LinkedIn Learning courses can be a great addition to your resume if completed thoughtfully and strategically. These courses demonstrate your commitment to continuing education and developing new skills which are attractive qualities in job candidates. However, just listing the courses is not enough – you need to highlight the relevant skills and knowledge gained through your LinkedIn Learning achievements. Here’s what you need to know about featuring LinkedIn Learning on your resume the right way.
Why include LinkedIn Learning courses on your resume?
Here are some of the key benefits of including LinkedIn Learning courses and certifications on your resume:
- Shows you are committed to continuous learning – Employers want candidates who actively work to improve their skills and keep up with changes in their industry. LinkedIn Learning demonstrates this.
- Highlights relevant hard and soft skills – The courses you choose highlight skills applicable to the roles you are targeting and your professional development.
- Displays knowledge of latest trends/technology – Certain courses will showcase your knowledge of cutting-edge and emerging topics in your field.
- Provides credibility – LinkedIn Learning courses are created by industry experts and demonstrate substantive learning. Certifications can back up your expertise.
- Easy for employers to verify – Employers can check the LinkedIn Learning website to confirm the courses you have completed.
Overall, including relevant LinkedIn Learning achievements shows you are actively maintaining and expanding your skills as a professional. This devotion to learning makes you a more attractive candidate in the job market.
How to include LinkedIn Learning courses on your resume
To feature LinkedIn Learning courses effectively on your resume:
- Select relevant courses – Only include courses applicable to the roles you want. Learning guitar likely won’t impress unless musical ability is key.
- Highlight transferable skills – Consider skills like communication, project management and data analysis gained through courses. These transfer between roles.
- Quantify what you learned – For example: “Course demonstrated how to use Python for data visualization and machine learning models.”
- List any special certifications – Completing certifications shows in-depth knowledge and are especially noteworthy.
- Use numbers – For example: “Completed 10 project management courses on LinkedIn Learning.” Quantifies your investment.
- Choose an appropriate resume section – You may feature courses in skills, professional development or education sections.
Let’s look at two examples showcasing LinkedIn Learning on a resume:
Good Example
Professional Development
– Completed over 25 courses and trainings focused on leadership skills through LinkedIn Learning, including courses on coaching techniques, strategic planning and emotional intelligence. Developed mentoring and coaching skills I now utilize with my team.
Bad Example
LinkedIn Learning Courses
– Building Your Brand on LinkedIn
– Learning Python
– Project Management Foundations
– Guitar for Beginners
– Resume Writing Tips
The first example highlights relevant courses, transferable skills gained, applicable experience and quantifies the learning. The second just lists courses without context.
How many LinkedIn Learning courses to include
Quality over quantity is key when listing LinkedIn Learning achievements. There are no absolute rules, but here are some guidelines:
- Choose 2-5 of your most relevant, impressive courses
- Can include up to 10 courses if highly pertinent and consolidated into 1-2 accomplishment statements
- Avoid including over 10 courses – becomes excessive and reduces impact
- Emphasize courses and skills that differentiate you
The goal is to showcase the knowledge and abilities gained through your top LinkedIn Learning courses concisely. Avoid simply listing course titles or cramming in too many.
Should you include LinkedIn Learning courses from years ago?
Use your judgement when deciding whether to include older LinkedIn Learning courses:
- Include if the skills are still relevant to the roles you want
- OK to exclude older courses – focus on highlighting your newer relevant learning
- Mentioning some dated yet impression courses is fine, especially if you have few recent ones
- Balance showcasing your continued interest in learning over time with emphasizing newer skills
The LinkedIn Learning website allows you to sort courses by date completed. Review your list while keeping your target jobs and current skills in mind when choosing which dated courses to potentially include or exclude.
Tips for picking the best LinkedIn Learning courses for your resume
Not sure where to start when selecting LinkedIn Learning courses for your resume? Keep these tips in mind:
- Align with target roles – Pick courses that teach skills needed for the jobs you want.
- Showcase transferable abilities – Consider analytical or communication skills gained, not just technical knowledge.
- Demonstrate leadership skills – Management and executive level courses can set you apart.
- Double down on strengths – Bolster existing knowledge and skills with advanced courses.
