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Academic and Professional Life Quiz

Academic and Professional Life Self Assessment

Answer the 5 questions below and get feedback with links to the pages you'll want to review!

1. Agree or disagree: my online contributions impact my professional life.
- Not right now while I'm still a student. But it might in the future.
- Yes, definitely. I try my best to be mindful of how the content I put online will affect my current or future employment.
- I’ve never really thought about it.
Employers may look you up in the future so managing your digital identity is always a good idea. Once things are online, they are extremely difficult to remove. Understanding how to stay on top of your privacy settings on social networking sites, and contribute content you want others to see (like an an online resume, e-portfolio, or published research) so you may build your professional network and online presence.
Depending on your field, being findable online, or creating ane-portfolio can be important strategies for finding employment opportunities. Check out the publish module for more information about contributing online!
Although you may not be thinking about employment right now, the information you put online today may affect the job opportunities available to you in the future. As online content can be very difficult to remove, check in with your privacy settings, and review the work module to find out proactive ways to start building your professional profile today.
2. I hide my online interactions behind aliases and privacy settings.
- Not at all! I'm trying to build my online profile and showcase artifacts of my work so that employers will find them and want to hire me.
- Always. My personal life is private and I’m not interested in sharing information online with anyone but my friends.
- Sometimes -- it depends on the website.
In many fields, being findable can be an important strategy for getting hired and for marketing your work. Look into the publish module for tips on how to contribute your work online!
Everyone has their own preferences about privacy, so it's good that you're aware of yours. However, policies for social networking sites can change. Be sure that you're prepared to defend anything you put online, because once it's there, it can be very difficult to remove.
Sharing information online depends on context and your personal privacy preferences. It’s good to familiarize yourself with privacy settings on social networking sites and to read the fine print. It's also useful to explore ways to connect and network with others.
3. E-portfolios and resume banks are…
- …a waste of time. The type of employment I'm looking for won't look at these resources.
- …a perfect way to showcase my work for future employment opportunities!
- …something I might look into in the future. I don’t have time right now.
An e-portfolio or online resume may not be important in your planned field of work, but your online identity is. Like it or not, many employers search applicants online. Be sure that your digital identity reflects who you want to be professionally.
It sounds like you’re already familiar with the benefits of being findable online. Be sure that you maintain your online resume and e-portfolio and that you’re aware of any cautions you should take in online interactions related to your work.
An e-portfolio might not be ideal for you right now, but it’s still a good idea to think about what future employers could find out about you online and to consider updating your privacy settings on social media, or contributing content you want others to see.
4. When I see “Mom makes $5000/mth working online for Google” I…
- …resign from my current job and ‘click to join’.
- …ignore it and close the window.
- …feel curious and want to find out more.
Some things really are too good to be true, unfortunately. Be sure to brush up on your web research skills and review how to be critical of things you see online.
Since you know to think critically about what you read online, consider exploring the connect, learn and publish modules to think about using your online skills to your advantage, both academically and professionally.
Some things really are too good to be true. It’s always good to bring some critical though to content you view online.
5. Netiquette is…
- …I've never heard of it -- are you sure that's a word?
- …important because online communication can be easily misinterpreted and I wouldn't want it to affect my job.
- …an attempt to limit freedom of expression.
If you aren’t sure how your online interactions could affect you at work check out our etiquette page. Some employers have clear policies on employee use of information technology, so it's good to be aware before it's too late.
It’s very true that talking online requires a different set of communication skills. Our etiquette page also lists some reminders for applying this in a professional context.
Talking online is much different than face-to-face. Although you may have strong views about your personal freedoms, it’s still important to consider how you conduct yourself online in a professional context.
6.Online courses are..
- …something I would prefer to avoid.
- …convenient, but it doesn’t compare to the face-to-face experience of classroom learning.
- …my preferred way to learn.
Online learning isn’t for everyone, but there are several benefits to open and closed learning environments that are worth considering. As well, there are ways to incorporate studying and collaborating online that can aid your overall learning experience!
Classroom learning offers a very different experience from what you’ll encounter online. Find out about some benefits and find out which learning tools are right for you.
Now that you’ve discovered some of the benefits for online learning, consider reasons for choosing to participate in closed or open environments. It’s also good to be aware of any opportunities and cautions for studying and collaborating online.
7. Researching my term paper on the Internet is a good idea.
- Umm. Isn’t that what the library is for?
- I initially research my topics online, but I only use authoritative content for my assignments.
- Absolutely, Google Scholar is a lifesaver.
You’re right that the library is the best place to access current, peer-reviewed literature for most of your academic research, but it never hurts to become savvy about what you view online as well.
The ability to judge the quality of what you read online has become a necessary skill. Check in with your local or school library for resources on conducting web research. As well, be sure you know about resources for citing digital content, too.
Google Scholar is one option for finding research articles, but it doesn't consistently offer the scope or currency that a post-secondary library database can provide. There are excellent resources for conducting web research available online. Check with your school or community librarian if you're unsure where to begin.
8. I know which digital content I’m allowed to use and I can accurately cite anything I find online.
- If it’s on the internet, isn’t it automatically free to use?
- I think I cite things properly most of the time, but I’m not 100% sure how to cite formats other than books or articles.
- Zotero is a dream come true.
All content found online is subject to copyright including pictures, video, text, and more. Unless an alternate license is indicated (such as those provided by Creative Commons), it should not be assumed to be free to use and must be properly cited.
There are many resources available for learning how to properly cite others’ work, including digital content. Check with your school or library to find out more -- learning how to use these tools early in your studies can save you a lot of time and stress!
Zotero is just one great option of many citation tools available. Check out our page on learning to use citation tools early in your academic career and save yourself a lot of time and stress!
9. I use social media to collaborate and study with others online.
- All the time! Wikis or Google docs are an essential part of every group project I’ve done.
- Sometimes. If I’m stuck, on a topic or want to meet up at the library, I’ll connect with friends online but that’s about it.
- Never. Social media is for my social life. I try to leave school out if it!
It sounds like you are making good use of online tools to foster your learning networks. If you use Wikis, be sure to educate yourself on the risks of making your schoolwork accessible online. Always be sure you are aware of your prof's expectations, and familiarize yourself with your school's policies on academic integrity.
Online tools provide a number of avenues to further your research and learning. Many social media tools, such as wikis can also provide an efficient way for you to access information or collaborate on group assignments.
While social media tools are perfect for connecting with friends, they can also be used to further your academic and professional work.
10. I have a digital dossier.
- Digital what? I try to keep my online footprint as small as possible.
- Probably, but I’ve never checked into it. When I’m actually looking for a job I’ll take care of my online profile. I don’t have time to manage it right now.
- I intentionally contribute online content to build the kind of digital identity I want.
Your digital dossier is built both by you and by others. Throughout your academic studies, consider why others might search for you, what they would find, and how you can protect the information you make available. It may also be useful to think about how you can use your online skills to build your academic and professional networks.
It may not be necessary for you to create a state of the art e-portfolio just yet, but considering the ways that your online activity could impact you in the future is always a good idea. Think about how you could use youronline skills to further your learning and keep in mind that once you post something online, it’s very difficult to remove.
It’s great that you’re already thinking about ways to proactively build your digital dossier. You may also want to look into resources on e-portfolios, being findable, networks for learning ,and opportunities to publish your research.

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