In 2012 Lynda.com was acquired by LinkedIn, and in 2017 was rebranded as Linkedin Learning. Since then, it has become one of the most useful online education sites, with more or less 18,000 courses in fields including management, technology, business, and finance available.
When it comes to online education platforms, Linkedin Learning is among the best. With more than 800 million active users monthly in more than 200 countries, this claim is valid.
Many professionals rely on Linkedin Learning to hone their abilities and expand their professional networks to stand out in today’s competitive job market. However, is it worth it?
To help you make a good decision about whether to sign up or not with LinkedIn Learning, we’ll be diving into its benefits and drawbacks here. So keep on reading and use this guide to learn more.
Features of LInkedin Learning
The LinkedIn Learning platform provides its users with a completion certificate, and the flexibility to study at their own pace.
There are several ways to pay for LinkedIn Learning courses. You can purchase individual courses, and monthly and annual subscriptions are also available. Both subscriptions provide unlimited access to 18,000+ instructor-led courses, individualized course suggestions, test exercise files, quizzes for offline watching, and digital certificates upon successful completion.
Setting Weekly Targets is A Great Way to Keep Motivated
Plan your week by deciding how much time you want to devote to each class. If you have trouble maintaining your routine and would benefit from having a target in sight, this is for you. It’s also a great way to keep yourself on track and to dedicate regular time each week to each class.
Follow Your Academic Development in Each Class
It’s easy to monitor your academic progress across all your courses simultaneously. You can continue right where you left off and move through the material at your own pace.
A Transcript is Available For Every Video in The Course
Videos are an excellent learning tool. However, some students, especially those taking classes in a language other than their native tongue, may find having the material written out more helpful. Therefore, having access to a transcript improves students’ chances of grasping the material presented in the class.
Questions and Answers
The Q&A part of LinkedIn Learning allows users to learn from and teach one another. This addition makes for a more engaging and stimulating learning experience. In addition, users can help one another by asking and answering questions.
You Can Watch Videos and Take Notes At the Same Time
Note-taking while viewing videos is made easier in LinkedIn Learning’s dedicated area. And it’s convenient to have everything related to your course in one spot.
Certification from LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides a badge you can add to your profile to show off your expertise. When you think about how many businesses rely on their site to fill open positions, it’s clear that having a strong presence here is a huge plus.
Viewing Courses Offline
The offline viewing option in LinkedIn Learning allows access to your courses even if you don’t have an internet connection. So it is perfect when you’re on a trip or away from home without stable internet access.
Knowledge and Ability Tests and Quizzes
You can only be sure you’ve learned something new or mastered a skill if you put it to the test. Therefore, the quizzes on LinkedIn Learning are a fantastic way to gauge your progress.
Advise on Future Study Depending on Your Current Academic Record
Course recommendations in LinkedIn Learning are tailored to your profile and previous study. Learning new information in the context of your existing expertise is a great way to expand your understanding of related fields.
Who should use Linkedin Learning?
Linkedin learning is a great place learn more about any creative, technology or business topic. It provides a customized list of classes for you to choose from based on your unique experience, profile, and interests. After completing a course, you can post your completion certificate on social media and professional networking sites like Linkedin.
Moreover, courses are available in different languages. These include Spanish, English, German, Portuguese, Japanese, French, and Simplified Chinese, making this platform quite global in scope. It’s a huge plus, as only a few sites provide this option.
Organizations and Teams on LinkedIn
Teams can save money by subscribing together to Linkedin Learning rather than purchasing several individual subscriptions. They offer one package for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and another for those with 20 or more.
Organizations can benefit greatly from this method of setting and achieving learning objectives to facilitate the best possible team training and individual growth.
How Much Does It Cost to Take LinkedIn Learning Courses?
You can purchase LinkedIn Learning courses in several different ways. Your first option is to pay as you go for specific classes. Their standard price range is $20-$50 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. So You’ll have unrestricted access to the course materials if you have an active LinkedIn account. After locating the desired course, you must click the “purchase this course” button.
Aside from purchasing individual courses, LinkedIn Learning also offers subscription plans. You can subscribe to their service monthly or annually. Check down below for the rates.
- Monthly: A monthly subscription will cost you $39.99 per month.
- Annually: The total cost each year is $323.88, or $26.99 per month.
Whether you choose a monthly or yearly basis, LinkedIn Learning will give you a one-month free trial if you are a new subscriber. In addition, if you pay for your subscription once a year, you’ll get 33% savings.
