When it comes to the corporate world, LinkedIn is the key. Most of us think LinkedIn is just to display achievements, but that's not true at all!
With the introduction of LinkedIn Learning, it is now also the platform to learn and professionally develop yourself. Just going all out and starting courses would not be much of a help. To get the most value out of the platform, it is essential to develop a few key strategies. It will not only maximize your learning but also will help you go beyond mere course completion.
About LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, is an online education platform offering a wide array of video courses taught by industry experts in various fields such as business, technology, and creative topics. Think of it as a library where, instead of books, you have professional videos aiming to enhance your skills and knowledge. Whether you're looking to improve your productivity, learn a new programming language, or even dive into graphic design, there's likely a course for you.
The platform is unique because it's integrated with LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network. This means that when you complete courses, you can add these skills and certifications directly to your LinkedIn profile, showcasing your new competencies to potential employers and connections. It's a great tool for both personal growth and professional development, helping you stay relevant in an ever-changing job market.
LinkedIn Learning is available to sign up at https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
In this article, we will discuss the top 12 strategies that will help you maximize your LinkedIn Learning experience. We will be exploring techniques to enhance your capability to learn new skills and, in turn, use them for career advancement. Whether you are an experienced professional or a fresher, LinkedIn learning is for all as long as you are eager to learn. Now, let us see what you should do to maximize your learning experience!
Sort out your learning goals
Now, first thing first - without knowing what to learn, how can you learn? The key to a successful LinkedIn Learning journey is sorting out the roadmap to what you want. Begin by figuring out what skills and knowledge you want to acquire. It will help you know exactly what course type you should sign up for. Whether it is about learning a new programming language, data science, or developing soft skills - this strategy will help you. It lays the foundation for the learning experience you are about to embark on. Take your time, think it through, and ask yourself, "Does this course align with my long-term learning goals?" Only then do I sign up for a course?
Select the courses you desire to learn
Now, multiple courses on LinkedIn learning deal with the same topic more or less. You can find a bunch of courses that teach JAVA or SQL. So how will you know which one you need? This is why every course has a course description to it. Sign up for a course depending on what you need and only after reading the course description. The course description discusses exactly which sub-topics the said course will cover.
If such courses don't fit your needs, you can always opt for LinkedIn Learning alternatives like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare etc.
Track progress of courses
Tracking the progress of your course is the most crucial step to course completion. It will help you optimize your learning experience and ensure you finish the course. Regularly monitoring your progress will give you a sense of accomplishment, motivating you to learn more. LinkedIn Learning has certain tracking features that make it even easier for you. You can keep track of completion rates, quiz scores, and time spent on each module. Tracking will not only motivate you but will also help you identify the areas that need a little bit more attention.
Active Learning
Any skill you learn is pretty useless if you can not apply it when needed. Apart from quizzes and small assignments in the course, participate in discussions and projects to reinforce your understanding of the topic. This hands-on approach is the best way to ensure you retain what you learned as much as possible. So, instead of merely watching videos, actively seek out small challenges and projects through supplementary resources or just on the internet.
Constantly update your LinkedIn profile
Now, what to do with all the courses that you have learned? Well, share it on LinkedIn! Sharing your skills on the platform will amplify your exposure to your connections. Regularly updating your profile shows your added skills and increases your odds of being discovered by potential employers and collaborators. This is crucial if you want to apply your knowledge from all the courses you took. So, as you continue learning more and more, ensure that completed courses, certifications, and new skills are quickly added to your profile.
Interactive Networking and learning
Interactive Networking on LinkedIn serves as a gateway to take your studies further. After simply consuming all the video and text content on your courses, it is time to interact with fellow learners, instructors, and industry experts. Be part of a learning community that will always motivate you to grow. Take part in discussion sessions and webinars and share insights with fellow learners. LinkedIn is an excellent place for building networks with people with similar interests. Utilize it! Moreover, Networking will also help you make new professional acquaintances, which in turn can open doors to new opportunities for you. It is simply a boost to your career.
Endorsements and Recommendations
As you may already know, LinkedIn allows you to endorse and recommend other people's skills. This may look like a little, but endorsements are a way to validate your skills and expertise. Actively seek endorsements from peers to bolster your profile's credibility. This will showcase your proficiency in that particular skill, which your future employers may notice. Furthermore, do the same for others to foster a community. Recommendations on LinkedIn also have a lot of power. Someone recommending you for a post will drastically increase your chances of being noticed by the recruiter. So, just learning skills isn't everything; know how to properly showcase them if you want opportunities to come your way.
Time Management
LinkedIn courses are pretty handy as they are self-paced courses that give you the flexibility to learn at your convenience. But, it is also very easy to forget about the course or never find a good enough time to progress with it. Thus, effective time management is important to balance and incorporate the courses into your daily life properly. Allocate dedicated time slots for learning amidst your busy schedule. If you wait for free time, you will never be able to complete the course.
And most importantly, ensure consistency. Set realistic goals for each study session and break down courses into small sections. Target one module at a time, and slowly but surely, you will see progress. You can also download the LinkedIn Learning app to learn on the go.
Put reminders for classes
As mentioned, getting lost and never finishing the course is very easy. So the best way is to tackle the courses as classes, with each video being a lecture, and not just treat it as a self-paced course. Set up reminders for the lectures regularly or weekly, whatever works for you. Mark your calendar to ensure you never miss a day. It is simple yet effective and super effective if you are a procrastinator.
Ensure to go through supplementary resources mentioned in the course
Almost all LinkedIn Learning courses come with supplementary resources mentioned within the courses. Now, you may be tempted to overlook these to finish the course quickly, but don't overlook them. These contain additional in-depth study materials by the instructors to help you deepen your understanding of the subject matter. It can be a forum post, online article, workshop, or pdfs. Treat them as part of the course and not something extra.
Follow pages that align with what skills you want to acquire
This is another key step to maximizing your LinkedIn Learning experience. Subscribing to pages and people relevant to your industry, skillset, or what you want to learn will transform your LinkedIn feed into a place for updates, articles, and discussions on similar topics. It will help you know which courses to take, what technology or skill to learn next, and what topics are trending currently. It will flood you with the information you need to move forward in your career.
Take part in events and webinars
Just completing a course on something does not mean you are ready to implement it or know everything about it. You need to hone your skills constantly, even after completing the course. This is where events and webinars come into play. These virtual gatherings offer you the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, recruiters, subject matter experts, and learners in real-time. Take part in discussions, ask questions, and answer the ones you can. It will enhance your understanding of industry trends and needs. The course will give you knowledge, but these discussions will help you understand how and where to apply the knowledge.
Key takeaways from this article
There you have it: top 12 strategies to maximize your LinkedIn Learning Experience. In conclusion, LinkedIn Learning is a great way to acquire industry-needed skills in your spare time.
You can upskill yourself from the comfort of your home at your own pace. Leveraging certifications, recommendations, and engagements will expose your profile to multiple industry people, especially recruiters. It is a great way to learn and market yourself to the right audience. With these 12 strategies, your LinkedIn Learning experience will be transformed. These will help you to walk towards professional excellence and career advancement. So, go ahead and check out LinkedIn Learning and pick up a course.
Happy learning!
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