Introduction
In today’s date and age, accessing learning material and gaining new job skills is easy to do. There are all kinds of learning solutions available online, with more colleges and universities than ever beginning to offer alternative learning paths for motivated (yet remotely-located) students.
You don’t have to enroll full-time at a college or university in order to access these opportunities, either. In fact, there are plenty of online learning platforms that you can look into to take courses in relevant skills and subjects no matter where you live- or how much money you have. From Coursera to Udemy, you’ll find plenty of online learning courses to help you meet your professional and personal goals.
One of these online learning platforms is the LinkedIn Learning platform. In this LinkedIn Learning review, we will tell you everything you need to know about this unique online course provider.
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is one of the country’s top providers of online learning solutions and professional development opportunities. Whether you’re an individual hoping to pick up a few skills here or there or an organization looking to expand your employees’ access to professional development opportunities and new skills, LinkedIn Learning has the resources you need for today – and for tomorrow.
The platform features more than 16,000 courses taught by experts with real-world experience. You’ll find more than 50 brand-new classes offered each and every week with more classes constantly being added. The course library is, in fact, kept up to date with the most in-demand skills and content that you need to know.
Sign up for a LinkedIn Learning subscription, and you’ll join a network of more than 600 million follow members. You’ll receive personalized recommendations for courses that will help to connect you with the most relevant online learning solutions and resources for your needs and goals.
How Does LinkedIn Learning Work?
LinkedIn Learning offers students three primary ways to learn.
You can learn by subject, which will enable you to gain experience in a specific skill set. You can select a topic and pick classes that revolve around that area of interest.
You can also gain skills in software, which is vital for all kinds of industries. You can even pursue a Learning Path, which is a feature that is unique to LinkedIn Learning.
With Learning Paths, you’ll gain the skills necessary to transition into a new field. You can select a path and gain access to a structured learning experience based on that path, rather than having to wade through the thousands of courses listed on the platform.
An example? If you want to learn new skills in digital marketing, for example, you’ll start by taking a class in online marketing foundations before moving on to those in Google Analytics, growth hacking, content marketing foundations, and other related and more advanced topics.
Features and Functionality
There are several key features of LinkedIn Learning that set it apart from other platforms. Here are some of the best.
Ease of Access & Functionality
Already have a LinkedIn account? That’s great! You won’t have to do a single thing when it comes to filling out your profile and registering for LinkedIn learning. You’ll just have to register and pay the fees, if you progress past the free trial. After that, you can access all LinkedIn Learning features that you might want. You’ll find that everything is formatted quite similarly to the regular LinkedIn platform, too.
Course and Video Features
LinkedIn Learning has several courses and video features that are incredibly beneficial for all subscribers.
One is the certificate of completion feature. Every course, regardless of the category or your own skill level, comes with a certificate of completion at the end. This is a great way to showcase to prospective employers that you really know your stuff.
You’ll also be able to access things like exercise files, notes, and assessments. Exercise files are perfect for helping you gain mastery of a subject, as you’ll be able to practice the skills taught in the class in a more hands-on way. Notes are beneficial because you can take digital notes as you move along in a course so that you can reference them later on.
Assessments are beneficial because you can take these at the end of each individual section in the course. You’ll know exactly when it’s time to move on to a new module based on what you’ve accomplished so far.
You’ll also have access to learning paths and saved courses. Learning paths are unique to LinkedIn Learning and will allow you to take classes in a certain progression if you want to gain mastery of a certain larger topic. You can also save courses and return to them later on so that you don’t lose track of what you wanted to do.
If you’re looking to read a few LinkedIn Learning honest reviews, then don’t worry – you’ll also be able to access helpful review sections where you can read feedback given from other students. This is particularly beneficial in helping you to decide whether a course will mesh well with your unique learning goals.
Similarly, LinkedIn Learning has a helpful Q&A section where you can ask questions of fellow students and the instructor. This is a great way to learn more about a topic or to clear up any areas of confusion that you might have.
Support Services
There are all kinds of ways you can get help if you find that you are having trouble with LinkedIn Learning.
The best place to start is with the Learning Help Center, which will include answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. You can also reach out to support by signing in or creating a help ticket, too.
Learner History
LinkedIn Learning offers students a great way to keep track of their professional growth. With the learner history feature, you’ll be able to access a list of the courses you have watched in the past. The beauty of this system is that, if you are an individual LinkedIn Learning subscriber migrating from the original platform, Lynda.com, all of your data can be transferred to LinkedIn Learning.
Not only that, but you can search, view, save, and share courses with the platform, too. This is a fun way for you to keep in touch with your professional network both on and off the platform. LinkedIn Learning will even provide you with recommendations of skills you might be interested in and other recommendations, too.
What Type of Classes are Offered on LinkedIn Learning?
With LinkedIn Learning, you can take classes in just about anything. From project management to JavaScript, HTML to body language, LinkedIn Learning is the place to go.
For the most part, courses are offered in three categories – business, technology, and creative pursuits. In the business category, you might take classes in things like leadership development or soft skills training. In technology, you may build your skills in hardware or software programming. And in the creative category, you’ll likely gain the skills necessary to help you become more adept with design and other skills.
