprint?Do we all have one? Can it impact my career (positively or negatively)?Is it true that I can lose a job or opportunity due to my digital footprintThe answer to the last two questions is yes yes yes - anyone who uses the internet has a digital footprint. Wikipedia kindly highlights that: "Digital footprint or digital shadow refers to one's unique set of traceable digital activities, actions, contributions and communications manifested on the Internet or digital devices. Digital footprints can be classified as either passive or active." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_footprint#Types_of_digital_footprints) Recording this episode at this time is inspired by a viral TikTok video where a young woman shared that her job offer was revoked due to (from what I understand), what her prospective employers saw of her internet activity.She is not the only one. There are so many tales like this. In fact, click here to read an article from 2017 about the "Harvard Facebook Scandal" in which10 students had their offers to attend Harvard University rescinded (they would have graduated as Class of 2021) due to their posting of inappropriate discriminatory and hateful memes. Listen to this episode to find out more about what a digital footprint is - what are the different types of digital footprint - and what control do we have over these. How can our digital footprint positively contribute to our career and life prospects (ahem... personal branding) or how can it negatively do so? Also, how is what is currently unfolding with Harry and Meghan entirely relevant to this conversation. Listen to this episode to find out more. I hope it blesses your career and helps with some of the decisions you make. Related Dive Into Your Career podcast episodes:077: What is PERSONAL BRANDING and can it improve my career prospects045: Why you should start a passion projectAdditional resources:Click here to access a BBC take on what a digital footprint is, courtesy of some content created for 7-11 year olds! Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below: The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections) Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow) E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries