LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda, is an online learning platform that offers courses in business, technology, and creative skills. LinkedIn Learning is owned by LinkedIn and is included with premium LinkedIn memberships. One of the main features of LinkedIn Learning is that it offers certificates of completion for its courses. But with so many online courses and certifications available these days, do LinkedIn Learning certificates really matter? Here we’ll examine who cares about LinkedIn Learning certificates and whether they are worth pursuing.
Who Offers LinkedIn Learning Certificates?
LinkedIn Learning certificates are offered directly through the LinkedIn Learning platform, which is owned by LinkedIn. LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com in 2015 for $1.5 billion and rebranded it as LinkedIn Learning in 2019. LinkedIn Learning currently offers over 16,000 courses in 7 different languages across business, technology, and creative topics.
Any course on LinkedIn Learning that has a “Certificate of completion” label offers a certificate that you can add to your LinkedIn profile upon completing the course. LinkedIn Learning certificates are official certificates provided by LinkedIn.
Who Cares About LinkedIn Learning Certificates?
There are a few key groups that care about LinkedIn Learning certificates:
Job Seekers
Job seekers can benefit from displaying LinkedIn Learning certificates on their LinkedIn profiles. The certificates can showcase skills, knowledge, and professional development to potential employers. According to LinkedIn’s 2022 Workplace Learning Report, 94% of professionals say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers. Showing certificates displays a dedication to continuous learning.
Recruiters
Many recruiters review LinkedIn profiles when assessing job candidates. LinkedIn Learning certificates stand out and show initiative. In a 2021 study by Pearson, 73% of respondents said professional certificates help candidates stand out. Certificates also validate skills that candidates state they have.
LinkedIn Users
Having LinkedIn Learning certificates can improve a user’s LinkedIn profile. Certificates make profiles more robust and attractive. Some certificates are endorsed by LinkedIn as official skill certifications. This adds further credibility.
Employers
Employers that pay for employee LinkedIn Learning access want to see utilization and value. When employees earn certificates, it demonstrates they are enhancing their skills. It shows the employer that their investment in LinkedIn Learning is worthwhile.
Obviously, LinkedIn itself cares about LinkedIn Learning certificates. Offering certificates provides an incentive for LinkedIn members to engage with LinkedIn Learning content. Certificates also differentiate LinkedIn Learning from competitors. Showing additional value helps LinkedIn sell more premium subscriptions.
Do LinkedIn Learning Certificates Help Your Career?
While LinkedIn Learning certificates can certainly help your personal brand and LinkedIn profile, do they really matter for your career? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros
– Demonstrate interest in learning and advancing your skills
– Show you have specific skills and knowledge in a domain
– Give credibility compared to saying you know a skill with no proof
– Make your LinkedIn profile more robust and impressive
– Help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers
– Potentially help you land interviews and job offers
Cons
– Many certificates are easy to obtain, just by completing a course
– There are no assessments or exams to obtain certificates
– Certificate value depends on the prestige of the course and issuer
– Anyone can say they have skills without proof of certificates
– Harder to stand out when many people have the same common certificates
– Do not replace degrees and deep hands-on experience
Who Values LinkedIn Learning Certificates Most?
While LinkedIn Learning certificates have pros and cons, they tend to hold the most value for certain audiences:
Job Seekers With Minimal Experience
For those with limited work experience, like recent graduates or career changers, LinkedIn Learning certificates show valuable skills. Certificates are most useful early in a career.
Job Seekers In Technical Fields
Technical fields like IT, software development, and data science often care more about hands-on skills vs. formal education. Certificates help demonstrate technology skills.
Working Professionals With No College Degree
For those without a college degree, certificates can provide credible skills without formal education. This helps level the playing field.
Freelancers and Consultants
Certificates allow self-employed professionals to showcase expertise. This provides credibility when trying to win new business.
International Job Seekers
In some countries, certificates carry more weight and can substitute for formal degrees. They also demonstrate English proficiency.
Should You List All LinkedIn Learning Certificates?
With LinkedIn Learning making it easy to accumulate certificates, should you list them all on your LinkedIn profile? Here are some tips:
– List certificates relevant to your industry and target role. Omit irrelevant ones.
– Prioritize certificates that required significant time and effort to complete.
– Highlight certificates in high-demand skills like programming languages.
– Only show certificates from prestigious institutions and respected courses.
– Curate your top 5-10 certificates rather than listing all of them.
– Rotate out less relevant certificates as you complete new ones.
The best practice is to be selective. Listing too many certificates, especially for short introductory courses, can dilute their value.
How to Make LinkedIn Learning Certificates Stand Out
Here are some tips to maximize the impact of your LinkedIn Learning certificates:
Add Certificates to Your LinkedIn Profile
Don’t just complete courses. Go through the process of adding the certificate image to your profile. This officially displays and endorses it on LinkedIn.
Attach Certificates When Applying to Jobs
When submitting job applications, attach relevant certificate PDFs. This makes them more visible.
Highlight Certificates in Your Resume
In your resume’s skills or accomplishment sections, call out important certificates you have earned.
Share Certificates on Other Social Channels
Post your certificates on sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to maximize exposure.
Display Certificates on Your Website
If you have a professional website or portfolio, prominently showcase your certificates.
Should You Pay for LinkedIn Learning Certificates?
Most LinkedIn Learning courses are free with a premium LinkedIn account, which ranges from $29-$59 per month. However, LinkedIn does offer some advanced “nanodegree” certificates through LinkedIn Learning Paths for additional fees:
– LinkedIn Learning Paths cost $400/month for access
– Individual nanodegree programs cost $96-$1500
These more advanced programs may be worth the investment if you need deep skills in an area like data science or digital marketing. The standard LinkedIn Learning certificates offer decent value at no added cost with a premium account.
Are LinkedIn Learning Certificates Worth It?
At the end of the day, are LinkedIn Learning certificates worth pursuing? Here’s the bottom line:
– Helpful for beginners, but less value for experienced professionals
– Best for foundational knowledge, not deep skills
– Some courses are more robust and in-demand than others
– Easy to accumulate many certificates, so be selective
– Supplement, don’t replace, work experience and formal education
– Most valuable when relevant to your field and target role
– Free with a LinkedIn Premium account, so low barrier to gain certificates
LinkedIn Learning certificates do offer some professional value, but they should not be your only credentials. Treat them as supplements to highlight, not replacements for education and work experience. With the right courses and a selective approach, LinkedIn Learning certificates can provide an edge and enhance your brand.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Learning certificates can offer some benefits, but their true value depends on your career stage, industry, role, and the relevance of the courses completed. While they likely won’t dramatically advance your career alone, they can be worthwhile additions especially early on or when trying to pivot. Just don’t go overboard listing too many certificates. Be selective in which ones you showcase.
At the end of the day, work experience, degrees, and hands-on skills matter far more than any number of certificates. But as part of a broader professional development strategy, relevant LinkedIn Learning certificates can provide an edge and boost your brand. They show motivation to keep learning. So while the certificates themselves may not be a game changer, the knowledge you gain from LinkedIn Learning coursework can still help you succeed and get ahead.