LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 850 million members worldwide. As a professional networking platform, LinkedIn allows members to create profiles summarizing their professional experiences, skills, and accomplishments. One feature that sets LinkedIn apart from other social networks is the ability for members to have their work and education experiences verified by their employers and schools.
What is LinkedIn profile verification?
LinkedIn profile verification, also known as workplace verification, allows LinkedIn members to prove the authenticity of their work and education profiles. When a member adds a new position or education to their profile, they have the option to request verification from the company or institution. If the organization confirms the details, a “verified” badge will appear next to the experience on the member’s profile.
The verification process works by LinkedIn sending an email to the appropriate person at the organization asking them to confirm the member’s details. For work verification, the email typically goes to a manager, HR representative, or senior team member who can verify employment. For education verification, the email goes to the registrar’s office or alumni association.
Verified experience displays on a member’s profile as:
- Position at Company (Dates) √
Or
- Degree √
The green checkmark indicates the experience has been verified by the organization.
Why get verified on LinkedIn?
There are several benefits for LinkedIn members who get their profiles verified:
- Increased credibility – Verification badges serve as social proof that you held the position or earned the degree listed.
- Higher profile visibility – LinkedIn profiles with verification badges tend to rank higher in search.
- Stand out in job searches – Verified work history can give you a competitive edge during hiring processes.
- Strengthen your network – Verification makes it easier to reconnect with past coworkers and classmates.
- Deter resume fraud – The verification badge makes it hard for others to falsely claim your work or education history.
How to request profile verification on LinkedIn
Requesting verification on LinkedIn is easy and can be done in a few steps:
- Add a new position or education to your profile – Include all relevant details like job title, company name, dates, etc.
- Click “Verify” – On desktop, click the “Verify” link next to the experience. On mobile, tap the three dots and select “Request verification”.
- Confirm request – Review the details and confirm your request for verification. LinkedIn will now reach out to your employer or school.
- Wait for confirmation – It can take a few weeks for the organization to confirm. You’ll get a notification when it’s been verified.
Some tips for successful verification:
- Verify recent positions – Organizations are more likely to confirm recent roles.
- Add coworkers – Having shared connections at a company improves verification success.
- Use accurate details – Any inaccuracies could lead to denied verification requests.
- Be patient – It can take organizations over a month to respond to verification requests.
What happens after requesting verification?
After you request verification on LinkedIn, here’s what happens:
- LinkedIn sends email to organization – An email is sent to HR, alumni relations, or a direct manager asking them to confirm your details.
- Organization reviews request – The appropriate representative at the organization will review your dates, title, and other details.
- Organization responds – Within 1-2 weeks typically, the organization will respond to LinkedIn confirming or denying the verification.
- LinkedIn updates profile – If verified, the green checkmark will appear. If denied, you can resubmit or remove the experience.
- Member notified – You will receive an email notification from LinkedIn once it’s been updated.
Why would verification be denied?
There are a few reasons why an organization may deny a verification request on LinkedIn:
- Incorrect dates – If the employment dates don’t line up with company records, they may deny it.
- Wrong title – If the job title doesn’t match their records, they may reject the verification.
- Company policy – Some organizations have policies against verifying details externally.
- Unable to confirm – Small companies may not have the HR infrastructure to confirm details.
- No response – Larger companies may overlook verification emails sent by LinkedIn.
If your request gets denied, you can remove the experience and re-add it with corrected details. You can also reach out to your former employer to ask about their verification process and see if they will confirm on a second attempt.
How long does verification take?
It typically takes 1-2 weeks for an organization to respond to a LinkedIn verification request, however, it can take over a month in some cases. Here are some factors that can impact the timeline:
- Company size – Larger companies tend to take longer to verify due to process.
- HR bandwidth – Organizations with limited HR staff may not prioritize verifications.
- Difficulty confirming – Positions from long ago often take more time to verify.
- Employer unresponsiveness – Some companies overlook verification requests.
- Education – Schools and alumni groups tend to respond faster than corporations.
