Hello, users! π
Today I'm celebrating that I joined LinkedIn Learning as an instructor. π
This january I experienced lots of different emotions. Becoming a LinkedIn Learning instructor also meant to me
π Traveling out of Spain for the first time
π First, 2nd, 3rd and 4th flight ever
π First time recording a course
π First time joining a team of amazing and incredible people
I wanted to write a short post about my experience, (also posting some pictures of Graz, honestly a beautiful place), so keep reading if you'd like to know more.
But first,
How did you get there?
It's been a long, long journey.
Today and more than ever I'm looking back to see myself sitting in front of my desk at my parents', designing, developing, writing, translating, doing everything I could do with a computer for 5$ (ended up earning 3β¬ per job), day&night learning from YouTube, Udemy, blogs, from wherever I could and for free.
Trying to figure out new ways to finish my orders faster so I could get more extra incomes, since the only job I had was in a bakery, where I started working when I was 14.
I've been 9 years trying to find a place where I could start working in what I loved, and in 2018 I reached that dream. I started working in the Smart City sector. I became an UX&UI specialist, worked with Vue, Bulma, SASS, Python... Lots of technologies that I had to keep learning at home, in weekends, by myself, to prove I deserved to be where I was, and that I was as good as those who were treating me as a kid or as a fraud in the office.
I had to leave after a whole year for legal issues with my contract and for being in a toxic environment: my bosses insulted me and humiliated me in front of my colleagues, and most of the coworkers there openly ignored me and always approached to my male colleagues.
I tried to re-focus my career into design, gave a conference and created an UX course for my town hall, I thought I could keep on strong, but I was wrong.
Every interview was worse than the previous. I heard a lot things like "Ah, but you don't have a title...", "Your profile is so good, but we have candidates with more experience..." and "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure other company will choose you without a doubt".
I had to go through hard and bad times, where I wasn't recognized at all, where I was treated as a fool for being young, or worse, as an ignorant, after 3-4 years designing and creating websites, making my path, non-stop learning and working hard for what I achieved.
I was thinking in changing my career or waiting for a miracle...
And then, a tired and disappointed girl was given the Big chance. Going to another country, all alone and for the first time, to do something she thought she wasn't prepared for.
And I said yes.
Well, I'm going to Graz
I have one word to describe the whole situation: terrifying.
I never had to pack my things and stay away from home for a long period of time, I had too many doubts and questions, but no doubt about taking that opportunity.
I've been all my life surrounded by people who think that big opportunities are a bad thing. In case you're in the same situation, read carefully: Do it. Don't let anyone scare you, if you're given an opportunity it's because you deserve it.
I heard a lot things like "But you're going alone...", "You don't know anyone there...", "How could you accept this...". I almost cried before taking the first plane in a mix of fear and impotence. But I had enough, I had already enough of people taking chances away from me.
So I took that plane and went to Graz, determined to do the job as good as I could.
"Going live"π₯
This is, by far, the most exciting, incredible and amazing adventure I had.
I felt I finally found a good place where nice people tried to do their best to keep growing, and I wanted to be part of it.
Even though, the first time I pressed the Record button I was panicking inside.
I was shaking, my voice sounded too nervous, and I felt lost most of the time when recording the first chapters... But with time and patience, I never felt that comfortable doing a job.
I already had everything prepared, but honestly, you're never prepared enough for what's coming. You'll always have to do extra work, extra efforts, be extra brave, to have things done right.
I won't lie, capucchinos were my best friends and my fuel.
I met with other spanish instructors there, so nice and willing to help. I've never met so many nice people in the same day, place and time, in my whole life.
The LinkedIn Learning team was... Awesome. I learned so much in quite a short time and I feel more grateful than I could ever describe with words, I'm so thankful that they trusted me since the first day.
How becoming an instructor feels like
Since the beggining of times (more or less when I was 10-y-o) I wanted to become a teacher, or something similar. I had a strong desire to help others and share knowledge.
Being an instructor is somehow an "almost made itπ€" of that dream. There are lots of differences but I think the motivation remains the same: sharing experience, sharing knowledge, sharing the learning motivation.
Everytime I look back I see those teachers who helped me, who believed in me when no one did. I've always wanted to give the same they gave to me, to others in the same situation where I was.
For me, that's the meaning of becoming an instructor, and even though I didn't felt that prepared, I finally surprised myself by being suitable.
One's never ready for whatever life has prepared. Remember, anyway, that taking a step back it's already a step towards what's coming next.
Things I loved and I want to show you
I have a very bad habit of showing things I love to everybody, so I can try to make them feel as I felt when I discovered those things.
