LinkedIn endorsements can provide value to your professional profile and network in several key ways. First, endorsements from colleagues, managers, or clients can validate your skills and expertise. When connections endorse your skills, it signals to others that you are competent in those areas. This “social proof” can make your profile more credible. Second, endorsements boost your visibility and search rankings on LinkedIn. The more endorsements you accumulate, the more LinkedIn’s algorithm highlights your profile. This allows you to get discovered by more potential connections, clients, recruiters, and opportunities. Third, endorsements foster engagement with your network. Endorsing skills is a simple way for connections to interact and support each other. It keeps you top of mind. Finally, accumulating endorsements displays that you have an active network invested in your success. This social capital can make you more attractive to employers and partners. But not all endorsements carry equal weight. The value depends on who is endorsing you and their credibility. Let’s explore what makes LinkedIn endorsements truly valuable.
What Skills Should You Seek Endorsements For?
Focus on getting endorsed for skills directly relevant to your industry, job experiences, and future career goals. The most valuable LinkedIn endorsements validate specialized skills and knowledge that distinguish you. For example, if you are a financial analyst, seek endorsements for skills like “Financial Modeling,” “Budgeting,” “Financial Analysis,” and specific systems and software you use. Avoid generic skills that anyone could claim like “Leadership” or “Communication.” The key is identifying the niche, in-demand hard skills and expertise that make you stand out and get hired in your field.
Prioritize Core Competencies & Technical Skills
Technical skills directly related to your work tend to carry more weight. These are concrete competencies like “Web Development,” “Accounting,” “SEO”, “Project Management,” etc. Hard skills are easier for connections to validate. They either confirm you possess these abilities or you don’t. Technical skills also correlate to specific job duties and expertise employers seek.
Spotlight Software, Tools, & Certifications
Specific software, programs, tools, and certifications show capability with systems crucial for certain roles. For a designer, skills like “Adobe Creative Suite”, “Figma”, “Sketch”, “Webflow” signal proficiency with key design programs. For developers, endorsements for “Ruby,” “Python,” “SQL” and other languages indicate coding capability. Project managers may highlight certifications like “PMP” and knowledge of systems like “Asana” or “Jira.” The more niche and specialized the software skill, the better.
Include Industry/Domain Expertise
While technical skills show your capabilities, industry expertise endorses your experience and knowledge. For marketers, this could be endorsements for skills like “Content Marketing,” “SEO/SEM,” “Social Media Marketing,” “Email Marketing” etc. Engineers can highlight specific methodologies, manufacturing processes, or materials. Consultants might focus on areas like “Business Strategy,” “Process Improvement,” and “Change Management.” Showcasing deep domain knowledge is powerful, especially for senior roles.
Who Should Endorse You for Maximum Value?
The credibility of who endorses your skills also matters. LinkedIn endorsements from authoritative, relevant sources carry much greater weight than random connections. Here are the types of people whose skill endorsements bring the most value:
Former Managers & Colleagues
Endorsements from past managers and co-workers who’ve witnessed you apply skills first-hand are very credible. Especially if these colleagues work in your industry or specialty. Their endorsements validate skills from an insider perspective.
Well-Connected Senior Professionals
Getting endorsed by experienced, well-networked senior professionals in your field indicates respect and competency. Even better if these are well-known thought leaders. Their endorsement signals you’re capable at a higher level.
Clients, Customers & Partners
Endorsements from clients or customers you’ve worked closely with are also powerful social proof. Having users and partners vouch for your skills lends outside credibility.
Recognized Experts
If top experts in your niche endorse you, it shows deep capability. For example, software engineers want endorsements from tech innovators. Consultants benefit from recognitions by influential thought leaders.
Authority Figures
Endorsements from professors, teachers, trainers, or coaches demonstrate skill mastery. Their authoritative stamp of approval carries weight.
Avoid Irrelevant Endorsers
Random connections endorsing generic skills aren’t very meaningful. For example, your college friend from years ago endorsing “Social Media Marketing” doesn’t hold much significance. Prioritize quality over quantity with endorsements.
How Many Endorsements Should You Have?
Rather than chasing a specific number of endorsements, focus on building a well-rounded profile. Here are some benchmarks to aim for:
5-15 Endorsements Per Skill
Each key skill on your profile should have at least 5-15 endorsements. This indicates a critical mass validating the skill. But more than 15 endorsements starts producing diminishing returns and may look suspicious.
30-50 Total Endorsements
Most profiles benefit from having 30-50 well-rounded endorsements in total. Beyond 50 endorsements, you gain minimal added value unless they come from authoritative endorsers.
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
Don’t obsess over accumulating hundreds of endorsements. Even a small number of endorsements from credible experts are more impressive than 500 random connections endorsing generic skills. Focus on quality over quantity.
| Number of Endorsements | Perceived Value |
|---|---|
| Less than 10 | May seem under-endorsed |
| 10-30 | Good foundation of endorsements |
| 30-50 | Well-rounded endorsements |
| 50-100 | Very strong endorsements, focus shifts to quality over quantity |
| 100+ | Excessive, provides diminishing value unless from authoritative sources |
How to Get More Meaningful Endorsements?
To attract credible, relevant endorsements:
Endorse Skills Thoughtfully
Endorse skills for your connections that you can authentically validate. This encourages reciprocity. But avoid blindly endorsing generic skills.
Connect With Experts
Network with recognized authorities, thought leaders, and influencers in your industry. Getting endorsed by them provides a credibility boost.
Showcase Work Samples
Your profile is a showcase. Include case studies, projects, publications, and other work samples that exhibit your skills and expertise in action.
Use Skills to Find Endorsers
Search through skill pages on LinkedIn to discover respected professionals to connect with for endorsements.
Join Relevant Groups
Participate actively in LinkedIn Groups related to your specialty to meet potential endorsers.
Collaborate on Content
Co-author articles, posts, or projects with well-connected professionals that highlight shared skills.
Give Value to Get Value
Build relationships by providing value to others through content, advice, and endorsements first. Reciprocity kicks in.
Ask Directly
Politely request endorsements from previous managers, colleagues, or clients who’ve seen you demonstrate relevant skills.
Conclusion
LinkedIn endorsements offer real value, but not all endorsements carry equal weight. Prioritize building endorsements for niche, technical skills from credible experts and insiders in your field. Even just a few authoritative endorsements can elevate your profile. But focus on quality over chasing large quantities of endorsements. Thoughtfully cultivating endorsements from respected professionals demonstrates true skill mastery. With the right endorsements emphasizing the right skills, you can showcase expertise, gain exposure, and stand out to opportunities.