Self-presentation and social networking online: The professional identity of PhD students in HCI

The number of research doctorate degrees awarded by US institutions per year has increased steadily over the decades. However, the academic job market is also becoming more competitive, and doctoral candidates often face difficulties in developing a professional identity and making career-related decisions. In this study, we investigated PhD students' professional identity formation with regard to their usage of social networking sites (SNSs). Through semi-structured interviews with 16 students in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), we found that self-presentation and online presence in the online community were considered necessary. Students' perception of using SNSs for professional activities was impacted by their peers and faculty. SNSs helped students gain information and support from online communities and also reflected their professional identities. The results present insights for transforming doctoral education and preparing students for diverse career options in today's economy. •Career support for PhD students is rarely studied.•Professional online presence is important to students.•Students use SNSs to obtain information and social support.•SNSs practices contributed to their professional identity.•Better SNSs design and institutional support are needed for PhD students.