This document discusses whether employers look at and consult ePortfolios. It provides several pieces of evidence that suggest employers are interested in ePortfolios and the skills and competencies they demonstrate:
- A 2013 survey found that over 80% of employers said an electronic portfolio would be useful in ensuring job applicants have the necessary knowledge and skills.
- Focus groups with employers found that many would be willing to view an ePortfolio via a link in an email, resume, or interview.
- Research with employer focus groups found that the majority view ePortfolios favorably as a way for candidates to describe their skills and experiences through accessible evidence of accomplishments.
- Benefits cited by employers include ePortfolios
8. Your “Accidental ePortfolio”
Tracking your digital footprints – recent study
Employers who would…
Monitor the candidate’s activity on
Twitter
Research the candidate on Facebook
Use Google or other search engines to
research candidates
Some of the search activity
happens before candidates are
even called for a job interview
0%
10%
n = 2,775 US/Canada July 2013 cb.com/18xbgez
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
10. Is LinkedIn enough?
• PRO
–
–
–
–
Awareness, workplace focus (esp. North America)
Evidence: Slideshare, Infographics, Videos, Recommendations (?)
Social network: “Friend of a Friend”
Personal Learning Network: LinkedIn Groups, Timelines
• CON
– Flexibility
• Customization, segmentation, alignment to requirements/outcomes
• Interoperability: feeding to/from other sites
–
–
–
–
–
Archiving: file storage
Private modes: reflection, formative assessment, mentoring
Learning frameworks: self-assessment, plans, rubrics, etc.
Audience: beyond white collar, older worker? (79% are 35+)
Ownership : Terms of Use, business model
With ideas from: Does LinkedIn work as an ePortfolio?
11. AAEEBL 2013 in Boston
“It Takes More than a Major”
• 2013 survey of 318 employers for AAC&U
(The Association of American Colleges & Universities)
– Findings:
• 93%: candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically,
communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more
important than their undergraduate major
• >75%: 5 key learning outcomes: critical thinking, complex
problem-solving, written and oral communication, and
applied knowledge in real-world settings
• >80%: an electronic portfolio would be useful to them in
ensuring that job applicants have the knowledge and skills
they need to succeed in their company or organization.
bit.ly/AAEEBL13_AACU
12. Confirmation from Notre Dame
Employer Focus Group
Employers would…
Click on ePortfolio link in email
View relevant part of ePortfolio on
tablet at career fair
Click on ePortfolio link in résumé
View relevant part of ePortfolio on
tablet in interview
Click on ePortfolio link in sig file or cover
letter
0%
Data from G. Alex Ambrose, April 2013
http://t.co/FeoVokOQv2
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
n=11
13. 2
How might ePortfolios enhance
students’ employability skills?
“Embarking on the Journey of ePortfolio Experience: A New Approach to Enhance Graduate Employability”
City University Hong Kong 2010
http://bit.ly/CUHK_eP
14. Student Post-Experience & Employer SurveysEmployability
Enhancement
(Some preliminary data)
Goal Setting & Action
Planning
Skills developed
Important in the workplace
http://bit.ly/CUHK_eP
22. Pan-Canadian Research
Employer Focus Groups
• HRSDC funding
• Led by Learning Innovations Forum (LIfIA)
– Vancouver - FuturEd
– Edmonton – Edmonton Mennonite Centre for
Newcomers
– Winnipeg - Learning Agents
– Toronto - CME
– Halifax - NSCC
23. Awareness Building
Potential Benefits of ePortfolio
• Pre-employment
• Recruitment
• Human Capital Development
–
–
–
–
Employee Development
Performance Management
Talent Management
Succession Planning
24. Employer feedback
ePortfolio as a tool to describe skills and knowledge
• Majority in favour
– “digital matching service, living document, screening tool,
digital evidence of credentials and experience”
• Benefits:
– Accessible documents of work accomplishments vs. credentials
– Pre-employment bridging tool, linked to LMI
– Help standardize the language of competencies
• Acceptance Factors
– Accuracy, consistency, ease of use
• Potential Issues
– Time for creation and processing, privacy, content
maintenance, system integrity, overall responsibility...
Federal corporation, HQ in ManitobaMultimedia learning resources for career development, workplace learning and professional developmentSpecialty: facilitating, packaging & disseminating insights of learners, practitioners and subject matter expertsProducer of “Career Destination” solutions through community partnerships since 2001Opened Learning Agents eStudiosin 2007multimedia & video facility for learning resource production, ePortfolio development and webcastingActive voluntary role in communityCareer Trek and “Let’s Get to Work” conferenceDon Presant: Chair of Manitoba PLA Network (MPLAN) Community Telecentre COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT: technology literacy, engagement, expression, workVideo-conference (in development)job interviews , online learning e.g. classes for prospective immigrants overseas, workplace trainingOther community learning events (subscribe to other networks)Collaborative Workshop EnvironmentHands-On ePortfolio and related workshopsDigital Production StudiosPhotos, objects, actions, interviews, simulationsImages, audio, video, textQuick set-up, quick turnaround (photo vs. scan, permanent lighting setup, direct to disk recording, etc.)Multimedia Post Production Facility :career profiles, ePortfolio resources, training videosProduction and Facilitation Support Services: staff, freelance & partners
24 campuses in networked inquiry on the impact of eportfolios on student learning and the strategies necessary for institutionalizing campus eportfolio initiatives.
On April 26, 2013 the Notre Dame ePortfolio Engagement Program (nDEEP) offered a presentation for the ND Career Center Employer Advisory Board, consisting of 11 recruiters from companies such as AT&T, Accenture, Boeing, General Mills, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, P&G, and Stryker. Campus ePortfolio initiatives and trends with student examples were discussed. The ND Employer Advisory Board was interviewed and surveyed as a focus group to confirm these recent AAC&U findings (above) and explore how students can best share their ePortfolios with potential employers.