This was my first adventure as a real explorer, I hope I don't disappoint you. Here is a list of things that gifted me a moment of peace, a calm atmosphere, and the "thanks God I took that plane" feeling.
β The River
β Lots of statues
β Art in the streets
β Silent, hidden corners
β Churches. Lots of churches.
What's next?
Keep going on, of course!
I'm so glad to say I have much work to do here, I'm expected to be a productive human being and that's what I'll try, either from Graz or from Barcelona.
I hope this is the beggining of a long-therm phase where I can keep learning a lot and keep collecting really nice memories.
I still can't say much of what I did or what I'll be doing... But I'll keep you updated, don't worry!
Thank you so much for reading this far. I hope this experience was useful, and if you're willing to become an instructor, just do it! Start sharing your knowledge, start sharing your experience and teaching others. We'll welcome you, as others did with me.
See you around, let's keep coding and learning π»!
Top comments (51)
LinkedIn Learning, in my opinion, is bad for content-creators.
They limit your reach, so you can't teach a whole course end-to-end since the rather piece things together from multiple content-creators to create a journey.
You aren't allowed to compete against certain content creators so you are limited in what you're allowed to teach.
You can't publish your content anywhere else that could compete with the content you published.
Its a really bad deal, and I can think of one person who teaches cloud who is now experiencing how bad a deal it was and can't post their content elsewhere.
They can pay you an advanced but it's not worth the short-term money.
LinkedIn Learning has two ways you can work with them, I can't remember than names but one is where you are exclusive 100% to their platform and the other is not.
I'm thinking DesirΓ© here chose the one where they fly you out, the film you and give you full support of the LinkedIn Learning team.
I hope for DesirΓ© that I'm wrong and it is a long term positive then a negative.
I also had a bad experience with an employee at Linkedin Learning recently.
I had an interview and I never got a straight answer. The interviewer asked me to create a 3-minute video for the follow up interview on the topic for free. I told her work is work, I canβt create a three-minute video for free unless you pay me but I can show you what I have already created on a similar topic. I showed her the video and she really liked it. I am very good at what I do.
Later she emailed me and told me how much I would get paid to put together a course. It was very low so I asked her how long it would take to create the course and she said on average it takes 40 to 50 hours to create a 1 to 4 hour video course. Then she flipped flopped on me and told me it takes 12 weeks plus 5 days to record the content. I told her in that case it takes 3 months to create a course NOT 40 to 50 hours so then she flipped flopped on me again and said it takes 40 to 50 hours over a period of 12 weeks working part time plus 5 days to record.
I told her there is no way someone can complete an advanced technical course that includes content creation, slides and videos in 40 to 50 hours unless they already have all the content created. It is like writing a book and putting together a 4 hour movie in one week that is not possible. Let us be honest, it would take at least three months to create a technical course that is 4 hours long working full time NOT part time.
When I asked her to provide me the name of one instructor that I could talk to that actually completed a 4 hour advanced technical course in 40 to 50 hours she refused and the conversation ended.
Basically, the amount she offered to pay me would not have even covered one monthβs rent and food. I was very disappointed by the way she treated me. I feel she was trying to mislead me and take advantage of me during the pandemic.
I am sure there are also good people at Linkedin Learning so I am only complaining about her and the way she treated me and NOT the company.
Please note unfair business practices are against the law here in America! Regardless of what you have signed. Donβt ever work for free and donβt ever let anyone take advantage of you.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with LinkedIn Learning.
They are totally clear about what they offer, what they expect and how they work, in a writen and oral format, you know what you're accepting. My intention it's not to focus only and totally in the courses creation/teaching, so I agreed. I can imagine if someone else has that intention, then they'd know if accept or not their conditions.
Also, I'm not limited to teach in other platforms, good thing I have knowledge in many areas and the "competition" condition it's not that hard for me!
Isn't this the case probably with every other platform in the market?
I mean ultimately it is the platform who is the owner of the content you created.
Lot many folks creating content on same topic would again prove out to be disadvantage for the platform. So, then again here they won't give the content creator much freedom to choose from.
All Learning Distribution Markets are different:
On LinkedIn Learning I don't have the opportunity to compete.
On Udemy I have the opportunity to compete but the market favours who is already dominate.
Congratulations! You're going down a path that I'm interested in myself.
I'm a software engineering manager and I'm looking at a future of either going into higher forms of leadership or pivoting into teaching, so a lot of what you said resonates with me.
I'm actually exploring possibilities with Pluralsight at the moment in order to explore teaching without fully committing. This post was valuable to me on that front as you shared your own experience and voyage.
