LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers thousands of courses in business, technology, and creative skills. When you complete a course, you have the option to download a certificate of completion to showcase your new skills. But should you publicly share your LinkedIn Learning certificates on your LinkedIn profile or resume? There are pros and cons to consider.
The benefits of sharing LinkedIn Learning certificates
Here are some potential advantages to publicly displaying your LinkedIn Learning certificates:
Demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning
Sharing your LinkedIn Learning certificates shows current and future employers that you’re actively investing in expanding your skills. Especially in fast-paced fields, the ability to learn quickly is highly valued. Promoting your certificates exhibits your dedication to continuous learning.
Spotlight specific skills and knowledge
LinkedIn Learning offers very targeted courses. Showcasing certificates in Excel pivot tables, jQuery, or Pinterest marketing, for example, provides concrete evidence that you possess knowledge in those areas.
Validate your expertise
Completing courses and earning certificates from a reputable online learning company like LinkedIn Learning helps back up your expertise. Certificates serve as credible proof that you have mastered in-demand abilities.
Increase discoverability
LinkedIn Learning certificates are searchable. Adding them to your LinkedIn profile makes it more likely that recruiters will find you when searching for specific skills. Certificates also boost your profile’s richness, which improves visibility in LinkedIn searches.
The potential downsides of sharing certificates
However, there are also some risks associated with posting your LinkedIn Learning certificates publicly:
Certificates alone don’t demonstrate skills
While certificates represent a step in the right direction, actually applying skills in the real world is more meaningful. If your certificates aren’t reinforced by job experience, clients and employers may not view them as favorably.
Information overload
Sharing too many certificates could overwhelm readers and cause them to skim past this section of your profile. Be selective and only highlight certificates directly relevant to your goals.
Quickly outdated
As you continue taking more LinkedIn Learning courses, your existing certificates will quickly become outdated. It can seem lazy if you don’t keep this section of your profile updated.
Appear too eager
Listing many certificates could make you come across as overly eager to prove yourself on paper. Confidence in your abilities may be more appealing to potential employers.
Tips for sharing LinkedIn Learning certificates
If you do decide to showcase LinkedIn Learning certificates, here are some best practices:
Be strategic
Carefully curate which certificates you share. Pick those most applicable to your target role or industry. Avoid certificates for basic skills like using email or making presentations.
Link to verified records
When possible, link to credible records like your LinkedIn Learning profile to validate your certificates. Readers want to see evidence that you actually earned them.
Highlight 1-3 per position
Choose just the most relevant certificates for each desired role. Avoid certificate overload by sticking to one to three per position for a clean, skimmable list.
Refresh regularly
Revisit your shared certificates quarterly. Retire outdated ones and replace them with new skills you’ve developed. This shows progress over time.
Supplement with related experience
Support your certificates by also highlighting projects or previous jobs where you applied those skills. Real-world examples make certificates more believable.
Should you include LinkedIn Learning certificates on your resume?
In addition to your LinkedIn profile, should LinkedIn Learning certificates be included on your resume? Here are some things to consider:
Only if highly relevant to the role
Resumes are more limited in space than LinkedIn profiles. Only list certificates directly tied to the job’s required qualifications. With limited room, they should support your candidacy.
Focus on most recent
If you do list certificates on your resume, choose the 1-2 most recent. This demonstrates ongoing learning and up-to-date skills. Older certificates probably aren’t as relevant.
Place in a skills or accomplishment section
Don’t create a separate section just for certificates. Fit them organically into sections highlighting your skills or career accomplishments.
Omit if you have related experience
If you have work experience that already covers the skills from a certificate, the certificate becomes redundant. Prioritize showcasing your hands-on skills first.
| Pros of Sharing Certificates on Resume | Cons of Sharing Certificates on Resume |
|---|---|
| Can validate proficiency in specific skills | Take up valuable space on concise resume |
| Help you stand out from other applicants | Redundant if you have related experience |
| Signal motivation to keep learning | Hiring manager may not value online certificates |
Should you list LinkedIn Learning certificates on job applications?
