{"id":1885,"date":"2026-06-23T11:04:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T10:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1885"},"modified":"2026-06-19T11:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T10:06:09","slug":"building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2026\/06\/23\/building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate\/","title":{"rendered":"Building your digital identity before you graduate"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_1887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1887\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1887\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/06\/Building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate-1-1.png\" alt=\"Digital and AI literacy icon: a stylized robot inside a hexagon.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/06\/Building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate-1-1.png 800w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/06\/Building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate-1-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/06\/Building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate-1-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/06\/Building-your-digital-identity-before-you-graduate-1-1-382x215.png 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Digital and AI literacy is a key component of building and managing your digital identity, helping you navigate online spaces confidently, responsibly, and effectively.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Employers increasingly look for evidence of what candidates can do, not just what they claim on a CV. A strong online presence can provide tangible examples of your skills, interests and professional development.<\/p>\n<p>Your digital identity is shaped by how you communicate online, the digital tools you use, the content you create, and the way you interact with technology. As employers increasingly recruit, collaborate and communicate in digital environments, developing a positive digital identity before you graduate can help you stand out and prepare you for the workplace.<\/p>\n<p>Here are six ways to start building a digital identity that reflects your skills, professionalism and future potential.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Understand your current digital footprint<\/h3>\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/working-and-collaborating-online\/manage-your-digital-footprint?u=76190194\">digital footprint<\/a> is the trail of information you leave behind online. Before you can shape your digital identity, it is worth understanding what already exists.<\/p>\n<p>Start by asking yourself:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What appears when you search for your name online?<\/li>\n<li>Would you be comfortable with a potential employer viewing your public content?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As many employers review candidates\u2019 online presence, <a href=\"https:\/\/unihub.bath.ac.uk\/students\/videos\/detail\/329\">being intentional about what you share<\/a>, the impression it creates, and keeping profiles current helps ensure your digital footprint reflects the person you want them to see.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Build evidence of your skills online<\/h3>\n<p>Students are often told to develop skills and gain experience, but it is equally important to demonstrate those skills in visible ways.<\/p>\n<p>Think about how you can create a digital record of your achievements and interests. This might include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contribute to a blog, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/\">Student Success Stories initiative<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Developing a LinkedIn profile.<\/li>\n<li>Creating a <a href=\"https:\/\/unihub.bath.ac.uk\/students\/infopages\/detail\/715\">digital portfolio<\/a>, such as:\n<ul>\n<li>Building a personal website.<\/li>\n<li>Sharing projects and code through GitHub (where relevant).<\/li>\n<li>Showcasing presentations, research, designs, or other outputs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Start by showcasing what you already have, from coursework to extracurricular activities, and build over time into a portfolio that reflects your initiative, creativity and commitment to learning.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Demonstrate digital professionalism<\/h3>\n<p>Employers value individuals who can communicate professionally, work effectively with others, and navigate digital environments responsibly. It is about communicating respectfully, contributing constructively and understanding how your actions affect others.<\/p>\n<p>Consider how you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/unihub.bath.ac.uk\/students\/infopages\/detail\/352\">Communicate through email<\/a> and messaging platforms.<\/li>\n<li>Participate in online meetings.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/unihub.bath.ac.uk\/students\/infopages\/detail\/751\">Collaborate using shared documents and digital tools<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Engage in online discussions and professional networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Professionalism online is not about being formal all the time. The habits you develop as a student can help prepare you for the expectations of the workplace.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Develop digital confidence and critical thinking<\/h3>\n<p>In an age of constant information, employers increasingly value graduates who can think critically about digital content.<\/p>\n<p>Being digitally confident is about more than knowing how to use technology. It also means understanding how to evaluate information and making informed decisions.<\/p>\n<p>This includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Evaluating the reliability and credibility of online sources, and fact-checking information before sharing it.<\/li>\n<li>Recognising misinformation and disinformation.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding how algorithms influence what we see online.<\/li>\n<li>Considering different perspectives and sources of evidence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By developing the skills outlined above, you are also strengthening your critical thinking, helping you evaluate information more effectively and make informed decisions during your studies and throughout your career.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Use AI responsibly<\/h3>\n<p>Artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI tools (GenAI) is becoming an increasingly important part of many workplaces. Recent developments mean that AI can now perform tasks ranging from writing documents to controlling advanced robotics, and it could significantly affect the UK workforce (<a href=\"https:\/\/researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk\/documents\/POST-PN-0757\/POST-PN-0757.pdf\">UK Parliament POST, 2025<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>As a result, employers may be looking for graduates who can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/campaigns\/engaging-critically-with-genai-tools-for-your-work\/\">GenAI efectively and responsibly<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This means understanding:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What GenAI can and cannot do well, including the limitations of AI-generated content.<\/li>\n<li>The importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/06\/03\/bias-proof-your-genai-strategies-to-mitigate-algorithmic-and-human-biases\/\">checking outputs for accuracy.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Potential issues relating to bias, privacy and confidentiality.<\/li>\n<li>When human expertise and judgement are still essential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Using GenAI responsibly is not just a technical skill; as AI becomes more common, your ability to use it thoughtfully will play an important role in shaping your professional reputation.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Create accessible and inclusive digital content<\/h3>\n<p>It can be easy to overlook accessibility, but meeting web accessibility regulations is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/meet-the-requirements-of-equality-and-accessibility-regulations\">legal requirement<\/a> for public sector webpages, and it is increasingly recognised as an essential professional skill.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you are creating a presentation, writing a report or designing digital content, considering accessibility helps ensure your work can be used by as many people as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Simple actions can make a significant difference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use clear headings and structure.