Getting endorsed on LinkedIn is a great way to showcase your skills and expertise to your network. When people endorse you, it appears on your profile and helps validate you as an authority in your field. However, endorsements should be meaningful and come from people who can genuinely vouch for your capabilities. Here’s a quick guide to getting endorsed the right way on LinkedIn:
Make your skills stand out
Start by adding skills to your profile that you want to get endorsed for. Go to the Skills section and enter in 5-10 skills that you are an expert in or want to be known for professionally. Make sure these skills are relevant to your industry and match the experience/expertise on your profile. For example, if you are a marketing manager, some good skills could be Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, SEO, Email Marketing, Advertising, etc.
Connect with colleagues and clients
Next, start growing your network by connecting with former colleagues, clients, vendors, etc. These are people that have first-hand experience of your skills and can meaningfully endorse you. Avoid randomly connecting with people just to get endorsements. Send personalized connection requests mentioning where you’ve worked together.
Engage with your network
Be an active member of your network by engaging regularly. Like and comment on their posts, congratulate them on work anniversaries, wish them on birthdays, etc. This builds rapport and makes them more likely to endorse you when you request. Also, endorse people in your network for their relevant skills. This makes them more inclined to return the favor.
Request endorsements
Don’t be afraid to directly ask for endorsements from people who know your work and skills well. Message them saying something like “Hope you’ve been well. Would you be able to endorse me on LinkedIn for [Skill A], [Skill B] based on the work we did together at [Company]? I’d really appreciate it!”. Most people are happy to help out.
Endorse others
When you endorse people in your network, they will get a notification. This acts as a gentle reminder for them to endorse you back for your skills if they find it relevant. To endorse someone, go to their profile, scroll down to the Skills section and click the + icon next to a skill they have listed.
Join relevant groups
Search for LinkedIn Groups related to your industry or skills. Join the active ones with many members. Groups allow you to connect with more relevant people and participate in conversations to demonstrate your expertise. This gives group members familiarity with you and makes them more likely to endorse you.
Who should endorse you?
While growing your list of endorsements, it’s important to get them from the right people. Avoid random endorsements from people who don’t know your skills. Here are people that make ideal endorsers:
Former managers and supervisors
Previous managers who have seen you work know your capabilities best. Even if you reported to them years ago, reconnect and ask for an endorsement. Give them context by reminding them of projects you worked on together.
Colleagues and teammates
Colleagues who you’ve closely worked with, like project teammates, are aware of the skills you bring to the table. Don’t limit it to current colleagues – former ones you’ve lost touch with are great for endorsements too.
Clients and customers
Endorsements from clients carry a lot of weight. Asking clients to endorse skills like “Customer Service” or “Client Satisfaction” can go a long way. Even small positive interactions can prompt clients to endorse you.
Vendors and partners
Business partners like vendors, distributors and agencies often become familiar with your work process and skills. Their endorsements serve as third-party validation of your skills.
Group members
Fellow members of your LinkedIn Groups can endorse after interacting with you and seeing your expertise through posts and discussions. But avoid low-value groups where members blindly endorse each other.
Alumni from your university
Fellow alumni, seniors or juniors from your college who you network with can endorse your core professional skills that you honed during your college years.
Tips to get endorsed
Here are some additional tips to rack up more meaningful endorsements on LinkedIn:
Refresh old connections
Reconnect with old contacts from several years back. Remind them of projects you did together. After catching up, ask them to endorse you.
Connect with company alumni
Join alumni groups of companies you’ve worked at. Connect with ex-colleagues there and exchange endorsements.
Comment on posts
Comment on your connections’ posts offering advice, insight or praise. They’ll be more inclined to endorse you later.
Endorse new connections
When accepting connection invites, take a moment to endorse the person for a relevant skill. This reciprocity encourages them to endorse you back.
Use multimedia
Include rich media like videos and slide decks on your profile that demonstrate your skills in action. This gives endorsers more context.
Thank endorsers
Always thank people who endorse you by messaging them. This boosts goodwill for future endorsements.
Skill | Number of Endorsements |
---|---|
SEO | 12 |
Content Marketing | 8 |
Social Media Marketing | 5 |
Common Concerns
Some professionals have doubts about skill endorsements on LinkedIn. Here are some common concerns addressed:
Will endorsements seem fake?
Genuine endorsements from people who know your work never look fake. Avoid random mass endorsements from strangers. Focus on getting endorsed by trusted connections.
Will requesting endorsements seem needy?
It’s completely acceptable to request endorsements on LinkedIn. Most people are glad to help. Just make your requests personalized and thoughtful.
Can I get endorsed for skills I’m still building?
It’s best to get endorsed only for skills where you have established expertise. But if you’re actively strengthening a skill, you can add it and ask close relations to endorse you.
What if I don’t have many connections to endorse me?
Slowly build out your network with quality connections. Join groups where you can demonstrate expertise. Endorse others first to prime them for reciprocal endorsements.
Is there a limit to how many skills I can get endorsed for?
You can get endorsed for as many skills as you have added to your profile. But focus on the 5-10 skills that are most relevant to your goals. Quality over quantity.
Conclusion
Getting endorsed on LinkedIn requires a strategic approach focused on building meaningful engagements. Prioritize quality endorsements from trusted connections over random ones. Be an active member of your network, endorsing others and demonstrating expertise. Maintain good relationships even after getting endorsed. This encourages continuous validation of your evolving skills. Used properly, LinkedIn endorsements can significantly boost your professional brand and visibility.