With the rise of online education, LinkedIn Learning has become a popular platform for learning new skills. But are the courses really worth the money and time invested? Here is an in-depth look at the pros and cons of LinkedIn Learning to help you decide if it’s right for you.
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda.com, is an e-learning platform that offers over 15,000+ online video courses taught by industry experts. Courses cover a wide range of topics including software development, creative skills, business analysis, and more. Users can access courses on desktop or mobile to learn at their own pace.
LinkedIn Learning is a paid subscription service. Individual monthly plans start at $19.99 per month while annual subscriptions cost $199.88 per year. There are also options for enterprise and team plans.
Pros of LinkedIn Learning
High-quality courses
One of the biggest advantages of LinkedIn Learning is the depth and quality of courses. With over 15,000 courses taught by vetted industry experts, there is extensive content coverage across many fields and disciplines.
Courses are professionally produced, with high-quality video and audio production values. Instruction tends to be engaging, clearly explaining concepts and demonstrating practical skills. Many courses feature supplemental downloadable materials like workbooks, templates, and source files.
Valuable skills and knowledge
LinkedIn Learning provides valuable skills training, with courses teaching hard technical skills as well as professional soft skills. The platform has especially deep and comprehensive coverage in areas like design, photography, software and web development, and business.
Taking courses can give you practical, real-world skills to help advance your career or pursue personal interests and hobbies. Learning new skills can also make you more competitive and marketable as an employee or freelancer.
Beginner friendly
While there are advanced courses, many LinkedIn Learning courses are geared for beginners. The instructors effectively break down concepts and guide learners step-by-step through developing foundational knowledge and skills.
With courses structured into short lessons, usually 5-10 minutes long, even total beginners can follow along and learn at a comfortable pace. The courses allow you to learn difficult concepts or sophisticated software in an accessible way.
Self-paced and flexible learning
One of the top advantages of LinkedIn Learning is the flexibility it provides. You can access courses on your computer or mobile device at any time that fits your schedule. With on-demand video lessons, you can turn learning on or off to suit your needs.
The platform allows you to move through courses and lessons at your own pace, rewinding and rewatching material as needed. There are progress tracking features to help keep you on track.
This flexibility makes learning more convenient, as you don’t have to adhere to a rigid class schedule. You can absorb the material in a way that sticks at your own optimal pace.
Variety of topics
LinkedIn Learning offers an incredibly diverse content library, making it a versatile learning solution. No matter your field or interests, you can find relevant courses, including:
- Design – Graphic design, web design, user experience (UX)
- Business – Leadership, project management, human resources
- Technology – Programming, app development, IT certifications
- Creative skills – Photography, audio production, 3D animation
- Software – Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, CAD
Having access to quality instruction across so many areas means you can use LinkedIn Learning to expand your skillset or pursue a wide range of hobbies on a single platform.
Career advancement opportunities
Taking LinkedIn Learning courses related to your job can help you gain skills to advance your career. Learning new software, tools, and processes applicable to your work makes you more knowledgeable and valuable.
Some companies offer full or partial reimbursement for job-related courses. Completing courses also looks good on a resume or when negotiating promotions and salary increases.
Certificate upon course completion
LinkedIn Learning offers certificates of completion for finishing courses. These certificates can serve as tangible proof of your new skills or knowledge. Some courses even provide continuing education units (CEUs).
Earning certificates gives you an advantage when job hunting or trying to win new clients as a freelancer. Completion certificates can demonstrate your dedication to professional development.
Community features
The platform incorporates community features that add engagement. You can take notes, discuss courses, and interact with other learners in the discussion sections.
Being able to ask questions and give or receive help can improve the learning experience. The social components allow you to connect with professionals taking the same courses.
Cons of LinkedIn Learning
While LinkedIn Learning offers outstanding benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider.
Cost
One of the biggest drawbacks is the cost of an individual subscription. The monthly fee of $19.99 can feel expensive when adding up over a year, especially for anyone on a tight budget.