If a job application specifically requests you list certifications or courses completed, it is appropriate to include relevant LinkedIn Learning certificates. However, certificates should not be unprompted additions to standard job applications. Consider if and where to list certificates based on the specific application.
List on applications that request certifications
Some applications contain sections requesting you list any applicable professional certifications or courses. This is an appropriate place for relevant LinkedIn Learning certificates.
Mention if relevant to the role
You might briefly mention a LinkedIn Learning certificate in your cover letter if it directly relates to a qualification in the job description. But only bring up the most pertinent examples.
Attach to application as supplemental material (if needed)
If certificates are extremely important for validating your qualifications, attach PDF copies or screenshots to your application as supplemental material. But confirm attachments are permitted first.
Skip listing on standard applications
If an application doesn’t specifically ask for certifications, don’t list LinkedIn Learning certificates. Keep the focus on selling your experience and skills instead.
Do LinkedIn Learning certificates expire?
LinkedIn Learning certificates do not have an expiration date. Once earned, they remain valid and can be shared and highlighted indefinitely. However, their relevance can expire over time. Here are some considerations around the ongoing validity of certificates:
Skills can become outdated
While certificates never technically expire, the skills covered may become less relevant over the years. For example, a 2017 certificate in Adobe Flash is now far less applicable.
Newer certificates demonstrate fresh skills
Even in the same skills area, newer certificates better exhibit up-to-date abilities. A 2022 certificate in JavaScript carries more weight than one from 2015.
Experience eventually supersedes certificates
With enough professional experience applying certain skills, certificates become less important. Your hands-on work record takes precedence.
Regular new learning should be demonstrated
While old certificates don’t expire, you need to supplement them with new ones. Ongoing learning and recent certificates are most valuable.
Should you pay for LinkedIn Learning certificate sharing?
LinkedIn Learning offers a paid “Certificate Sharing” feature to promote your certificates beyond just listing them on your profile. Is it worth the cost?
Benefits of paid certificate sharing
Paid certificate sharing offers some benefits, including:
- Verifies your completion of courses
- Displays a credential ID
- Lets you post certificates directly on LinkedIn
- Offers social sharing options
Downsides of paid sharing
Downsides of paying for the sharing feature include:
- Costs $29.99 per month (in addition to course fees)
- Doesn’t provide significant added value
- Certificates still require relevant experience
- Free profile listing is likely sufficient
For most professionals, the free certificate listing option is adequate and paid sharing offers limited additional benefit. But paid sharing may be worth considering if displaying formally verified records is very important in your field.
Should you display LinkedIn Learning certificates in email signatures?
Adding LinkedIn Learning certificates to your email signature is not recommended. An email signature should provide basic professional details – not serve as a showcase of achievements. Before adding certificates, consider:
Looks unprofessional/tacky
Including certificates comes across as bragging and seems out of place in a signature. Most professionals will not view this favorably.
Not first impression you want
Your signature creates a first impression with every email. Promoting certificates should not be the focus. Signatures are for contact information.
Recipients won’t notice or care
People skim over email signatures. They likely won’t notice or take the time to look at certificates. The certificates won’t get attention.
Adds unnecessary length
Signatures with certificates will make your emails much longer. This eats up space on mobile and is annoying for recipients. Keep signatures concise.
In summary, for most professionals, adding LinkedIn Learning certificates to email signatures is excessive. It’s better to showcase them only on your LinkedIn profile and resume when genuinely relevant to the role or application.
Conclusion
Sharing LinkedIn Learning certificates can be beneficial but requires some strategic thought. Be selective about which certificates you share and where you share them. Make sure they are current and supplement them with real-world experience. Consider if they are relevant and valued in your particular industry. Avoid sharing certificates just for the sake of it. Instead, thoughtfully promote certificates that authentically communicate your professional skills, abilities, and dedication to learning.