Today you will

• see how a LinkedIn profile or a page of your work can open doors
• spot how old posts and oversharing can cause harm years later
• write one action you will take this year

Warm-up

Imagine your work placement supervisor searched your name tonight. What would you hope they found first? Would it be something you built, or something you posted years ago?

Your digital footprint is everything online that points back to you.

• A positive footprint is work people can find, like a LinkedIn profile.
• A negative footprint is old posts or rants that could put an employer off.
• Oversharing means posting private things, like your exact bus stop.
• A Positive Footprint Plan is one clear action for this year.

Example

Aoife makes dog treats. Her plan is a LinkedIn profile this term, showing her project, three skills and a product photo.

Look at each situation together as a class. There is no right or wrong answer. Talk about what you would really do and what might happen next.

Common snags

• I can't think of an action. Make it smaller, like one LinkedIn draft.
• I can't find my audit. Look in {{code:Project_Portfolio}}, then {{code:09_specialism}}, then {{code:sm4}}. If {{code:sm4_digital_footprint_audit}} is gone, make it now.
• My old posts are embarrassing. You don't have to describe them. Write a general action like "review tagged photos" and talk to your teacher in private.