Following up on your request after 2-3 weeks can sometimes speed up the process. Overall, it’s recommended to be patient, as most verifications will eventually get confirmed or denied.
What happens if you get fired from a verified job?
If you are terminated or let go from a position that is verified on your LinkedIn profile, the verification badge will typically remain in place. Since the details were confirmed at one point, LinkedIn generally does not remove verification if circumstances change.
That said, there are a few scenarios where a verification badge could be removed:
- Company contacts LinkedIn – If the employer contacts LinkedIn reporting your termination, they may revoke verification.
- Dates no longer match – If you change the employment dates to no longer match the company’s records, verification could get removed.
- You remove position – If you proactively delete the experience from your profile, the verification will be lost.
Overall though, in most cases the verification badge remains even after termination. It is seen as a confirmation that you held the position during the stated date range.
Can you request verification years after leaving a job?
Yes, LinkedIn allows you to request profile verification even years after leaving a position or graduating from a program. However, the longer ago the experience was, the less likely the verification is to be successful.
Here are some tips for requesting verification long after leaving a company or school:
- Verify recent roles first – Build up a history of confirmed experiences before older ones.
- Reach out to HR – If possible, contact HR at the company in advance to ask about verification policies.
- Connect with past colleagues – Coworkers from the era may help confirm your role.
- double check dates and titles – Accuracy is key for older experiences.
- Follow up if needed – Don’t hesitate to politely follow up if you don’t hear back after a month.
With an accurate profile and a little persistence, it’s often possible to get experiences from 5, 10 or even 20 years ago verified on LinkedIn.
Are self-employed experiences eligible for verification?
If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, your work experiences on LinkedIn are not eligible for profile verification. LinkedIn can only verify roles at companies, organizations, and institutions where an independent representative can confirm your employment or attendance.
With that said, there are a few ways to legitimize self-employment on your profile:
- Showcase work samples – Displaying work deliverables can validate your self-employed roles.
- Get client recommendations – Testimonials from regular clients can act as verification.
- List prominent clients – Namedropping well-known clients adds credibility.
- Highlight achievements – Quantify your accomplishments as a freelancer or contractor.
While self-employed roles cannot get LinkedIn’s official verification badge, you can use other profile elements to reinforce their legitimacy.
Does getting verified help you rank higher in LinkedIn search?
Yes, LinkedIn profiles with verified work and education experiences tend to rank higher in LinkedIn’s search results compared to unverified profiles. This is because LinkedIn’s search algorithm favors profiles that have been validated through the verification process.
Some of the search boosting benefits of getting verified include:
- More credibility signals – Verification acts as a trust and authority signal.
- Higher quality profile – Details confirmed via verification are seen as more accurate.
- Lower spam risk – Verified profiles are less likely to be spam or fake accounts.
- Increased engagement – Verified profiles tend to garner more profile views and connection requests.
In competitive job searches and networking outreach, having a fully verified LinkedIn profile can provide an advantage compared to those without verifications. Investing the time to verify all your eligible experience and education details can directly improve your LinkedIn SEO and visibility.
Should you get verified on LinkedIn?
Here are some key considerations when deciding whether or not to get verified on LinkedIn:
- Are you job hunting? Verification can give you a leg up on other candidates.
- Is your industry competitive? Standing out matters more in crowded fields.
- Are you early-career? Verifying college helps establish professional credibility.
- Do you have gaps in your profile? Verification can fill employment/education gaps.
- Are you mid-senior level? Manager+ roles often verify more easily.
- Do you have recent roles? Current/recent positions usually verify faster.
Overall, most professionals can benefit from having their LinkedIn profiles verified, especially those who are job seeking, networking, or looking to establish thought leadership.
Conclusion
LinkedIn profile verification is an optional but valuable feature to showcase the authenticity of your work and education history. By going through the verification process, you can boost your LinkedIn SEO, enhance your professional credibility, and stand out from other candidates in competitive environments.
While getting verified requires some effort, the benefits are often worth the time investment. With an optimized verification strategy, nearly all professionals can leverage this tool to maximize the strength of their LinkedIn profile and personal brand.