Will Having an Online CV Open Up More Doors for Me?

“You’ll be amazed by the amount of support you get and the opportunities that are going to come your way.”

As we move firmly into the digital age of work, you may be considering creating an online CV.

This could mean having a Student Edge or LinkedIn profile, or even your own freelance portfolio site.

It can be a little discouraging if you don’t have much to put on it. But did you know experience is not necessary to build a wide network of online connections?

Hundreds of people are approached by employees through sites like LinkedIn, including our very own Student Edge Writer, Teri.

We wanted to find out for you if making an online CV is worth it, so we went to the experts.

Enter Chandini Thirumalai – a LinkedIn workshop facilitator and content creator, currently studying at The University of Western Australia.

We asked her how she got started on the platform and why you should get on it as well. Plus, stay tuned for more on Student Edge profiles and why they’re a great option, too.

Should more young people be using online CV sites?

“Definitely,” Chandini tells us. “They should proactively use it to reach out to people, make connections and post about their learning achievements. That’s how you really get the most out of [LinkedIn].”

According to Napoleon Cat, 25 to 34-year-olds make up the largest percentage of LinkedIn users at 58.4 per cent.

Most university and school students now are one generation behind this demographic. Why not get ahead of the pack?

Lots of young people don’t have a lot of work experience. So, how can they get started?

There’s always something.

“Work on some personal projects. You can add volunteering to your experience or find a lot of virtual internships," Chandini tells us.

It’s about the way you spin it. Employers want to know what transferable skills you’ve earned from your experiences – you can learn more about what that means here.

On your Student Edge profile, you can list your values, personal qualities, and skills – all of which don’t require experience, but are extremely important for employers to know.

What kind of mini courses can young people do to pimp up their resumes?

The world is your oyster for upskilling and gaining micro-credentials. Student Edge Plus offers a range of epic courses from how to manage your money, to communicating like a boss. And there’s more to come!

Chandini recommends LinkedIn Learning. “There’s some really good courses. And you can go on a bunch of freelancing sites and put this knowledge to use.”

You could also check out Google Digital Garage for some free online courses.

How can young people really stand out online?

Chandini tells us all about her background as a content creator and how important it is to just put yourself out there.

“I started making content on LinkedIn just seven months ago. It’s amazing to see how every time I go to networking events, I have people recognise me. If I had a dollar for every time someone said they saw me on LinkedIn, let’s just say I wouldn't have to work part-time.

“Initially, when I started off, I was overwhelmed. I would think, ‘there’s so many successful people out there, why would anyone want to listen to me?’ But I’m honestly so glad that I led this path and posted the posts that I did.

“If I had to give advice to someone starting out on LinkedIn it would be that your first few posts won’t perform as well, but then you’ll be amazed by the amount of support you get on this platform and the opportunities that are going to come your way.”