Exploring LinkedIn Premium (and why I am sticking with it)

Lately, I’ve been exploring LinkedIn Premium. Not for job hunting or visibility specifically, but for the LinkedIn Learning portion.

My goal is simple: to keep growing.

To solidify my credibility as a designer and show that I’m always learning, even after a decade in the field. I want my profile to reflect what I already know and what I’m still learning. That balance feels important to me, it’s both proof of experience and a reminder that curiosity is part of mastery. Especially in today’s age where technology changes faster than you have time to implement it.

First Impressions

For the cost, LinkedIn Premium is surprisingly reasonable if you view it as an education platform. (Skillshare might still hold the #1 spot purely for creative tutorials, but LinkedIn Learning wins on professional integration.) I also love that the platform awards certificates you can add directly to your profile. It’s a small detail, but it gives a tangible sense of accomplishment. What I’m not entirely sure about are the “exercises.” They’re helpful in theory, but the fact that you don’t have to actually complete them to pass feels a little off. Does it impact the credibility of the certificate? I’m still undecided.

Learning What I Already Know

Right now, I’ve been revisiting the basics: areas I already know well — just to build a visible foundation on my profile. Once I’ve established that, I plan to pivot toward more in-depth or unfamiliar topics. Even so, I’ve still picked up a few new techniques. There are always multiple ways to create the same result in design, and that’s one of the things I love most about the field. (Also, anything that helps me speed up a workflow earns bonus points. Hotkeys forever!)

A Conversation That Stuck With Me

I recently spoke with someone who credits LinkedIn Learning with helping them land their current role, and what impressed me most was that their new employer offers continued learning to their team. That’s such a simple but powerful investment: giving your employees time and tools to grow. Because a happy, educated team doesn’t just produce better work — they build better results.

Takeaway

I’m still early in my LinkedIn Learning journey, but so far, it feels like the right investment. For me, it’s less about “upskilling” and more about evolving. In a creative career, that’s the real measure of success: staying curious enough to keep learning, and humble enough to know there’s always something new to explore.