LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of courses related to professional skills and development. It is owned by LinkedIn and integrated directly into the LinkedIn platform. One of the key features of LinkedIn Learning is the ability for users to showcase their course progress and certifications directly on their LinkedIn profile.
Do completed courses appear on your profile?
Yes, completed LinkedIn Learning courses can appear on your LinkedIn profile in a few different ways:
- The Courses section – This shows a list of all LinkedIn Learning courses you have completed. You can showcase up to 50 courses in this section.
- Featured and Certifications sections – You can showcase select completed courses and earned certifications in these sections.
- Accomplishments section – Completed courses appear here along with other accomplishments like publications, patents, test scores, etc.
However, courses are not automatically added to your profile when completed. You must manually add each course you want to showcase on your profile.
How to add LinkedIn Learning courses to your profile
Here are the steps to add LinkedIn Learning courses to your LinkedIn profile:
- Go to the course page on LinkedIn Learning.
- Click the “Add to Profile” button – this is usually found above the course description or with the share options.
- Select which section(s) of your profile you want to add the course to.
- The course will now appear in the designated section(s) on your profile.
- Repeat this process for each course you want to showcase.
You can add courses to the Courses, Featured, Certifications, and Accomplishments sections of your profile. Be selective about which courses you showcase to highlight your relevant skills and expertise.
Showcasing certifications
In addition to individual courses, you can also showcase earned certifications from LinkedIn Learning programs:
- Go to the Certifications section of your LinkedIn Learning library.
- Click the “Add to Profile” button next to any completed certification.
- The certification will now appear in the Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile.
Certifications can help demonstrate deep knowledge and proficiency in a subject area, so be sure to showcase any relevant certifications.
Customizing how courses appear
You have some options for customizing how LinkedIn Learning courses appear on your profile:
- Profile photo – Add a course profile image to give each course listing a visual representation.
- Descriptions – Edit the auto-generated course descriptions to provide more details on what you learned.
- Titles – Customize the course titles that appear on your profile.
- Order – Arrange courses to dictate the order they appear in.
Take advantage of these options to provide more context and showcase the most relevant courses for your goals.
Removing courses
You can easily remove any LinkedIn Learning courses from your profile:
- Go to the section of your profile where the course appears.
- Click the “Edit” icon – represented by a pencil symbol.
- Click the “X” icon next to any course you want to remove.
- Save the changes to your profile.
It’s a good idea to periodically review which courses appear on your profile and remove any outdated or irrelevant entries.
Who can see your LinkedIn Learning courses?
The visibility of LinkedIn Learning courses on your profile depends on your profile settings:
Profile Setting | Who Can See |
---|---|
Public | Anyone including people outside your network |
Connections only | 1st-degree connections in your network |
You can control these settings by going to your profile’s visibility settings. Consider your desired audience and professional goals when determining if your profile should be public or limited.
Do course progress bars show up?
LinkedIn Learning used to display a course progress bar on profiles, but they removed this feature. Now when you add courses, it only shows the course name, icon, and completion date.
The progress bar showing how much of a course you completed is no longer visible. You can only see this within LinkedIn Learning itself, not on your public profile.
Pros of showcasing courses
Here are some of the benefits of displaying your LinkedIn Learning courses:
- Demonstrates self-initiative in skill development
- Shows you have up-to-date knowledge and skills
- Exhibits willingness to learn and grow
- Highlights hard skills and expertise
- Adds credibility and authority
- Displays well-roundedness
Showcasing relevant courses and certifications can enhance your professional profile and help you stand out in the job market.
Increases discoverability
Adding LinkedIn Learning courses makes it easier for connections and recruiters to find you based on key terms and skills. This can lead to more profile views, connection requests, and job opportunities.
Sparks conversations
A connection might see a course you took on your profile and reach out to discuss it. This can lead to valuable conversations, shared insights, and expanded networking.
Cons of showcasing courses
Here are some potential downsides of displaying your course activity:
- Can appear like you’re trying too hard to impress
- Excessive courses may seem unfocused
- Outdated courses may demonstrate lack of progress
- Visibility to broader audience if profile is public
- Takes up profile space that could highlight other assets
Quality over quantity
Curate a select number of relevant high-quality courses. Showcasing too many courses can look cluttered and overwhelming.
Monitor and remove stale content
Evaluate your course list regularly. Take down any outdated or irrelevant courses to demonstrate progress and focus.
Tips for showcasing LinkedIn Learning courses
- Select courses strategically aligned with your goals.
- Feature courses related to your target industry or role.
- Highlight transferable skills applicable across fields.
- Include courses that display in-demand hard skills.
- Demonstrate progression within a topic area.
- Balance hard and soft skill topics to show versatility.
Curate course titles and descriptions
Customize the default course titles and descriptions for your profile. Make them informative, engaging, and keyword-rich.
Pair with other accomplishments
Situate courses within a broader narrative of your achievements. Combine with certifications, publications, volunteer work, awards, etc.
Conclusion
Yes, you can showcase LinkedIn Learning courses, certifications, and progress on your LinkedIn profile. Carefully curating which programs to highlight can demonstrate valuable skills, knowledge, and dedication to learning. However, be selective and strategic – quality over quantity. Periodically review your course list to keep it updated and aligned with your professional brand and goals.