What is Indeed?
Indeed is an online platform that is used primarily to search and find employment opportunities near you. Indeed allows you to post your resume, for employers to see, as well as filter your job searches based on your area, field of expertise, mode of work (i.e.., remote, hybrid, in-person), and salary expectations. When you create an account with Indeed, you can post your resume, and customize your job preferences and qualifications, in order for your job search to be catered specifically to you. Indeed gives suggestions on how to improve your profile, to make it ideal for future employers. Some suggestions even help users to improve their resume, to ensure greater success when applying for jobs. Furthermore, Indeed also provides its users with an interview questions guide, to help ease some of the pressure when you are meeting with a potential employer. All of these features, coupled with company reviews and salary guides help to make Indeed an ideal source for users who are looking to expand their professional careers and connections.
How does Indeed help to enhance/develop your digital identity and reputation?
Indeed helps to enhance your digital identity as it gives you a platform to showcase your past and current qualifications while giving an avenue for employers to reach out and connect with you. In this sense, Indeed allows employees to seek job opportunities, while also allowing employers to reach out and connect with individuals who have the correct qualifications for their position. All in all, it provides users with a way to showcase their professional life in all ways, while enhancing your digital portfolio with the tips and tricks that Indeed provides. By creating an account on Indeed and sharing some of the basic information, such as your resume, qualifications, and your career goals, Indeed can help to showcase these to employers, while keeping your information secure. Users’ professional identity and reputation are able to then flourish through further access to job opportunities and networking through connecting with others.
What are the ways Indeed tracks and uses your data – how can this be used to benefit a PLN?
As mentioned, Indeed primarily uses your data regarding your qualifications and career goals to better curate the jobs that they suggest for you. By making an account and being specific in your personal information, they are able to better broadcast your resume so that it intrigues more employers, while also narrowing down your job search in order to only suggest jobs that are a good fit for you. Additionally, if you have been searching for specific jobs in a particular field, Indeed will often send you similar job postings that come up to help with your job search. You can then select whether you are interested in the job posting or not and Indeed will use this information to further filter your job suggestions. This can benefit your PLN as it will link you with employers that are going to help further your career in the specific field you are interested in. You will no longer waste time sifting through jobs that don’t meet your qualifications or are out of your interest. Rather, you will find opportunities that not only match your interests but also your experience, ensuring that you are golden when it comes time to meet the employer and share your skills!
What are the strengths and weaknesses of privacy for Indeed? How can this affect your PLN?
Indeed is very open about its privacy policies as well as how your information will be used within the platform. All users are able to request the deletion of their personal information, as well as the ability to decide where their information is going (“HR tech privacy”, n.d.). They are also very open about processing users’ data in a manner that keeps their identity safe and secure. Personal data is a key part of the platform as it allows for more opportunities from employers if they are able to readily see your qualifications. As mentioned, sharing the specifics of your qualifications and job searches allows for a more customized job search, saving time in finding the right job for you. Additionally, there are privacy settings for the user, so that they can choose whether their personal information is being shared publicly or privately. For instance, as some resumes contain information regarding the user’s location, users can choose to keep this information private. Ultimately, Indeed gives users the option to share however much information they wish to, while still monitoring to ensure everyone’s information is being shared securely. This being said, there is a bit of give and take with privacy, as there is key information that employers must have access to in order to determine if we are the right candidate for the job. By allowing employers access to this information, it allows for you to network more and gain more connections to various employers, as they are able to see all of the reason’s that you would be a great addition to their team. Furthermore, as Julie Smith taught us (Miller, 2021), it is important, regardless of the platform, to always be questioning what we see on social media and online in general. While Indeed provides a secure platform, we cannot always take all information for what it is and we must be thoughtfully consuming media to ensure our safety and prevent the spread of false information.
Success Stories from Indeed:
Indeed has provided countless individuals with job opportunities, allowing them to grow in a field of interest and become leaders through growing their PLN. As there are so many people who have found success with the help of Indeed, they have provided a page where individuals are able to share their success stories! Below are some of the thousands of success stories that users of Indeed have shared (“Jobs success stories like yours matter, n.d.):
“I would not have known about this job opening if not for all of the time I spent searching for employment on Indeed.” – Jess (Case Manager), June 14, 2023
“This job means I’ll finally be able to stop living paycheck to paycheck. It means that I can start saving for the future and maybe start a family soon.” – Shawn N. (Residential Construction Estimator), June 12, 2023
“I love working in the service industry and I was formally with a competitor spa. When I saw this posting I knew this was going to be my new position. I met with Jenna and I was so excited with her energy and the rest of the staff at the spa. I cannot wait for my first day.” – Emily J. (Sales Associate), June 10, 2023
As seen, Indeed not only provides excellent job suggestions, but it helps users build connections with employers and ultimately find their dream jobs.
How will you know that your PLN is a success?
While employment and finding your dream job can be a process, there are some clear signs that the PLN that you have built on Indeed is becoming successful. First off, your first sign of success will likely be within your job searches. If you have set up your PLN to be reflective of your goals and qualifications, you will likely start to see jobs that are much more relevant being suggested for you. From there, it is important to start applying for jobs that match your needs, which usually can be done right from the Indeed job listing. Even if you do not hear back right away from employers, Indeed often gives the option to send a direct message to the employer, to let them know a little bit more about you and why you would be a good fit for the job. Once you have started to reach out and connect, it will be no time before your PLN is a success and you are connecting with those in your desired field. Personally, I would say that your PLN is a success once you do just this. It is so important to create connections and simply communicate, as this is a form of networking that can lead you to new opportunities that may help you to reach your goals. Thus, I encourage everyone, regardless of whether they have found their dream job or not, to bring about communication and connections with others, as you never know the success it may bring you. After all, that is what your PLN is all about!
References
HR tech privacy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://hrtechprivacy.com/
Job success stories like yours matter. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://gotajob.indeed.com/
Miller, J. (2021, June 6). EDCI 338 – Media literacy with Julie Smith. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0
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