Are Linkedin Learning Courses Worth It For Students?
Are Linkedin Learning Courses Worth It For Students? The short answer here is “yasssssss”, absolutely, undoubtedly. In this article, I’ll explain why and how you can use LinkedIn Learning courses in getting hired and in your career.
What Is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform that helps you discover and develop business, technology-related, and creative skills through expert-led course videos.
With more than 5,000 courses and personalized recommendations, you can discover, complete, and track courses related to your field and interests.
How Much Does LinkedIn Learning Cost?
Well, it depends. The university I teach for offers LinkedIn Learning for free for students, staff, faculty and even alumni. You access your free account through university IT.
So before you go out purchasing things, firstly see if your school/university/college pays for students to have LinkedIn Learning.
US News reports, you can get a monthly subscription to LinkedIn Learning for $29.99, with the first month free as a trial period, or an annual subscription for $19.99 per month, with the first month free.
However, if you have LinkedIn Premium, you are automatically granted access to LinkedIn Learning 100% free!
How Does LinkedIn Learning Help Students?
LinkedIn Learning can be used a few different ways. Firstly, if you have a personally developed skill that over the years, you’ve learned loads about on your own because you genuinely enjoy it, LinkedIn Learning is a great way to make your personal learning “official”.
You’ll earn certifications for subjects you already have an interest or basic skill level in, which in turn, you can post on LinkedIn, add to your resume and talk about your learning in interviews.
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Secondly, perhaps you are considering switching your major and aren’t 100% sure if your new field of study is right for you. Why not take a few classes, get a basic introduction to the subject area and actually experience a little bit of your new field before making the big commitment of switching majors or taking an internship you aren’t sure is going to resonate with you.
Either way, LinkedIn Learning courses are a free or very cheap way to exploring interest areas before you fully commit to a more costly option or time.
Using LinkedIn Learning Courses In Your Professional Journey
So let’s say you dig into some courses and perhaps even earn a certificate or two… what next? Don’t just add them to your LinkedIn profile (which you should at least do) but rather, think about ways you can leverage these newly learned skills.
Here are a few ways you can use LinkedIn Learning courses:
On your resume: You can put certifications under education or if you have a skills section, consider adding certifications there too.
In your cover letter: While you might not have paid work experience learning a skill, LinkedIn Learning courses are a great way to show an employer how you are learning in your industry.
In internship interviews: Just like cover letters, don’t by shy in talking about your learning experience during interviews! This shows you took initiative, are capable of managing your own time and are self-driven!
In informational interviews: When comes to networking with industry professionals, it can be intimidating for many students as they simply don’t know enough about the industry or the jargon. So use what you have learned from your LinkedIn Learning courses to feel empowered in your networking journey.
Get promoted: Once you graduate college or university, it becomes harder to force yourself back into the classroom on nights or weekends and the hefty price tag for traditional education is definitely a barrier for many. So use platforms like LinkedIn Learning to continue to grow yourself outside of school so when you do go up for promotion, you’ve got some demonstrable growth to point to- this will help separate you from others and make you uniquely qualified!
Other Learning Options…
While I’m a fan of LinkedIn Learning, know there are other platforms out there like Coursera or Google Certificates that get the job of continuing education done too. I’ve always had a free LinkedIn Learning account through my university so I’m of the mindset to leverage free resources before purchasing any but try a few and see which ones you like the most!
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com
