From online networking to crowdfunding, there are eight key ways for university graduates to open more virtual doors to careers in 2024, according to new business research.
University of the Sunshine Coast business academics published in a paper in the journal Industry and Higher Education identified eight indicators of “readiness for employment” in an increasingly digital world.
UniSC Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Retha de Villiers Scheepers said that while the list appeared commonsense, the competencies could act as a checklist for new graduates entering the workforce.
“Previous studies have shown that university students may be digital natives but they don’t necessarily all know how to use digital tools to boost their employability,” Dr de Villiers Scheepers said.
“The global digital economy has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, with emerging technologies, industry innovations, digitalisation and automation bringing continuous change to workplaces.
“Businesses and organisations across various industries now want digitally competent employees who are immediately productive in hybrid work environments.
“We wanted to develop this scale of key indicators for graduates to assess their Digital Career Competencies, which show a readiness for employment and lifelong career management, and also to enable university staff to support students and graduates gain the skills to boost employability in an increasingly digital world.”
She said the competencies were a mix of tried-and-tested and new attributes that could be assessed under three broad categories: digital connectedness, career management and crowd collaboration.
'Previous studies have shown that university students may be digital natives but they don’t necessarily all know how to use digital tools to boost their employability' - Dr Retha de Villiers Scheepers of UniSC
The eight indicators of the three competencies are:
- Use social media to build your online professional identity
- Use social media to connect with people professionally
- Use online networks to learn about developments in your field
- Network at an industry event
- Arrange your own internship or work experience
- Crowdfund a project idea
- Crowdsource resources, ideas and solutions to problems
- Find professional collaborators using social networks.
The paper was co-authored by UniSC Associate Professor of Marketing Rory Mulcahy, Dr David Fleischman, Dr Peter English, Dr Jacqueline Burgess and Associate Professor of Communication Gail Crimmins.
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