by S Simcik – USA

When LinkedIn first introduced the endorsement function, there was plenty of distress and uproar. We’ve all received endorsements for skills we didn’t know we had from people who don’t even know us.

Though I think I could navigate compensation and benefits, I’ve never done it, so I was mystified when a mystery endorsement came from someone who endorsed me for “compensation and benefits.”

So, in an effort to understand more about this function and to educate those in a job search, I went to explore the pros and cons of endorsements. What does it get me that recommendations don’t already afford me? Are they worth it? Should I remove the skills that I don’t actually have?

The conclusion that I’ve reached is LinkedIn endorsements are good!

Back in 2011, LinkedIn introduced the “skills and experience” feature. Many of us have not gotten around to filling this out. So, first, let me highlight where to find your endorsements. LinkedIn endorsements appear near the middle of your profile and written next to each “skill” in a blue box is the number of endorsements you’ve received for each identified skill. The higher the number, the greater number of endorsements you’ve received. For example on my profile, you will notice, 99+ endorsements for the keyword “Talent Management”:

You can edit your profile and select certain specialities that you deem you are skilled in.This is worth doing because you want people endorsing you to check off the skills you believe are most important. Pick at least 10 skills. You can also change the order that these appear on your profile.

Second, someone may endorse you for a skill or speciality and you have the right to approve this endorsement. Once you have approved the keyword, this skill will show up on your profile. Note you can also hide the endorsements you don’t want to display.

There are two ways you can make endorsements work for you:

HIGHER PROFILE RANKING: LinkedIn works similarly to Google – the more a keyword is featured within your profile, the higher the ranking. When a recruiter is using LinkedIn and conducting a keyword search, the more endorsements you have received for a particular skill, increasing your chances of being found.

GOOD PR: Although, if you ask a recruiter about endorsements, they don’t give them much weight (much more weight is put on recommendations) but they do say that they are “nice to have.” Consider if you are applying for an accountant job, for instance, and your competitors have 99+ endorsements from colleagues and previous supervisors, while you have zero, that could hurt your chances.

The endorsement function does not replace the good ‘ol fashion recommendation, which should be included within your profile, but rather can be a complement to your profile and ultimately help you get found. So, if you are a job seeker or simply looking to beef up your LinkedIn profile, take the time to allocate skills on your profile and watch the endorsements fly in!