How to Choose Courses
To get started with LinkedIn Learning, you will need to first register for an account. This is the same registration process that you would follow if you were making an account for a general LinkedIn profile as well, so you might already be familiar with the process
Once you have created an account, you will be able to select from a general list of skills of those that interest you most. For example, you might select options like “writing,” “marketing,” “public relations,” or “Microsoft Office.”
After you have selected your skills, the platform will give you a list of course recommendations that correlate with the interests and skills you’ve indicated.
If you’d rather be more autonomous in the selection of your classes, you do have another option. You can discover courses based on browsing through various fields. LinkedIn Learning has three basic categories – creative, business, and technology. You can also look at classes that are trending as well as those that are listed as “top liked” to give you an idea of what kinds of courses other students are taking.
You can even search directly if you know exactly what you want to get out of the platform. There’s a convenient search tool that will enable you to search by the exact name of the course.
What’s the Price/Cost of LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning, like most other online course platforms, has several different pricing structures for you to consider.
As with similar platforms, you can sign up for a free trial to get started. This will help you get an idea of whether the platform is one you’d like to pursue, or whether you’d prefer to move to a different online learning platform to complete your courses.
Although LinkedIn Learning is not the cheapest platform you’ll find, it’s definitely not the most expensive – nor does it even remotely come close to the price of registering for a class at a college or university.
At $29.99 per month, the cost of a LinkedIn membership is relatively affordable, particularly if you plan on taking multiple classes every month. In addition to a monthly rate (which is free the first month with the trial program), LinkedIn Learning also features an annual rate that allows you to save the cost of a subscription. With this plan, you’ll pay $19.99 per month, but you must pay all at once for the entire year.
You can cancel at any time if you decide to move to another platform, or if you merely decide that online learning is not right for you.
The Advantages (Pros) of LinkedIn Learning
Integrated with LinkedIn Accounts
If you already have a LinkedIn account, you’ll love using LinkedIn Learning because everything is set up and designed in a similar fashion. The platform has access to your job profile, skills, areas of expertise, and subjects of interest, so you’ll find that courses are automatically recommended based on this profile. You’ll have to do less work when it comes to finding relevant courses.
Free Trial Available
One of the best features of LinkedIn Learning is the availability of a free trial program. This is the absolute best way for you to get an idea of whether a course or course platform is right for you before you commit. You don’t have to pay a cent if you decide, after the first month, that LinkedIn Learning isn’t right for you.
Accessible and Relevant Courses
With LinkedIn Learning, you’ll have access to more than 10,000 different expert-led courses. These courses are integrative and hands-on and can be completed from any device, including a phone or a computer. In most cases, you can even download your courses so that you can view and complete them offline, while you’re on the go.
In addition to personalized course recommendations from the platform, you will also be able to assess your progress with quizzes while you complete each individual course. Although the quizzes aren’t graded, they offer a good way for you to keep track of how well you are doing and whether you have achieved the listed course objectives.
Beyond the quizzes, there are plenty of other resources that can be found in each course on this platform. For example, you’ll earn a certificate when you complete a course. Granted, this kind of course completion is not credit-bearing in any way, and the certificate won’t always help you in your job search. But in many cases, the certificate can be a good way for you to demonstrate to potential employers that you really know your stuff and that you have gone out of your way to learn new skills.
There are project files you can access while you learn, too. These project files are tools and activities that you can view or complete while you’re working on a course to help you truly master the content. After all, the best way to learn is by actually doing!
You will also be able to access LinkedIn’s premium career features, something that can be invaluable as you are searching for a job.
The Disadvantages (Cons) of LinkedIn Learning
Short, Introductory Courses
One of the primary disadvantages of LinkedIn Learning is that courses tend to be short and targeted for beginners who are at a more introductory level. If you want to gain a more advanced knowledge of a topic, you would be better off signing up for a course offered by a university. LinkedIn Learning provides more of an overview or skim rather than a detailed experience.
Some Material is Not Up To Date
Some LinkedIn premium students have complained that the platform does not offer students any way to know how old a course is before deciding to take it. That might not be a problem at face value, but when you consider that some material is time-sensitive, it might make you think twice.
For some fields, it might not make a huge difference. Chances are, if you are taking a creative writing class, there’s not much that will change from one year to the next. For skills related to technology or business, though, it might be more imperative that you take a recently-launched course.
Too Many Courses?
Although it might seem impossible, the reality is that, when taking classes with LinkedIn Learning, you might have too much of a good thing. LinkedIn Learning has so many classes to choose from that it can be somewhat overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right ones.
This challenge is amplified when you realize that not all courses on LinkedIn Learning are equally awesome, either. Some are taught by instructors who might not have the best teaching style – or perhaps a teaching style that doesn’t mesh with your goals and preferences – while others are taught by individuals who proclaim to (but may actually not) know much about the topic at hand.
Ungraded Material
A complaint frequently echoed among LinkedIn Learning subscribers is that you will not receive a grade for your work after completing various modules within a course. Although this makes sense, given that LinkedIn Learning does not provide students with grades at the end of the course or any kind of credential (like transferable course credit), it can be frustrating for some that you must pay for a membership and yet not get anything tangible at the end of the class.
