You have earned a digital credential... now what? Three ways to share your digital credentials
Congratulations on earning a digital credential! Maybe you are wondering what this means and how to make the most out of your credential?
16 July 2020
We are all lifelong learners, so you have probably received more than a certificate or two before that reminds you of an achievement.
How often do you use your certificate to talk about your skills? Do you have it up on the wall of your office, or do you only glance at it occasionally?
The challenge for modern workforce is that it isn’t possible to share skills and achievements easily online, in a verifiable and secure way.
LinkedIn and CVs are self-reported accounts of your skills, and whilst academic transcripts and certificates show a large amount of learning, getting your hands on them often means a rummage in your parents loft or needing to write to your school or awarding body to get a copy of your certificate. But even after you’ve paid the replacement fee - what does it really tell employers about what you can do? How does the achievement you have gained compare to a similar one that somebody else earned via another route?
It’s also possible that what you’re capable of doing was learned off the job, and not part of a formal programme.
That is why digital credentials are so important. An online form of documentation with the backing of a credible brand or organisation - explaining what you did, who said you did it and why it matters.
With this documentation you can share your accomplishments with your professional and personal networks, your current employer and potential employers.
A couple of clicks and the news is shared across the internet, helping you build a three-dimensional story of your lifelong learning and development journey whilst showcasing a wide variety of CV-worthy skills, behaviours and competencies in a consistent way.
Here is a short video below on ways to share your digital credentials.
Where can I share my credentials?
Acclaim by Credly makes it easy to share your achievements in a variety of ways - below are three key places to share your credentials for maximum impact.
- Your social media profiles
With 94% of recruiters using social media to find candidates, and 40% of recruiters then using social media as part of their screening process, having verified, brand-backed digital credentials shared to your profiles can help you make the most of your online presence.
- Your website or blog
30% of all Google searches [or 300 million per month] are employment related and as personal branding becomes increasingly important in the recruitment and professional development arenas, a personal website allows you to have more control of your personal branding. Create an instant portfolio and point recruiters in the right direction by telling them more about your skills and achievements.
- Your email signature
About 269 billion emails were sent and received each day in 2017. That figure is expected to grow to almost 320 billion daily emails in 2021, according to Statista.
With the average office worker receiving 121 and sending 40 emails a day - your email signature is a great channel to highlight your most valuable skills and achievements in an interesting way. With just one click employers, clients, customers and other interested parties can easily view and verify your credentials and skills.