Skills initiative Frequently asked questions April 2021 1 Table of Contents Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Helping jobseekers worldwide gain the skills for in-demand roles in a more digital economy ........................................................ 4 General info ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 What are Microsoft and LinkedIn doing to help people gain digital skills and access to job opportunities? ............................. 4 Is there a centralized place where people can go to access the available tools and resources? ...................................................... 5 What type of skills training is offered, and what type of jobs will they help with? ................................................................................. 5 How will this help people who have lost their job due to COVID-19 in the short term? ..................................................................... 5 What’s the difference between Microsoft Learn and LinkedIn Learning? Why do you have two separate platforms? ........... 6 How were these learning paths selected? ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 What languages are the LinkedIn Learning paths available in? ...................................................................................................................... 7 LinkedIn Learning ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 What is LinkedIn Learning? ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 How much does LinkedIn Learning usually cost? ................................................................................................................................................. 7 What courses are available on LinkedIn Learning? .............................................................................................................................................. 8 What happens at the end of this initiative – will LinkedIn Learning cost money again? ...................................................................... 8 Microsoft Learn ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 What is Microsoft Learn? ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 What courses are available on Microsoft Learn? .................................................................................................................................................. 8 How much does Microsoft Learn cost? ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 What is a learning path on Microsoft Learn? ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 What are the differences between learning paths on LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn? ....................................................... 9 Certifications ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 What are the benefits of a certification? .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 What is the difference between a LinkedIn Certificate of Completion and a Microsoft Certification? ........................................... 9 How does the Microsoft Certification discount process work? ....................................................................................................................... 9 Who qualifies for a discounted certification exam? ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Do I need a Microsoft account to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam? .................................................................. 10 Do I need a Microsoft Certification profile to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam? ........................................... 10 Which certification exams are available at a discount? .................................................................................................................................... 10 How many certification exams can be taken at the discounted price? ...................................................................................................... 10 When can I schedule a discounted exam and when does it need to be taken? .................................................................................... 10 How do I request for exam accommodations? .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Where do I schedule an exam? .................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Do I have the option to take the scheduled exam in person or online? ................................................................................................... 11 I am having trouble scheduling my exam. Where can I get support? ........................................................................................................ 11 Which languages are certification exams available in? .................................................................................................................................... 11 Can I reschedule or cancel my exam appointment? .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Are there age restrictions on the certification offer? ........................................................................................................................................ 11 For nonprofits................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 How does the nonprofit offering work? ................................................................................................................................................................. 12 2 Can nonprofits and/or workforce agencies purchase Microsoft certification exams at this discounted rate? .......................... 12 Can non-profits cover the cost of the $15 certifications for nonprofit beneficiaries? ......................................................................... 12 Government call to action and public policy advocacy ....................................................................................................................... 12 What is the policy call to action for governments?............................................................................................................................................ 12 Can you provide any examples of governments following these policy areas? ..................................................................................... 13 How do you recommend government and policy makers use these free resources? ......................................................................... 13 How should governments and policy makers use the Economic Graph insights from LinkedIn? .................................................. 13 3 Overview Helping jobseekers worldwide gain the skills for in-demand roles in a more digital economy The COVID-19 pandemic has created an economic crisis, forcing tens of millions of people out of work. As economies start to reopen, the jobs that people held in 2020 may no longer exist. As organizations of all sizes consider how best to work in a COVID-19 environment, we’ve seen increased use of digital technology and therefore a stronger demand for digital skills. This is not just about technical jobs, but an increasing number of jobs that will become ‘tech-enabled’. Across almost every industry—including retail, manufacturing, education, and health—organizations will look to use technology in new ways so they can continue to deliver services to customers. We’re committed to empowering people to get the skills they need to succeed in a changing economy. Helping everyone—wherever they are starting from—develop these skills is essential to supporting an inclusive economic recovery post-COVID-19 and beyond. General info