LinkedIn skill assessments allow users to showcase their proficiency in various skills. These assessments are designed to reflect real-world skills and abilities, and successfully passing them can validate your expertise to recruiters and hiring managers. However, failing an assessment can potentially have consequences as well. In this article, we’ll look at who can see your failed skill assessment attempts and how to handle assessment failures professionally.
Who Can See Your Failed Skill Assessments?
The visibility of your failed LinkedIn skill assessment attempts depends on the audience:
You
You will always be able to see your failed skill assessment attempts in your account settings. This allows you to keep track of your progress and identify areas where you may need additional practice or training.
LinkedIn, as the administrator of the skill assessment platform, has access to your full history of attempts and results. However, they keep these details confidential and do not share your private assessment history with others.
Recruiters
Third-party recruiters conducting searches on LinkedIn cannot see if you have failed a skill assessment. They can only see the assessments you have passed. Therefore, failed attempts are not visible to recruiters or part of your public profile.
Employers
Similarly, companies and hiring managers viewing your LinkedIn profile do not have any indication if you have failed skill assessments. They will only see the ones you have successfully passed.
Connections
Your 1st-degree LinkedIn connections also cannot see any failed skill assessment attempts. The only visibility they have is for passed assessments that you choose to showcase on your profile.
You
In summary, your failures on LinkedIn skill assessments remain private to you. Neither recruiters nor employers are aware of your unsuccessful tries. The only visible results are the assessments you have passed.
Does Failing an Assessment Go on Your Record?
Failing a LinkedIn skill assessment does not go on any kind of formal record that is visible to others. Since the results are private, there is no “record” that recruiters or companies can access regarding your attempts.
However, you should be aware that if you fail the same assessment too many times, LinkedIn may temporarily restrict you from retaking it. This is to maintain the integrity of the assessments. But after a cooling off period, you can take the assessment again.
Cooling Off Periods After Failing an Assessment
Here are some examples of temporary restrictions after failing assessments too many times:
- Failing 3 times may block you from retaking for 1 week
- Failing 5 times may block you from retaking for 1 month
- Failing 8 times may block you from retaking for 6 months
So in summary, while your failures are private, repeatedly failing may prompt LinkedIn to temporarily restrict you from re-taking that same assessment. But this is solely for assessment integrity, not to create any kind of formal record visible to others.
Should You List Failed Assessments on Your Resume?
Given that failed LinkedIn skill assessments are not visible to anyone but you, there is no need to list failed attempts on your resume. Your resume should only include the skill assessments you have successfully passed, as those validate your proficiency to employers. Any failed attempts are irrelevant and should be omitted.
Listing failed assessments on your resume would not provide any benefit and could even raise unnecessary questions from employers. Instead, focus your resume on highlighting the skills you have proven through passed assessments. Some examples:
- Microsoft Excel – Passed LinkedIn Assessment 2022
- JavaScript – Certified LinkedIn Skill Assessment 2022
- Accounting Principles – LinkedIn Confirmed Skill 2020
Stick to showcasing your successful certifications only. Failed attempts should not be brought up, as they are private information that do not communicate your actual abilities.
How to Handle Failing an Assessment
While your failures remain private, you may still feel disappointed if you fail a LinkedIn skill assessment. Here are some tips on how to handle an assessment failure professionally:
Analyze Why You Failed
Review your test results and identify areas where you showed weakness. Was it a certain skill you need to brush up on? Specific concept that tripped you up? Use the failure to pinpoint knowledge gaps.
Ask for Feedback
Reach out to contacts who work in that field to get their insights. Connect with mentors who may be able to provide coaching and advice. Feedback can help you improve.
Retake Practice Tests
Many skills have free practice tests available online. Use these to benchmark yourself and practice weak areas until you are consistently scoring well.
Enroll in Training
Consider signing up for in-person or online training courses to sharpen your skills. Sometimes structured learning is the best path to fill knowledge gaps.
Wait the Cool Off Period
If you are temporarily blocked from retaking the assessment, use that time to improve your abilities. Follow the tips above so that when the cooling off period ends, you are ready to pass.
Key Takeaways
To summarize the key points:
- Failed LinkedIn skill assessment attempts are not visible to recruiters, hiring managers, or your connections
- The results are private information that remain between you and LinkedIn
- You should not list failed assessments on your resume
- Use any failures as an opportunity to analyze and improve your skills
- Retake the assessment after improving your knowledge and abilities
While failing an assessment can be disappointing, it is not the end. It simply indicates areas where you need growth. By treating it as a learning experience, continuing to build your skills, and retaking the test in the future, you can eventually pass and showcase the skills you worked hard to develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can LinkedIn connections see if I failed an assessment?
No, your 1st degree connections on LinkedIn cannot see if you failed a skill assessment. Only successful attempts that you choose to showcase will be visible.
Do multiple failed attempts lower my profile’s search ranking?
No, failed assessment attempts do not impact your LinkedIn profile’s search ranking or visibility. Only passing assessments can positively influence your visibility and search ranking.
Should I remove failed assessments from my LinkedIn profile?
You cannot add failed assessments to your LinkedIn profile, as they are not visible to anyone but you. You only have the option to showcase passed assessments.
Can I retake an assessment immediately after failing?
Usually you cannot immediately retake a failed assessment. LinkedIn enforces short cooling off periods ranging from 1 week to 6 months before allowing a retake.
Who can see my assessment failure history and progress?
Only you can see your full history of failed and successful attempts, as well as progress over time. This information remains private and is not shown to others.
Conclusion
In the vast majority of cases, failing a LinkedIn skill assessment will remain private and not impact your public profile or visibility to recruiters or hiring managers. While disappointing, use any failures as an opportunity for self-improvement. Analyze weak areas, practice your skills, and re-take the assessment in the future to eventually showcase your improved abilities to employers. With the right follow up, a failed test can even end up strengthening your candidacy in the long run.