While still more affordable than college classes, it represents a significant ongoing investment. However, you can offset the cost by taking advantage of as many courses as you can fit into your subscription period.
No instructor interaction
The self-paced online course format also means there is no direct interaction with instructors. While you can post questions in the course discussion sections, you cannot ask the instructor questions in real-time.
The lack of back-and-forth dialogue or individualized feedback and guidance can be a downside for some learners. However, the high quality of the video instruction mitigates this limitation for most people.
Difficult topics require focus
Although LinkedIn Learning courses are well-designed, some advanced technical or complex topics can still be difficult to absorb through a video interface. Learning intricate concepts like programming may require intense focus and discipline.
Without a live instructor or classroom setting, it can be easier to get distracted or disengaged. However, the ability to rewatch material helps address this issue.
Inconsistent course quality
With thousands of courses on offer, there is some variability in production standards and teaching ability between instructors. While most courses are excellent, some narrowly focus on software features rather than skills.
It helps to carefully read the course descriptions and look at reviews and ratings to vet the higher quality courses before enrolling.
Limited certificates value
While LinkedIn Learning offers certificates of completion for their courses, these have limited formal value. The certificates demonstrate you finished the course material, but they do not lead to degrees or industry-recognized certifications.
Completing a certificate is not equivalent to earning a professional credential. As such, the certificates should not be overstated on a resume or during a job search.
Who is LinkedIn Learning best suited for?
Due to its structure and cost, LinkedIn Learning offers the most value for:
- Professionals – It can help further skills in your field and keep up with the latest best practices, technology, and trends.
- Career changers – The wide range of courses allow you to gain knowledge in a new field.
- Lifelong learners – People who love learning new skills related to hobbies will get a lot of enjoyment and benefit.
- Remote workers and freelancers – The flexibility suits independent workers who need to schedule learning around other commitments.
- Visual learners – The video-focused courses work best for visual and auditory learners.
LinkedIn Learning offers less value for those needing formal accreditation like degrees or looking for in-person instructor interaction.
Conclusion
Overall, LinkedIn Learning offers outstanding value as a self-paced online learning platform. The combination of high-quality courses, low monthly cost, flexible access, and practical real-world skills training make it a worthwhile investment for continuous learning.
While no learning solution is perfect for everyone, the pros generally outweigh the cons with LinkedIn Learning for motivated professionals, career changers, and lifelong learners seeking to expand their skillsets.
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The platform offers an outstanding learning experience and value for the monthly subscription fee. If you are looking to gain knowledge, skills, and practical abilities either for career development or personal enrichment, LinkedIn Learning has much to offer.
The wide range of topics and professional-quality courses provide the opportunity to pursue almost any interest area or skill gap. While a self-paced learning format has limitations, the flexibility and self-service nature can work incredibly well for self-motivated learners.
Before diving in, carefully evaluating your learning goals and needs will allow you to make the most of LinkedIn Learning. Take advantage of the free trial period to experience the platform and instructional style firsthand.
Approach it as supplemental learning, not a complete substitute for hands-on training or formal education. If online self-paced learning suits your needs and preferred learning methods, the high-quality courses and flexible access LinkedIn Learning provides can make it a very worthwhile investment.
LinkedIn Learning brings high-value skills training from industry experts right to your device. For professionals and lifelong learners alike looking to expand their knowledge and abilities on their own time, it delivers learning opportunities otherwise inaccessible to many.
The breadth of course topics allows you to keep gaining relevant emerging skills as technology and business practices advance. Investing in continuously developing your knowledge through quality learning resources like LinkedIn Learning can pay major dividends for your career or business.
In summary, if you have the drive and discipline for self-paced learning, need skills training and professional development on a flexible schedule, and are drawn to video-based instruction, a LinkedIn Learning subscription can be an excellent value-for-money choice.