- Address skill gaps – Look for knowledge you lack that is commonly required in your field.
- Lean towards breadth – Varied courses touching different areas can showcase versatility.
- Feature certifications – Completing intensive certifications may deserve special mention.
Research typical skills and requirements for your target roles. Identify any gaps or strengths to develop as you assess the available LinkedIn Learning library when selecting courses.
Should you list LinkedIn Learning courses under education or experience?
Either the education or experience sections are appropriate places to highlight your LinkedIn Learning achievements on a resume:
Education Section
Listing relevant courses here emphasizes their educational value and your dedication to learning. This section works well if:
- You have limited work experience and are trying to fill out your resume
- You recently completed academics and are transitioning fields
- Your courses directly relate to your degree or supplement gaps in your formal education
Experience Section
Including courses alongside your professional experience highlights how they have enhanced your existing skills. This is a good option if:
- You have extensive work experience and achievements to showcase
- You took courses to specifically advance your career skills
- You have assumed additional responsibilities thanks to new skills from courses
Choose the resume section that best emphasizes the relevance and impact of your LinkedIn Learning achievements.
Should you include a separate LinkedIn Learning section?
While you can include a separate section for LinkedIn Learning, it is not ideal. These courses generally fit better integrated into your education or experience sections.
Reasons to avoid a separate section:
- Can seem like you are trying to fill space on your resume
- Makes the LinkedIn Learning achievements appear disconnected from your other credentials
- Adds clutter – better to consolidate into existing sections
- Makes you choose between repeating courses in multiple sections or isolating them
Integrating your top LinkedIn Learning courses into the broader narrative of your resume is more powerful. But a separate section can be acceptable if you have completed an extensive number of highly relevant courses.
How to list LinkedIn Learning courses on a resume template
The template you choose for your resume will dictate how you list LinkedIn Learning courses and certifications. Follow these tips:
Reverse Chronological Template
This common resume format orders your experience section from most to least recent. You have two options for including LinkedIn Learning achievements:
- List courses alongside your regular job descriptions under each position where relevant
- Create a separate “Career Development” subsection for professional learning
Skills-Based Template
A skills-focused resume highlights your expertise. Effective ways to include LinkedIn Learning here:
- Dedicate a sub-section of your skills list for online certifications and courses
- Mention the specific skills you gained from LinkedIn Learning when listing hard and soft skills
Combination Template
This hybrid format allows you to highlight both skills and experience. You can either list courses under the appropriate job or in the skills section.
Targeted Template
Designed for a specific role, this type of resume is customized with relevant skills. Make sure to include LinkedIn Learning courses that provide skills needed for that job.
Can you get credit for LinkedIn Learning courses on your resume?
LinkedIn Learning courses can potentially count towards credit on your resume in two ways if completed through an eligible college or university:
College Credit Recommendation
Some institutions provide college credit recommendations for LinkedIn Learning courses. This means they recommend awarding a certain number of academic credits for completing a course or series of courses equal to a college class.
If your school offers credit recommendations for LinkedIn Learning, you may be able to list the courses as you would any completed college class under your education.
Prior Learning Assessment
Many colleges and universities also offer Prior Learning Assessments (PLAs). This evaluates your work and life experience to determine if it is equivalent to college-level learning. Earning credit through PLAs allows you to list the experience like any college coursework on your resume and elsewhere.
If your institution conducts PLAs, you may be able to submit your LinkedIn Learning certifications to be assessed for potential credit. This credit can then be included on your resume.
Key takeaways
– LinkedIn Learning courses demonstrate your commitment to skill-building and career advancement.
– On your resume, include courses that are relevant to the roles you want and highlight transferable skills gained.
– Quantify your learning and accomplishments. List any notable certifications.
– Integrate your top LinkedIn Learning achievements into either your experience or education sections. Avoid excessive or irrelevant courses.
– Choose resume template categories that best emphasize the impact of your LinkedIn Learning courses.
– At some institutions, you may be able to earn accredited college credits for LinkedIn Learning that can be included on your resume.
With thoughtful selection and positioning, adding LinkedIn Learning courses and certifications to your resume can strengthen your candidacy and help you stand out from the competition.