One Month Free Trial
One month of free access is available upon signup, including everything listed below. So it is perfect if you have second thoughts about subscribing to the monthly or yearly plans.
- Complete access to LinkedIn Premium
- Collaborative Education
- A Certificate of Completion
- You Can Customize Your Classes
- Independent Study at One’s Own Pace
- Free Access to The Courses Library
The Most Popular LinkedIn Learning Courses
You can find LinkedIn Learning’s featured courses under tabs like “Learn within 30 minutes,” “Trending Now,” “New Releases,” and more on the homepage. It is an excellent location to start looking if you have yet to decide what you want.
As such, it would be instructive to highlight the courses that LinkedIn Learners are finding most valuable. So check them out below:
1. Goal Setting: Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with Jessie Withers
What you’ll learn: It’s easier to reach a goal when you know your team is rowing in the same direction. The popular Objective and Key Results (OKRs) methodology of goal setting enables you and your team to work together to set clear, reachable goals. Instructor Jessie Withers will guide you through understanding the power of strategic goals through how to set, manage, and measure OKRs.
2. Excel Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) with Dennis Taylor
What you’ll learn: We have a lot of data at our fingertips these days. Being spreadsheet savvy can save you time and breathe new life into your data. Excel expert Dennis Taylor leads you through learning basic Excel skills such as organizing data and performing calculations with simple functions, then introduces intermediate skills like building charts, PivotTables, and more.
3. Interpersonal Communication with Dorie Clark
What you’ll learn: Many of us are seeing new faces around the in-person or virtual workplace. Maybe you’re a new face on the team! Dorie Clark’s course will help you navigate the communication side of these new interpersonal relationships. She offers advice and techniques for dealing with complex and nuanced situations like interruptions, receiving critical feedback, and communicating across cultures.
4. Cultivating a Growth Mindset with Gemma Leigh Roberts
What you’ll learn: You’ve already taken the first step toward a growth mindset by exploring these courses. Gemma Leigh Roberts’ course will guide you through the next steps as she shares true examples of growth-mindset success, backed by research in the fields of performance and psychology. She ties it all together with real-world advice that you can put to use as you adopt a growth mindset.
5. Project Management Foundations with Bonnie Biafore
What you’ll learn: We all have projects to manage – from our personal to-do lists to large-scale corporate projects. Regardless of the scope of work, Bonnie Biafore will teach you the fundamentals of project management such as establishing clear project goals and objectives, meeting deadlines, and closing out projects. Sprinkled throughout the course are tips on how to communicate effectively with your project team.
Is LinkedIn Learning Worth the Money?
For a nominal monthly fee, you may take advantage of its library of more than 18,000 in-depth, professionally-designed online courses taught by industry leaders.
You can take these classes according to your speed and availability. Learn about anything from technology, business, and personal finance without leaving your house.
| Pros | Cons |
| Standard of Instruction | Unofficial Accreditation |
| Certification | Constrained coverage of material in classes. |
| You can watch content while not connected to the internet. | |
| You can personalize the time you spend studying to fit your schedule. | |
| Several languages are available. |
Now, let’s look through its cons.
The Levels of Difficulty are Not Always Reliable
LinkedIn Learning caters to users of varying skill levels, which is a significant plus. However, there is room for improvement in the precision with which difficulty levels are assigned. It is because some courses are advertised as “advanced” but are suitable for students with intermediate or even beginner-level skills.
As a result, students in a more advanced course may need to look elsewhere, such as books or seminars, to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. While not a dealbreaker by any stretch, it is something to consider when comparing different classes.
There is No Accreditation
The courses offered by LinkedIn do not meet the standards for official education. Even though some course instructors are published writers and university professors, students can only apply CEUs. These are earned from a select few courses toward professional certification or degree completion.
However, LinkedIn Learning is not alone in this aspect. Several preferred online education resources, including Udacity and DataCamp, are not officially recognized by accrediting institutions or organizations. That said, it’s not exactly a plus.
Lack of Alternative Content Distribution Techniques
Most of LinkedIn Learning’s resources is audio or video presentations. Many students do better with more interactive material than with passive content. After all, adaptability and interactivity are two of online learning’s selling points.
Since videos are not dynamic resources, they cannot be tailored to individual learners’ needs. More hands-on exercises and multiple-choice tests would have enriched the learning experience.
