Getting endorsed on LinkedIn can be a great way to build your professional reputation and highlight your skills and expertise. But what exactly does it mean when someone endorses you on LinkedIn? Here’s a quick rundown of how LinkedIn endorsements work and what they signify for your profile.
What is a LinkedIn Endorsement?
A LinkedIn endorsement is a way for your connections to validate or vouch for your skills and competencies. When someone endorses you, they are confirming that you have that particular skill or expertise based on their experience working with you.
For example, if a colleague wants to endorse you for your project management skills, they would find the “project management” skill on your profile and click the “endorse” button next to it. This adds their name and profile picture to that skill on your profile page, showing that they have endorsed you for it.
Who Can Endorse You on LinkedIn?
Only 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn can endorse you. These are people who you are directly connected to on the platform. So colleagues, former coworkers, classmates, employers etc. can all endorse you if you are connected to them.
People who are 2nd or 3rd degree connections, meaning connections of your connections, cannot endorse you on LinkedIn. The idea is that people endorsing you should actually know you and be able to vouch for your abilities.
Do Endorsements Have to Be Confirmed?
No, endorsements do not need to be confirmed in order for them to appear on your profile. Once someone endorses you for a skill, it will automatically be added to your profile – you do not have to approve it.
However, you can remove endorsements at any time if you don’t want a certain one appearing on your page. You can also hide endorsements so they don’t show up on your profile but are still associated with your account.
Do You Get Notified When Someone Endorses You?
Yes, LinkedIn will notify you by email and on your notifications page when someone endorses you. You can choose to turn these notifications off if you don’t want to be informed every time you receive an endorsement.
The notification will tell you who endorsed you and for what skill. It’s a good way to stay on top of all your latest endorsements.
How Many Endorsements Can You Get on LinkedIn?
There is no limit to the number of endorsements you can receive for any particular skill on LinkedIn. You can be endorsed by hundreds or even thousands of connections for a given skill if it’s one you are well known for.
However, if you get endorsed for a skill by many connections who don’t actually know you very well, it may come across as inauthentic. The quality and relevance of your endorsements matters more than the quantity.
Do Endorsements Help Your LinkedIn Profile Rank Higher?
Yes, endorsements can help increase the visibility of your LinkedIn profile and make it more likely to rank in search results. Here are some of the specific benefits:
– Endorsements are considered “social proof” – proof that your connections vouch for your skills. LinkedIn’s algorithm factors this in.
– Highly endorsed profiles signal you are an expert in those skills. Being seen as an authority helps increase your search ranking.
– The keywords in endorsements further emphasize those skills on your profile from an SEO perspective.
So endorsements can reinforce your competencies and expertise in the eyes of LinkedIn’s algorithm. But they are just one ranking factor among many. Your profile still needs strong, optimized content.
Do You Need to Endorse Skills Back?
There is no obligation to reciprocate and endorse someone back if they endorse you. Of course, it’s good practice on LinkedIn to do so when appropriate, as it builds connections. But you should only genuinely endorse skills that you can vouch for based on working with that person.
Random reciprocal endorsements that don’t reflect real expertise add little value. It’s better to focus on receiving meaningful endorsements from people who know your strengths.
Can You Ask for Endorsements?
It’s perfectly fine to politely ask LinkedIn connections to endorse you if it’s relevant, for example when starting a job search or pivoting your career. However, directly asking for endorsements out of the blue can seem inauthentic and pushy.
Instead, consider posting a LinkedIn status update asking for endorsements for skills you are currently focusing on developing in your career. You can also remind key connections who are familiar with your expertise to endorse you.
But avoid mass messages asking everyone in your network for blanket endorsements. Targeted, personalized requests tend to work better.
Should You Endorse Skills for Everyone?
No, being extremely liberal with endorsements diminishes their value. Rather than automatically endorsing every connection for every skill, take time to thoughtfully review each profile.
Only endorse people for skills and expertise that you can authentically validate based on your relationship and knowledge of their abilities. This level of discernment gives your endorsements more credibility.
Can You Remove Endorsements?
Yes, you can easily remove any endorsements on your profile that you do not want displayed. Just go to your profile, click on the endorsed skill and select “Remove Endorsement” next to the name of the person who endorsed you.
You can also bulk remove endorsements – simply check the box next to all the endorsements you want eliminated and click “Remove.” Any unwanted endorsements will instantly disappear from your profile.
Should You Disable Endorsements?
Disabling endorsements means they cannot be given or received. This is an option under your profile settings. Before disabling though, consider these pros and cons:
Pros:
– Prevents inauthentic endorsements from distant connections
– Stops unwanted spam endorsements
– Lets you curate just the testimonials you want displayed
Cons:
– Loses the potential SEO benefits of endorsements
– Removes the social proof aspect that endorsements provide
– Could limit your profile visibility and exposure
For most profiles, leaving endorsements enabled makes sense for maximizing your LinkedIn presence. But disabling can be the right choice if your profile attracts irritating spam endorsements.
Are Endorsements Useful for Job Seekers?
Yes, relevant endorsements can make your LinkedIn profile more attractive to recruiters and hiring managers as part of a job search. Key benefits include:
– Reinforces your key skills and expertise in your field
– Provides credibility from connections vouching for you
– Helps you stand out in competitive job markets
– Signals you are engaged and active on LinkedIn
But focus on quality over quantity – just a few meaningful endorsements from previous managers or well-known professionals in your industry are more impressive than 100 random endorsements.
Do Endorsements Replace Recommendations?
No, endorsements do not replace full written recommendations on LinkedIn. Recommendations are detailed testimonials that describe a person’s performance, abilities, and character.
In contrast, endorsements are one-click validations of specific skill sets. Both serve different purposes and provide unique value.
Here is a comparison:
| Endorsements | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| One-click confirmation of skills | Detailed written testimonial |
| Instant social proof of expertise | Highlights work performance and character |
| Typically short skill phrases | Longer personal anecdotes and stories |
| Can accumulate over time | Typically a handful of key ones |
So endorsements and recommendations complement each other in illustrating skills and experience.
What if You Have No Endorsements?
It’s quite common for LinkedIn members, especially new users or career changers, to have no endorsements. If this is the case, don’t worry – focus instead on:
– Fleshing out your profile summary, experience, and background sections
– Obtaining strong recommendations from managers and colleagues
– Connecting with key players in your industry to start building relationships
– Joining relevant LinkedIn groups and participating in discussions
As you become more active on LinkedIn and make connections, quality endorsements are sure to follow. But they are just one part of a strong profile.
Conclusion
Receiving endorsements on LinkedIn can positively showcase your professional capabilities and boost your profile’s visibility. But focus on getting meaningful endorsements from credible sources, rather than striving for the highest quantity. Add context to your endorsements by filling out your profile with detailed descriptions of your background and accomplishments.