As a Microsoft employee, you may be wondering if you can get a discount on LinkedIn Premium. LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that offers additional features beyond the free LinkedIn account. With Premium, you get access to more search filters, can view more profiles anonymously, see who’s viewed your profile, take unlimited advanced courses, and more. But does Microsoft provide any exclusive discounts or deals for its employees who want to upgrade to LinkedIn Premium? Let’s take a look at what we know.
The Microsoft-LinkedIn Relationship
First, it’s important to understand the relationship between Microsoft and LinkedIn. In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in one of its largest acquisitions to date. This gave Microsoft ownership over the professional networking platform. However, LinkedIn still operates independently under its own brand and management.
So while LinkedIn is now a subsidiary of Microsoft, it is still its own separate entity. Microsoft does not manage or control LinkedIn’s individual product offerings or pricing. LinkedIn continues to make those decisions for its own business.
Available Discounts on LinkedIn Premium
LinkedIn Premium is offered to all users at the same published rates on LinkedIn.com. LinkedIn does not provide any special discounted rates specific to Microsoft employees.
The current published monthly rates for LinkedIn Premium subscriptions are:
- Premium Career – $29.99/month
- Premium Business – $47.99/month
- Premium Sales – $64.99/month
These are the standard prices visible to anyone visiting LinkedIn. There are no exclusive corporate discounts or bulk deals that would apply to Microsoft employees.
However, LinkedIn does offer special discounts that any user can take advantage of:
- Yearly subscription – Paying annually rather than monthly provides a discount of about 15-20% off the monthly rate.
- Student discount – Verified students can get Premium for $14.99/month, a 50% discount.
- Referral bonus – Referring friends to Premium earns 1 free month for each sign-up.
So Microsoft employees would have access to those same kinds of savings opportunities on LinkedIn Premium. But no employer-specific price cut.
Using a Personal or Corporate LinkedIn Account
Another element to consider is whether Microsoft employees are using personal or corporate LinkedIn accounts.
With a personal account, the employee would pay for Premium just as any individual user would. A corporate account, on the other hand, is managed by the employer.
Microsoft employees generally use their personal LinkedIn accounts. Microsoft does not provide free Premium access through corporate accounts. Again, since LinkedIn operates independently, Microsoft does not manage employee LinkedIn accounts or subscriptions.
How Employees Can Save on Premium
While Microsoft employees aren’t eligible for special discounts on LinkedIn Premium, there are still a few options they can leverage to save money:
1. Take advantage of the annual subscription discount. Paying for an annual Premium subscription provides around 15-20% off compared to paying month-to-month.
2. See if you qualify for the student discount. If you are currently enrolled as a student, you can get 50% off Premium by providing verification.
3. Refer friends and earn free months. Get 1 month free for each friend you refer who signs up for a paid Premium account.
4. Review account options annually. Downgrade or cancel Premium if you don’t need the extra features year round. Only pay for the months when you will get the most value.
5. Use Microsoft Rewards points. Microsoft employees can earn and redeem points for rewards including LinkedIn Premium subscriptions.
6. Write off as a work expense. Premium fees may qualify as a deductible professional development expense on taxes. Consult a tax professional to learn more.
The Value of Premium for Microsoft Employees
Even without discounts, LinkedIn Premium can provide value specifically for Microsoft employees. Here are some key benefits:
- Unlimited profile views – Research executives, colleagues, competitors, partners, and more without restrictions.
- Expanded search filters – Find the right people using filters for location, company size, job title, and more.
- Contact info access – View full contact details of your network connections.
- Course library – Access over 15,000 expert-led courses to expand your skills.
- Interview preparation – Get insights into a company’s culture and interview practices.
- Salary data – View salary ranges for thousands of job titles.
For Microsoft employees looking to network within the industry, research the competition, learn new skills, and stay up-to-date on the job market, a LinkedIn Premium subscription can provide invaluable tools and insights. The features can be well worth the monthly price.
Alternative Professional Networks
If the Premium price tag is still too high, Microsoft employees do have alternatives beyond the free LinkedIn experience. Here are a few other professional networks to consider:
- Xing – European social network with paid premium option.
- Viadeo – Also based in Europe focused on international connections.
- GitHub Jobs – Job board connected to developer community GitHub.
- AngelList – Platform popular with tech startup community.
- Authentic – Newer network focused on transparency.
While LinkedIn remains dominant globally, these niche networks can also be great for making professional connections within certain industries or geographic regions. They each offer their own unique value that Microsoft employees can take advantage of as well.
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately, Microsoft employees do not get exclusive or discounted access to LinkedIn Premium simply by virtue of working at Microsoft. LinkedIn maintains its own separate Premium product and pricing. All users pay the same published rates.
However, Microsoft employees can take advantage of discounts like the annual subscription and student discount when applicable. More importantly, the Premium features themselves provide value through expanded networking capabilities, job market insight, and skill development.
So Premium access can still be a worthwhile professional investment for Microsoft employees even without a corporate discount. Those that see benefit from the additional capabilities will find the most value in the standard Premium membership options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft provide free LinkedIn Premium accounts?
No, Microsoft does not provide free LinkedIn Premium subscriptions to employees. All users must purchase Premium individually.
Can Microsoft employees get a discount on LinkedIn Premium through their benefits program?
No, LinkedIn Premium is not included in Microsoft employee benefits. Employees must pay the standard public rates if they wish to purchase Premium.
Does Microsoft offer any other perks on LinkedIn for employees?
No, there are no special Microsoft employee perks on LinkedIn. LinkedIn operates independently, so all users have access to the same features.
Can multiple Microsoft employees get a discounted group rate for Premium?
No, LinkedIn does not offer special group, team, or corporate discounts for Microsoft employees. All subscriptions are individual.
Are Microsoft interns or contractors eligible for LinkedIn Premium discounts?
No, interns, contractors, and all other Microsoft employees are considered regular LinkedIn users. They must purchase Premium accounts individually at full price.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn has not led to exclusive employee discounts or bulk corporate rates. LinkedIn continues to operate as a separate entity with its own Premium product offerings. All subscribers pay the same published prices.
While special deals aren’t available, Microsoft workers can still benefit from Premium features and take advantage of savings from annual plans, student discounts, referrals, and Microsoft Rewards. Overall, LinkedIn Premium provides value for employees through enhanced networking and career development capabilities.