The Learner’s Perspective
From a learner’s perspective, LinkedIn Learning has a whole lot to offer. Not only is this platform great for learning casual skills that will enrich your everyday life, but it’s also one of the best resources out there if you are searching for a job.
Although the classes you can take on LinkedIn Learning are not credit-bearing, the beauty of them is that they connect to your LinkedIn profile so they can easily be displayed there and help to snag the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager. They’ll help you supercharge your resume and show that you are motivated and want to succeed.
The Instructor’s Perspective
Do you think you have what it takes to teach a class on LinkedIn Learning? From soft skills to software development, there’s likely a niche for everyone.
The platform is just as beneficial to educators as it is to students, offering every LinkedIn Learning instructor a way to consolidate their material and get their wealth of knowledge out there to the public. You’ll be able to upload all kinds of materials, from PDFs to videos and links.
You can even integrate digital resources into your curriculum, something that is unique for LinkedIn Learning as compared to other platforms. There are closed captioning and other accessibility services you can tap into, too, making this platform one of the best and most all-inclusive.
LinkedIn Learning is best for experts, so if you’re new to your field, this might not be the best platform for you. As an instructor on LinkedIn Learning, you will be able to help students reach their personal and professional goals and make a little extra income. You do have to apply in order to become an instructor. You’ll need to submit a maple movie and indicate what topics you are qualified to teach.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this LinkedIn Learning courses review has been helpful in helping you decide whether a LinkedIn Learning subscription is right for you. While there are certainly areas where the LinkedIn Learning app could be improved, overall, this platform is one of the very best when it comes to making online learning a reality for all students.
FAQ
Is LinkedIn Learning Worth it?
Whether you’re a serious or casual learner, LinkedIn Learning is absolutely worth the time and money you might invest in the platform. Whether you want to develop skills that you might need for a job search or just want to learn something fun, new, and exciting in your spare time, LinkedIn Learning is the way to go.
Is LinkedIn Learning Legit?
Is LinkedIn Learning legit? Absolutely. This platform is loaded to the brim with all kinds of educational material that is not only practical and useful, but also actionable and enjoyable to learn.
You will find that the materials here are relevant for both beginning and intermediate learners. Although the focus is primarily on job skills, the skills that you acquire with a LinkedIn learning membership could very well help you to become more fluent in skills that you use in your day-to-day life and hobbies, too.
Is LinkedIn Learning Free?
LinkedIn Learning does offer a free membership trial, but after the one month has ended, it is no longer free. You will need to pay a monthly fee between $19.99 and $29.99, depending on the length of the subscription plan you choose.
How Much Does LinkedIn Learning Cost?
If you sign up for a monthly Premium subscription, you will pay $29.99, renewed automatically each month. If you would prefer to pay just once per year, you will need to pay $299.88 plus relevant taxes. This is a discount of approximately 33% and will cost you around $19.99 per month.
What is a LinkedIn Learning Subscription?
A LinkedIn Learning subscription will entitle you to all kinds of benefits via the platform. Not only will you be able to get recommendations for courses based on your interests and decision skills, but you can also add those courses to your LinkedIn profile to showcase them to potential employers.
A LinkedIn Learning subscription goes hand in hand with other benefits. For example, you’ll not only be able to access interactive learning opportunities but you can learn how and when you want and gain full access to LinkedIn premium, where you’ll receive job and salary insights, unlimited profile viewing, InMail credits, and more.
You’ll be billed on a monthly or annual basis, depending on the option you choose. Regardless of which one you select, your subscription will be renewed at the end of every month or the end of every year. Pay annually, and you’ll save up to 33% compared to monthly costs.
You can always downgrade or cancel your subscription later on, too. Although LinkedIn does not offer refunds except in very rare situations, you can make changes to your plan at any time. Not only that, but as an employer, you can also pay for your employees’ subscriptions. After your purchase, you’ll get the receipt in your email and you can use it for filing expense reports.
Are LinkedIn Learning Courses Good?
LinkedIn Learning courses are good – and they’re definitely worth it. If you’re interested in spending a couple of hours each week on learning new skills or enhancing the ones you already have, it’s a solid investment that can benefit both you and your carer. As long as you are willing to do some research on your courses and your instructors, there really aren’t any drawbacks associated with the platform, either.
Are LinkedIn Learning Courses Recognized & Accredited?
Although most employers will view LinkedIn Learning courses as a solid badge of achievement on your resume when it comes to applying for jobs, they, unfortunately, are not accredited by any organization, nor are they formally recognized. You won’t be able to use them to transfer credits into a university or to help you get a job that requires a specific credential. However, taking LinkedIn Learning classes will enable you to get a leg up on the competition during your job search by providing you with skills that employers want to see the most.
Can You Put LinkedIn Learning On Your Resume?
Absolutely. In fact, that’s one of the biggest benefits of taking courses on LinkedIn Learning. When you take a LinkedIn Learning class, you’ll be able to add the course to your LinkedIn profile to showcase to prospective employers and to the rest of your LinkedIn network.