While this is true for most videos, it is essential to note that some did include quizzes to test viewers’ retention of material covered in completed modules. So, there is variety in how the material is presented, albeit more of it is needed in the courses.
A Review of LinkedIn Learning Courses
Since there is a lot to cover, here’s a quick view of how LinkedIn Learning structures its courses.
For instance, a search for “Project Management” yields 5,943 results. You can further sort these outcomes by View Count, Best Match, and Newest. Also, the content, difficulty, and taught software can all be used as search filters.
In addition, users can also specify that they’re only interested in courses, learning paths, or videos that give continuing education credits. Moreover, users can pick a video from inside an existing course and see what they need to catch up on without having to sit through the whole thing. It’s a result of the course’s powerful filtering functionality.
Ways of Learning
Learning Paths are collections of courses designed to teach you anything there is to know about a specific subject. Micro-credential programs, which consist of a succession of related courses, are widespread on large MOOC sites. Examples of such programs include edX’s MicroMasters, Coursera’s MasterTracks, and Udacity’s Nanodegrees.
Take LinkedIn Learning’s “Become a Project Manager” Learning Path as an example. It spans approximately 27 hours and comprises 17 individual courses. When a person finishes a Learning Path, they receive a certificate you can display on your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn Learning credentials are helpful for anyone, from job-seekers to current employees who want to demonstrate their dedication to career development.
Instructional Videos
To a large extent, lessons in LinkedIn Learning are delivered via video. So it is having the student sit back and watch. At the same time, subject matter experts present slides and other pertinent materials while debating the topic.
An area for students to submit follow-up questions to the speakers is also included. In addition, presenters often stick around after their videos to simulate a face-to-face lecture to answer questions.
Since there is no limit on the amount of content available to subscribers, some viewers may wish to start their education while doing something else, like cooking or gardening. Here, the LinkedIn Learning app for Android and iOS comes in handy. First, it enables students to study in various environments, like the subway or the workplace. After that, they can rewatch the content with a sharper focus, allowing them to grasp the fundamentals better and draw relevant parallels from their lives.
Of course, only some people are suited to the primarily video-based format of LinkedIn Learning courses. While this kind of teaching is effective for many students, it could be too restrictive for others. Several students learn better when they can read rather than hear something being explained. After all, skimming through the video material is difficult, unlike online documents, where you can use CTRL-F to find the relevant text quickly.
Furthermore, some people need more time to view videos because they read much faster than speakers talk. They may also need the necessary speaker equipment at work to watch instructional videos. Others, however, might instead learn from books or in-person workshops. However, people who learn best by reading will appreciate that transcripts are available for most course videos.
Standards of Excellence for Course Materials
There is a lot of information, so consumers should check the presenter’s credentials to ensure they get information from a credible source. Put your faith in LinkedIn to find credible experts on any given subject.
In other industries, formal titles are only sometimes indicative of competence. What exactly do terms like “career counselor” and “influencer marketing pioneer” mean? Have these titles given the speaker any credibility? The possibility exists. However, it’s only fair that they inform students LinkedIn Learning is not an officially recognized educational institution.
Moreover, learners can earn CEUs through LinkedIn Learning. However, these courses are not recognized by official institutions. There are LinkedIn Learning Badges that can be earned and displayed on profiles. These can be useful for advancing careers.
Nonetheless, many LinkedIn Learning skill-based courses offer real-world rather than theoretical instruction. Therefore, a learner’s ability to evaluate the quality of educational materials and alleviate any worries about their authenticity depends on the learner’s ability to critically examine the materials’ points of origin.
Some elements of videos, such as opening sequences or worn-out analogies, may feel repetitive or overused to viewers. It’s inevitable that the quality will vary, given the sheer volume of available material.
How About Advanced Content?
LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses covering various topics and skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Whether or not the courses are advanced enough depends on the individual’s experience and knowledge level in a given topic.
For individuals who are just starting out in a particular field or skill, LinkedIn Learning courses can provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. These courses are often designed to be accessible to a broad audience, and they can be an excellent starting point for beginners.
However, for individuals with more experience and expertise in a particular area, they may find that some of the courses offered by LinkedIn Learning are not advanced enough. In such cases, it may be necessary to seek out more specialized and in-depth training, such as through graduate programs, professional certifications, or specialized training programs.
That being said, LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses from industry experts, and some courses are designed for professionals looking to advance their skills and knowledge in a particular field. These advanced courses can be a valuable resource for professionals who are looking to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, and to advance their careers.