<\/li>\n<li>Write in plain language where appropriate.<\/li>\n<li>Add alternative text to images.<\/li>\n<li>Use accessible document formats.<\/li>\n<li>Consider colour contrast and readability.<\/li>\n<li>Design with diverse audiences in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unihub.bath.ac.uk\/students\/infopages\/detail\/761\">Creating accessible content<\/a> demonstrates awareness, professionalism, and respect for others. These are qualities that employers value across all sectors.<\/p>\n<h3>Shaping your professional identity online<\/h3>\n<p>Building a digital identity is not about creating a perfect online profile. It is about developing habits, skills and behaviours that reflect who you are and how you work in digital environments.<\/p>\n<p>Start taking small, intentional steps today; review your profiles, share your work, and reflect on how you present yourself online. Every action you take contributes to the professional identity you are building.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employers increasingly look for evidence of what candidates can do, not just what they claim on a CV. A strong online presence can provide tangible examples of your skills, interests and professional development. Your digital identity is shaped by how...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1838,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[89,61,63,98,385,1],"tags":[46,391,116,365,288,390],"class_list":["post-1885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-critical-thinking","category-digital-skills","category-employability","category-myskills","category-professionalism","category-uncategorized","tag-critical-thinking","tag-digital-literacy","tag-digital-skills","tag-employability-skills","tag-genai","tag-professional-online-presence"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1436,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/06\/04\/digital-sustainability-and-employability\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":0},"title":"Digital sustainability and Employability","author":"Lola Osinoiki","date":"June 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Digital sustainability\u2014sounds like a buzzword, right? It's about keeping our online lives environmentally friendly, managing technology responsibly and reducing the negative impacts of techn. Every Google search, TikTok scroll and ChatGPT conversation uses energy. The tech industry is one of the biggest energy consumers worldwide, data centres overconsume energy and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Employability&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Employability","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/employability\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image with technology elements nd blue that reads Digital Sustainabili","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/06\/sus.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/06\/sus.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/06\/sus.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/06\/sus.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1226,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/06\/03\/bias-proof-your-genai-strategies-to-mitigate-algorithmic-and-human-biases\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":1},"title":"Navigating the GenAI Landscape: From Bias to Prompts: Key Insights and Strategies for Student","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"June 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As the University embraces the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), we've taken proactive steps to equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Over the last month, using the University of Bath Instagram account we've conducted a series of Instagram Quiz and Poll Stories,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":622,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2021\/06\/16\/how-to-get-started-on-linkedin\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":2},"title":"How to get started on LinkedIn","author":"Ciara Sherlock","date":"June 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Skills Co-Creator Ciara explains how she has used LinkedIn to build her digital identity, network with others and search for a placement. https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@uniofbath\/video\/6979989960418086149?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6979609393483548165 Although it's hard to test, I believe my LinkedIn profile played a role in my placement search. There are a few tips I'd give you to make\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital &amp; GenAI literacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital &amp; GenAI literacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/capabilities-framework\/digital-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Screenshot of my LinkedIn banner image showing my profile picture and headline.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/06\/Picture3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/06\/Picture3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/06\/Picture3.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/06\/Picture3.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/06\/Picture3.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1053,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2023\/09\/18\/how-to-navigate-generative-artificial-intelligence-genai-tools-with-confidence-and-integrity\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":3},"title":"How to navigate Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools with confidence and integrity","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"September 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, and new Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Elicit, Perplexity, and Bard are now easily accessible online. As university students, how can you incorporate these emerging technologies into your studies and campus life confidently and responsibly? Here are some guiding principles.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1856,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2026\/05\/21\/improve-your-digital-literacy-by-applying-digital-accessibility-to-academic-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":4},"title":"Improve your digital literacy by applying digital accessibility to academic work","author":"Amy Ridgway","date":"May 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, a global initiative dedicated to digital inclusion and encouraging conversations about accessibility in technology and online spaces. It\u2019s a timely reminder that the digital content we create should be usable by as many people as possible, including the work we produce as students. \u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Capabilities Framework&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Capabilities Framework","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/capabilities-framework\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of icons indicating digital literacy and accessibility awareness","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/05\/Global-Accessibility-Awareness-Day.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/05\/Global-Accessibility-Awareness-Day.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/05\/Global-Accessibility-Awareness-Day.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/05\/Global-Accessibility-Awareness-Day.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1552,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/04\/28\/building-a-socially-sustainable-future-celebrating-world-day-for-safety-and-health-at-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":5},"title":"Building a socially sustainable future: Celebrating World Day for Safety and Health at Work","author":"Aneesa Zafar","date":"April 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Today, on the World Day for Safety and Health at work, we join the global community in recognising the importance of creating workplaces that are not only safe but also sustainable. We want to celebrate this day by encouraging you, our students, to think about your future careers through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/UN-world-day.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/UN-world-day.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/UN-world-day.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/UN-world-day.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1838"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}