There are many ways you can grow your career, from negotiating to gaining practical experience through daily work. However, there are plenty of other ways to gain an even wider array of experience and knowledge, including LinkedIn eLearning. Here are five tips for growing professionally using LinkedIn's eLearning platform.
1. Take Courses Outside Your Comfort Zone
With LinkedIn courses, it's easy to seek out and discover disciplines and topics outside of your wheelhouse. Taking an interest in these topics or an initiative in learning about them is a great way to expand your knowledge and thus your career advancement opportunities. If, for example, you're wondering what is SSL certificate but you aren't confident in your knowledge of computer science, you can take courses focused exclusively on SSL and SSL certificates, as well as many related and more general courses in the fields of computer science, cybersecurity and computer programming. Then, you can use this new knowledge to begin gaining more experience with computers and seeking new job opportunities with that knowledge.
2. Make More Varied Connections
Most people know that LinkedIn is a great platform for networking and connecting with others. You can find people you work with or with whom you have worked in the past, reconnect professionally with old classmates and network with potential mentors and new employers. However, you can improve this capability when you take courses on the eLearning platform. You can use the courses as a jumping-off point to make new connections and join new groups. Then, you can use these connections to build your network and fill it with those who have more varied skill sets and backgrounds.
3. Learn Transferable and Soft Skills
You may think the LinkedIn eLearning platform is best for learning technical skills, and it is an incredibly good resource for those skills, but it's also a particularly good place to find various learning resources about soft skills and transferable skills. You can find courses on managerial skills, tips for avoiding burnout and practicing mindfulness, ways to build relationships with your audience and lessons on branding. You can also find courses on more basic skills, including the best ways to write correspondence and feedback, get organized and use a variety of common programs and applications.
4. Take Advantage Of the Prioritization Of Learning
Increasingly, managers and executives are prioritizing learning, including eLearning. This reprioritization means you'll be more rewarded for taking the initiative to learn independently and in groups than ever before. You should take advantage of these opportunities and the positive feedback you'll receive from them. Not only will you be able to learn about many different topics, but you'll also show the managers and the executives that you're invested in the company, furthering your career and expanding your skillset. This feedback and understanding will likely lead your manager to discuss career advancement opportunities with you and to help you earn promotions, raises and more opportunities in the future.
5. Seek Out Certifications and Credits
Not only can you take many courses and access different types of learning resources, but you can also seek out programs via the LinkedIn eLearning portal to earn education credits and further your studies if you're working toward certain professional certifications. Most eLearning classes are part of wider courses or programs and you need to take them in order to earn the credits or certification. Because of this, you need to pay for these courses or access them through your program. These are most common for programs involving continuing education programs and certified professional programs. For example, you can put courses such as project management, computer programming and marketing toward credit for some undergraduate and graduate degrees. Some of these courses, however, may be accessible to individuals.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn eLearning platform hosts a wealth of information, courses and learning resources on a wide variety of topics. You can use these resources to continue to advance your current role or to branch out.
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