I'd love to hear more of your thoughts as your journey continues.
Thank you Matt!
Honestly I'd recommend every professional or interested person to start considering mentorship/teaching at some point in their career, even though I'm well aware not everyone likes to teach.
I hope you'll find a good use for my experience and decide to give a step ahead, it's an amazing experience, and I'd like to keep posting about it in the future.
Have a nice day!
Thanks! I'm actually a Sunday school preschool teacher (for the last 20 years) and tutor at the high school level once a week during the school year.
I guess I've been tip toeing on this line for awhile, and am now starting to think more seriously about bootcamps and online learning platforms.
Then I wish you all the luck and best wishes, I'm pretty sure you'll have the chance!
This is so cool! What a wonderful journey you had. I'm really impressed by your willingness and hard work.
And yes, Congratulations on being a LinkedIn [In]structor! Looking forward to your first lesson. π
Thank you so much, Vaibhav!
Indeed it was a really long and hard journey, but I'm so thankful for every bad and hard moment because the person I was there, made me get here.
I'll be working hard, I promise! πͺ
100% agree with you. May you shine brighter ever after! π
Wow such an wonderful article about! Btw what would you recommend to your younger self like when you were 14 or so to do to just be better at your field. ANNNDDD you should do a AMA soon about this gonna be a fun one!
Edit: Eh sorry, forgot to congratulate you! Congratulations, i don't know much about LinkedIn [In]structure but seeing your enthusiasm towards it seems like it's suitable and fun for you so be happy and keep everyone else happy lol. :P
Thank you SO much, Aryan!
If I could say something to my 14-y-old starting, would be "don't mind them, they don't know you. Do as you feel and everything will be okay!", and maybe I would've started this path earlier and with more help...
But I'm happy about the steps and the mistakes I did along the way, made me both strong and cautious.
And thank you, indeed this is awesome to me and I'm terribly glad about this opporunity, you're right, I should do an AMA soon, I'll think about it!
Have a nice day :)
Wish you were one of my elders xD. NGL, but my parents aren't bad but still could go with that motivation :D. Thanks a lot!
So happy for you! Congratulations!
Thank you so, so much! π
Please, keep us updated about your course
I will! :)
There is this saying that goes a little like: The sharpest of blades are forged in the hottest of fires.
I'm sorry people didn't treat you kind both professionally and on a human-to-human level. But I'm not sorry for you.
Take what you can from your experiences and keep channeling all that energy into the path ahead of you, and the road you're lying upon it.
It is nice to see you found the right kind of people (the ones that allow you to stroll, learn and become a better you without drilling you into the ground).
Dev.To is a nice community like that, too and I hope you'll share more stories here. Take care and keep learning πͺπ»π₯
Thank you Edwin, your words are so strong, indeed I'll try (as I've always did) to keep going on and find a nice place for me.
This was a big opportunity and I'm hoping it's not the last one, I'm willing to keep sharing with everyone what I learn and try to help others in the same situation...
Have a nice day :)
That's great news! Contragulations!! I'm happy for you, because I follow you on twitter and I have seen a lot of sad comments about job offers and interviews. I hope this will be a long time relationship, and I hope to see you in a video too! That would be a nice surprise.
By the way, you have to change your "work_status"! ;)
Thank you so much, Carles :) !
Indeed, I finally had a good opportunity with nice people! I'm terribly glad about it!
Totally right about that work status though, haha! π
Congratulations! I loved working with LinkedIn Learning putting together content!
Thank you, I'm so happy working there π
Congratulations! π
Thank you so much π!
You're welcome!
Lots of respect to you jumping that leap. I cannot imagine how thrilled you must be leaving the country and working for such a big brand now. Very exciting!
I wish you all the best. π€
Indeed Patrick, it was an amazing yet terrifying experience... But it ended up being incredible!
Gifted me lots of goods memories and good experiences, thank you, wishing you all the best too π₯°
Congratulations!
Thank you Ibrahima, have a really nice day π€!
Congrats for the new Role, and all the best !!!
Thank you so much, I wish the same for you! :)
Awesome, congrats DesirΓ©!
Thank you so much, Ryan! :)
Β‘MuchΓsimas gracias! π€
Graz is a wonderful city, and I think I could use some capucchinos myself. π
And congratulations for joining LinkedIn learning.
Thank you so much, Ali!
Honestly, don't tell anyone but, those were the best capucchinos ever.
quΓ© chevere!
felicitaciones
Β‘MuchΓsimas gracias, Jean! π