Week 6 – Building a Presence
This week focuses on how you present yourself professionally in the academic space. As you develop your academic identity, your ability to communicate who you are and what you bring to the table becomes increasingly important. You will learn about the key components of a CV and the principles of shaping a digital identity, as well as presenting yourself effectively – Adventure awaits!
Learning goals for this week:
- Understand the key components of an academic CV and tailoring for specific audiences or purposes.
- Explore strategies for building a professional online presence, particularly through platforms like LinkedIn, and recognize the role of digital identity in academic and career development.
- Develop academic networking skills by reflecting on how to present oneself in professional contexts, both in writing and conversation.
Your tasks for this week:
CV
- Learn on what to include, what to highlight, and visual structure
Read: General tips and tricks on how to approach making your own CV
https://blog.wordvice.com/academic-cv-examples-format/
Read Tilburg University tips: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/students/career/your-career-path/cv
Read University of Groningen tips:
https://www.rug.nl/education/student-blog/creating-a-cv-that-stands-out-27-02-2021
- Read on how to build your presence on LinkedIn
https://mention.com/en/blog/build-up-your-identity-on-linkedin/
Academic Networking
- Watch a TED Talk on “The 3 Bones of Networking for Students Success
- Read on tips for a successful networking meeting
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/successful-networking-meeting-tips-2062611
Homework Tasks:
- Choose one of the following:
If you don’t yet have a CV: Create a 1-page academic CV from scratch
If you already have a CV: Review and revise it to improve structure, content, and visual clarity
- Write a reflection answering the following questions (500 words):
What’s one thing you learned about how others (professors, employers, peers) might view your academic or professional identity?
How do you feel about your current presence – on paper, online, or in conversation?
What’s one concrete change or improvement you want to make going forward?