Do employers consider LinkedIn Learning?

In today’s digital age, online education platforms like LinkedIn Learning are becoming increasingly popular among professionals looking to gain new skills. With over 15,000 courses taught by industry experts, LinkedIn Learning provides users with the opportunity to earn certifications, build their resumes, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in their fields.

But do employers actually care whether you have completed LinkedIn Learning courses? Will those certifications make a difference when applying for jobs or hoping for a promotion?

The short answer

Yes, many employers do look at and value LinkedIn Learning certifications and courses. According to LinkedIn’s 2018 Workplace Learning Report, 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers. Ongoing learning opportunities are becoming increasingly important to retention and engagement.

Additionally, a survey from TalentLMS found that 73% of talent professionals say their perception of a candidate improves when they have completed online courses. So those LinkedIn Learning certifications can make you stand out compared to other applicants.

The longer answer

While LinkedIn Learning certifications are not a replacement for hands-on experience or formal education, they demonstrate to employers that you are motivated to keep developing your skills. Completing online courses shows commitment to your field and a desire to keep growing professionally.

According to Josh Bersin of Deloitte, employees who engage in continuous learning are 46% more likely to be satisfied in their careers. Tapping into learning opportunities results in more confident, productive, and engaged team members.

Employers want people who are curious, motivated, and have the ability to quickly pick up new information. Someone who seeks out learning opportunities on their own initiative fits that bill.

Benefits for employers

There are a few key benefits for organizations that encourage their employees to pursue learning through platforms like LinkedIn:

• Improved employee retention – People are more likely to stick with companies that invest in their professional growth.
• Increased productivity – Employees who expand their skills produce higher quality work.
• Reduced training costs – Employees can develop skills independently that might otherwise require expensive formal training programs.
• Talent development – Continuous learning enables companies to build and grow skills in-house rather than always recruiting externally.

Benefits for employees

For individual learners, there are also plenty of advantages to using LinkedIn Learning:

• Career advancement – Learning new skills can help you earn promotions and take on more responsibility.
• Higher salary – Employees with desirable certifications and abilities can command better compensation.
• Job security – Workers who keep their skills fresh are less likely to be replaced.
• Confidence – Gaining new competencies gives professionals confidence in their abilities.
• Credibility – Certifications demonstrate your commitment to your profession.

How employers evaluate LinkedIn Learning

Generally, certifications and courses completed on LinkedIn Learning are evaluated similarly to other professional training programs. Hiring managers and recruiters look for a few key things:

• Relevance – Does the course relate directly to the candidate’s career field or the skills needed for the role?
• Progression – Has the candidate shown an ongoing commitment to learning by completing multiple courses over time?
• Application – Does the candidate demonstrate how they have applied these new skills on the job?
• Knowledge – Can the candidate explain what they learned and how it has impacted their work?

Courses that check these boxes can be impressive additions to a resume, LinkedIn profile, and professional story.

Tips for maximizing LinkedIn Learning impact

If you want to make sure your LinkedIn Learning track record gives you an edge with hiring managers, keep these tips in mind:

• Select courses strategically – Pick subject matter related to your target role or current skills gaps.
• Showcase certifications – Include badges on your profile and mention courses in resumes and interviews.
• Apply your knowledge – Be prepared to explain how you’ve applied what you learned at work.
• Continue learning – Demonstrate an ongoing commitment by regularly adding new certifications.

LinkedIn Learning metrics that impress employers

Quantifying your LinkedIn Learning experience can help hiring managers understand the extent of your training. Some metrics to highlight include:

• Number of courses completed
• Number of skill assessments passed
• Number of certifications earned
• Hours spent learning
• Variety of course topics completed

For example, stating that you have “Completed over 50 LinkedIn Learning courses and earned 12 certifications in topics like data analysis, project management, and business communication” demonstrates substantial investment.

Presenting your LinkedIn Learning data effectively

Rather than just listing your metrics, make an impact by putting them in context:

• Share how long you have been learning on the platform.
• Explain how your certifications relate to your career goals.
• Give examples of how you have applied course concepts at work.
• Note particular courses that yielded tangible professional results.

Presenting the data in conjunction with these types of details helps tell a compelling story about your commitment to skills development.

Do certain LinkedIn Learning courses hold more weight?

While any learning you do on LinkedIn can be valuable, some types of certifications tend to catch employer attention more than others. Courses that are more likely to impress include:

• Microsoft Certified courses – Earning Microsoft certifications demonstrates deep understanding of widely used business software.
• Technical skills certifications – Courses teaching in-demand technical abilities like programming and data science are highly regarded.
• Management and leadership programs – Certifications that enhance soft skills like communication, collaboration, and influence are useful for management candidates.
• Courses endorsed by companies – Programs promoted directly by well-known brands carry extra weight.
• Specializations – Completing multi-course specializations shows commitment to a topic.

While any learning has value, credentials in these areas tend to catch the eye of recruiters and demonstrate capabilities employers are actively looking for.

Most in-demand LinkedIn Learning courses

According to LinkedIn’s data, some of the most sought-after and endorsed courses on their platform include:

Earning certifications in these areas provides compelling evidence of professional value.

How LinkedIn Learning compares to other online education

LinkedIn Learning is far from the only online education option. How does it compare to alternatives when it comes to career impact?

LinkedIn Learning vs. Coursera

Both Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer thorough, expert-led courses covering a wide range of topics. However, LinkedIn’s courses tend to be a bit shorter and have a more uniform structure. This can make LinkedIn Learning certifications faster to complete.

LinkedIn Learning also has a library of over 15,000 courses compared to Coursera’s approximately 4,000. So there is more choice of content on LinkedIn.

Additionally, LinkedIn Learning integrates directly with LinkedIn profiles. Coursera courses do not link up to your professional social media presence in the same way.

LinkedIn Learning vs. Udemy

A key difference here is that almost anyone can create and publish a course on Udemy, whereas LinkedIn Learning relies on industry experts for instructors. So the quality control tends to be higher with LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Learning is also focused on professional skills, while Udemy offers courses on a huge array of topics from cooking to photography, not just career-related content.

However, Udemy’s pricing model is more flexible since you pay individually per course instead of a monthly subscription fee.

LinkedIn Learning vs. edX

edX offers most of its courses for free, while LinkedIn Learning requires a paid membership. However, edX course completion certificates involve small fees.

The types of programs also differ. edX relies heavily on college and university-level material, while LinkedIn courses focus on professional training.

Overall, LinkedIn Learning certifications may hold more weight in the corporate world, while edX courses are better for formal education.

The bottom line

At the end of the day, LinkedIn Learning credentials and certifications demonstrate several things that tend to impress recruiters and hiring managers:

• Commitment to continuing education
• Relevant, up-to-date skills
• Initiative to advance your career
• Ability to independently master new material
• Desire to provide value to employers

The key is making sure that your learning translates into tangible skills that apply directly to your desired roles. As long as you can articulate the knowledge and competencies you’ve built through LinkedIn Learning, highlighted by metrics that quantify your investment, employers will likely be keen to hire someone with that kind of motivation and ability.