Will LinkedIn’s Learning Function Benefit My Career?
LinkedIn Learning courses can be a valuable resource for individuals looking to develop new skills, advance their careers, and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. Here are some ways that LinkedIn Learning courses can benefit your career:
- Professional development: LinkedIn Learning courses can help you develop new skills and knowledge in your field, which can help you advance your career and take on new challenges.
- Career growth: By learning new skills and expanding your knowledge, you can become a more valuable employee and increase your chances of career growth and advancement.
- Networking: LinkedIn Learning courses are available to all LinkedIn members, which means that you can connect with other professionals who are also taking the same courses. This can be a valuable opportunity to expand your network and connect with like-minded individuals.
- Industry recognition: LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses from industry experts and thought leaders. By completing courses and earning certificates of completion, you can showcase your skills and knowledge to potential employers and clients.
Overall, LinkedIn Learning courses can be a valuable tool for advancing your career and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. By taking advantage of this resource, you can develop new skills, expand your knowledge, and increase your chances of career growth and success.
Explore various Learning Options on LinkedIn
If you finish a Learning Path, you will get a completion certificate. In addition, you may upload the certificate to your LinkedIn profile to show your expertise to current and future employers, clients, friends, employers, and coworkers. When LinkedIn Learning determines that all required videos have been seen, a completion certificate will be instantly issued.
A Completion Certificate from LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning’s courses is all self-paced and flexible. It makes them a good choice if you already have a full or part-time job.
An Official LinkedIn Courses App
the LinkedIn Learning app can be a useful tool for individuals who want to learn new skills and advance their careers. The app is available for download on iOS and Android devices, and it offers many of the same features and benefits as the desktop version of LinkedIn Learning.
Here are some of the ways that the LinkedIn Learning app can be useful:
- On-the-go learning: The app allows you to access LinkedIn Learning courses from anywhere, at any time. This means that you can learn new skills and develop your knowledge even when you’re away from your desk.
- Personalized learning: The app uses LinkedIn’s algorithm to recommend courses based on your skills, interests, and career goals. This helps ensure that you’re getting the most relevant and useful content for your needs.
- Offline access: The app allows you to download courses for offline viewing, which means that you can learn even when you don’t have an internet connection.
- Interactive learning: Many LinkedIn Learning courses include interactive elements, such as quizzes and hands-on exercises, which can help reinforce your learning and make the experience more engaging.
- Seamless integration: The LinkedIn Learning app seamlessly integrates with the LinkedIn platform, which means that you can add completed courses to your LinkedIn profile and showcase your skills to potential employers.
Is It Worth It To Take LinkedIn Courses in 2023?
LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses covering various topics and skill levels, so it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are some tips for choosing courses on LinkedIn Learning:
- Identify your goals: What are your career goals and what skills do you need to achieve them? Make a list of the skills you want to develop or improve, and use this as a starting point for your course search.
- Consider your current skill level: Look for courses that match your current skill level. If you’re a beginner, start with courses that provide a basic overview of the topic. If you’re more experienced, look for more advanced courses that will challenge you.
- Read course descriptions and reviews: Read the course descriptions and reviews to get a better idea of what each course covers and whether it’s a good fit for your needs. Pay attention to the course objectives, prerequisites, and reviews from other learners.
- Take advantage of recommendations: LinkedIn Learning uses algorithms to recommend courses based on your profile, skills, and learning history. Take advantage of these recommendations to discover new courses that may be of interest to you.
- Follow industry trends: Look for courses that cover the latest trends and technologies in your field. This can help you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and improve your skills and knowledge.
- Experiment with different formats: LinkedIn Learning offers courses in various formats, including videos, interactive modules, and quizzes. Experiment with different formats to find the ones that work best for you.
What Are the Steps to Creating a LinkedIn Profile?
Now, to begin using LinkedIn Learning, you must first create an account on the platform. The signup process is easy and fast and will only take a little of your time. To help you in your account creation process, we’ve prepared a guide below:
- Navigate to LinkedIn using your computer’s web browser.
- Next, a form will appear. You must fill it up using your name, active email address, and a unique, strong password.
- Once completed, click the “Join Now” button.
After registering, you’ll have access to the site’s Browse feature, where you may look through sections including business or creative. Additionally, other subcategories appear when you click on a primary category. These include Software, Subjects, and Learning Paths.
