The Dilemma Every Student Faces
Picture this: you find a webinar hosted by an industry leader. The timing clashes with your lecture, your part-time job, or simply your need for rest. You notice there’s a recorded version available.
Do you attend live and risk the scheduling headache, or do you watch the recording later at your convenience?
It’s a modern student’s dilemma — especially for international students balancing academics, part-time work, and social adjustment. The truth is, both formats add value, but in different ways. The key is knowing when to choose live and when recorded makes sense.
Why Live Webinars Matter
Live webinars bring energy and immediacy that recordings can’t replicate.
Advantages of Live Sessions
- Direct Access to Speakers
You can ask questions in real time and even get personalised responses. - Networking Opportunities
Chat boxes, breakout rooms, and live polls allow you to connect with peers and professionals globally. - Accountability
Attending live forces you to focus, minimising distractions. - Visibility
Speakers notice engaged participants — and sometimes remember them later.
Limitations of Live Sessions
- Time-zone challenges, especially for international students.
- Scheduling conflicts with classes or work.
- Less control over pacing — you can’t skip or rewind.
Why Recorded Sessions Matter
Recorded webinars prioritise convenience and flexibility.
Advantages of Recorded Sessions
- Learn on Your Schedule
Perfect for busy students juggling coursework and jobs. - Pause, Rewind, Replay
Complex topics become easier to digest at your own pace. - Content Library
Recordings can become part of your personal learning archive. - Accessibility
No stress about time zones or internet glitches during live events.
Limitations of Recorded Sessions
- No interaction with speakers or peers.
- No chance to be “seen” by industry experts.
- Easy to procrastinate — many never watch the recording.
How to Decide: Live vs. Recorded
Choose Live If You Want To:
- Build your network through live chats and Q&As.
- Ask specific questions directly to industry experts.
- Be visible to alumni, recruiters, or guest speakers.
- Stay accountable with a fixed schedule.
Choose Recorded If You Want To:
- Prioritise flexibility because of work or study commitments.
- Revisit complex technical content multiple times.
- Build your own pace of learning without time pressure.
- Collect a resource library for future reference.
Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
The smartest students don’t choose one format forever — they mix both.
- Attend live for networking-heavy webinars (career panels, alumni discussions, industry updates).
- Rely on recordings for technical skill-building (coding workshops, data analytics, finance models).
This way, you maximise both visibility and depth.
Industry Examples
Technology & IT
- Live: Cybersecurity Q&A with industry experts.
- Recorded: Deep-dive tutorials on cloud architecture.
Finance & FinTech
- Live: Panel with FinTech alumni discussing job roles.
- Recorded: Recorded Excel/Power BI walkthroughs.
Healthcare
- Live: Discussions with NHS professionals on patient management.
- Recorded: Technical modules on healthcare analytics.
Marketing
- Live: Influencer or brand panel discussion.
- Recorded: Step-by-step tutorials on SEO or social media tools.
Real-Life Student Scenarios
- An Indian student in London attended a live UWS London alumni webinar. By asking one smart question, they got noticed and later referred for an internship.
- A Nigerian healthcare graduate relied on recorded analytics tutorials, replaying them until confident — skills that later impressed during an NHS interview.
- A UAE student exploring marketing combined both: live events for contacts, recordings for technical practice.
Each scenario shows that the choice depends not on convenience alone, but on what you want out of the experience.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Only watching recordings: You gain knowledge but miss networking.
- Only attending live: You risk information overload without replays.
- Not preparing questions: For live events, preparation makes you memorable.
- Not reviewing notes: Whether live or recorded, reflection cements learning.
How to Showcase Webinar Engagement on LinkedIn
Whether live or recorded, your learning only adds value if you showcase it.
- Share insights in a LinkedIn post within 48 hours.
- Tag speakers if you attended live.
- Mention how you applied a concept from a recorded session in a project.
- Add certificates (if provided) under LinkedIn’s “Licenses & Certifications.”
This turns passive learning into active visibility.
The Erudmite Approach
At Erudmite, we encourage students not just to attend webinars but to use them as career tools. We:
- Guide students on when to prioritise live vs recorded learning.
- Coach them on asking impactful questions in live events.
- Help them build reflection posts for LinkedIn.
- Integrate webinars into broader career planning strategies.
Because a webinar isn’t just about knowledge — it’s about how you use it to build your profile.
Conclusion:
Live webinars and recorded sessions each have their strengths. The real question isn’t which is better overall, but which is better for your immediate goals.
If your aim is visibility, choose live. If it’s mastery, choose recorded. If it’s both — combine them.
In 2025’s competitive landscape, being intentional about how you learn is as important as what you learn.
FAQs
1. Are recorded webinars less valuable than live ones?
No — they’re valuable for content, but they lack networking opportunities.
2. Should I always attend live if I can?
Not always. If the session is highly technical, recordings may serve you better.
3. How do I stay disciplined with recordings?
Treat them like live sessions — schedule time, take notes, and reflect.
4. Can I list recorded webinars on my CV?
Yes, if they’re from credible providers and you can articulate what you learned.
5. Do employers value webinar participation?
Yes, especially when you can demonstrate learning outcomes and visibility (e.g., through LinkedIn posts).
