Students' Attitudes on Social Network Sites and their Actual Use for Career Management Competences and Professional Identity Development

Authors

  • Andreja Istenic Starcic University of Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0513-5054
  • Margaret Barrow City University New York BMCC
  • Matej Zajc University of Ljubljana Faculty of Electrical Engineering University of Primorska Faculty of Education
  • Maja Lebenicnik University of Primorska Faculty of Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v12i05.6778

Keywords:

Social network sites, Higher Education, Career, Competences, Professional identity, Networking, Social media, Computer assisted learning,

Abstract


Social network sites (SNSs) have become strategic networking tools for employment-related activities. They shape professional identity and influence professional and career practices, providing new paths for career, employment and recruitment processes. Students’ professional identity is influenced by their career management and work experience. There is a lack of research on the use of SNSs for students’ on-line career management competences. A survey was conducted to examine students’ attitudes regarding the use of SNSs for career management competences and professional identity development. The students’ attitudes manifested career control, networking for learning, career reflection, self-presentation and work exploration. These attitudes have been identified as predictors for students’ actual use of SNSs for career management and professional identity development. For the career competences the main influencing predictors were found to be students’ beliefs that SNSs support work exploration, processes of self-presentation and career control. For professional identity development, the main influencing predictors were students’ beliefs that SNSs support career control and students’ engagement in professional events through networking for learning. Findings could contribute to understanding and facilitation of the SNS-related career management competences.

Author Biographies

Andreja Istenic Starcic, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Professor and a Vice Dean

Margaret Barrow, City University New York BMCC

Associate Professor and Deputy Chair in the English Department BMCC/City University New York

Matej Zajc, University of Ljubljana Faculty of Electrical Engineering University of Primorska Faculty of Education

Associate Professor

Maja Lebenicnik, University of Primorska Faculty of Education

Researcher

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Published

2017-05-31

How to Cite

Istenic Starcic, A., Barrow, M., Zajc, M., & Lebenicnik, M. (2017). Students’ Attitudes on Social Network Sites and their Actual Use for Career Management Competences and Professional Identity Development. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 12(05), pp. 65–81. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v12i05.6778

Issue

Section

Papers