LinkedIn Learning

What is LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning is a comprehensive online learning platform that provides courses focused on business, creative, and technology skills. Originally founded as Lynda.com before being acquired by LinkedIn in 2015, the platform offers over 16,000 courses taught by industry experts and professionals. With its integration into the LinkedIn ecosystem, the platform uniquely connects learning with professional networking, allowing users to showcase completed courses and skills directly on their LinkedIn profiles.

Key Features

LinkedIn Learning delivers its professional education through several distinctive elements: high-quality video courses with transcripts and exercise files, personalized recommendations based on your LinkedIn profile and job role, skills assessments to identify knowledge gaps, structured learning paths that combine courses for comprehensive skill development, certificates of completion for profile display, offline viewing for flexible learning, and seamless integration with the LinkedIn professional network. Courses typically combine conceptual instruction with practical demonstrations and exercises.

Who Should Use LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning is particularly valuable for professionals seeking career advancement through new skills, job seekers enhancing their qualifications, employees utilizing corporate training benefits, managers developing leadership capabilities, office workers mastering productivity software, creative professionals updating technical skills, and anyone wanting to demonstrate continuous learning on their LinkedIn profile. The platform's breadth makes it suitable for various professional development needs, with particular strength in workplace-relevant skills.

Pricing

LinkedIn Learning offers a subscription model priced at approximately $29.99/month with monthly billing or $19.99/month with annual billing ($239.88/year). A one-month free trial is typically available for new subscribers. The subscription provides unlimited access to all courses, exercise files, and mobile/offline viewing. LinkedIn Premium subscriptions ($39.99+/month) include LinkedIn Learning access as an added benefit. Many corporations and libraries also provide free access to employees and patrons respectively.

User Experience

Users appreciate LinkedIn Learning for its clean, professional interface and the high production quality of its courses. The platform's integration with LinkedIn provides unique value through personalized recommendations based on career path and the ability to showcase completed courses to potential employers. While course depth varies somewhat, the breadth of offerings and regular content updates ensure relevant options for most professional development needs. The structured learning paths receive particular praise for guiding users through comprehensive skill development sequences.

Bottom Line

LinkedIn Learning distinguishes itself through its focus on career-relevant skills and seamless integration with the professional LinkedIn ecosystem. While similar in content structure to some competitors, its unique ability to connect learning directly with professional networking and job opportunities provides additional value for career-focused learners. For professionals seeking to develop workplace skills, master software applications, or demonstrate continuous learning to employers, LinkedIn Learning offers a polished, comprehensive platform with the added benefit of direct professional profile integration.