During an unprecedented time of temporary social distancing, the future feels uncertain as our communal learning spaces such as lectures, seminars and libraries are temporarily on hold. Technology and social media is allowing us to maintain control throughout this period of isolation and many of us are adapting to a new way of learning and working within our homes and halls. As our options for learning and building on skills to support career development are continually evolving, access to online resources such as LinkedIn Learning to facilitate this have never been in higher demand.
The transition between university and your first placement or graduate job will be one of the biggest milestones of your professional life. It is often both an exciting and anxious time to find and succeed within that initial work environment. Rest assured, this is completely ‘normal’. It is no secret that prior to securing a placement or graduate opportunity that gaining some practical experience is still highly encouraged to increase your competitive edge and ease this transition; whether this is through a part time job, internship and/or voluntary work. In addition to this, another way of enhancing your employability and job prospects is quickly gathering steam - online learning and professional skills development platforms that can help you become career ready from as early as your first year at university. LinkedIn Learning is perhaps the biggest out there, consistently gaining in popularity with students and professionals alike. The best bit about it? It can all be achieved from the comfort of your own home (or on the go if you prefer to use the app option)!
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is a digital library that provides you with access to over 40,000 high-quality training videos that specialise in developing your professional skills. Courses are delivered by professionals from around the globe who are experts within their chosen topics. Many videos can even be viewed across a range of languages. These courses can support you through:
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Enhancing your skills with software and programmes required for your course
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Guidance on your job search and on navigating the hiring process (including how to set up a LinkedIn profile, how to use it effectively to build your professional network, and how to find relevant opportunities).
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Access to a wide range of courses that specialise in building your skills within key industry areas such as business, creative and tech.
Examples of some of the most popular courses include:
The above, provides just a snippet of the many thousands of courses available out there, so get searching! There is even a short course on How to use LinkedIn Learning to get you started.
How do I access LinkedIn Learning?
Access to LinkedIn Learning is free for all current students and staff at the University of Portsmouth. You will need your university email and password to login via the LinkedIn Learning portal. LinkedIn Learning is widely accessible through any laptop, PC or smart device (phone/tablet), so you are able to use the method that best works for you.
To optimise your learning experience for mobile and tablet devices you can download the app for LinkedIn learning from either Google Play (Android) or the App Store (Apple). Courses can be downloaded so you can undertake courses ‘offline’ at any time.
Whilst a LinkedIn profile and account is not required to use LinkedIn Learning, there are benefits in this being connected as it can provide you with a wider range of personalised and recommended content that aligns with your skills and aspirations.
Once logged in you will be recommended a range of courses and learning paths to get you started, but thousands more can be found through using the search function.
Setting goals and tracking progress
LinkedIn Learning provides you with the opportunity to set a weekly learning goal to support you in advancing your knowledge and skills. Depending on your other commitments this can be set to as little or as much as you feel able to manage each week. A progress bar showing how many minutes you have left to complete your target each week will appear on your homepage. You will also receive notifications reminding you to stay on track with your goal via email, (just in case you thought you’d got away with it)!
I’ve completed a course, now what?
Once you have completed a course on LinkedIn Learning you can instantly (and proudly) add your certificate of achievement to your LinkedIn profile. Through successful completion of courses you are demonstrating to employers not only evidence of acquiring skills required for your desired career but also that you are focused on improving yourself; a trait that is well sought after by all hiring managers.
Now, with so many courses available, the big question is - Where do you start?