With over 15 different LinkedIn assessments to choose from, deciding which one is the best for you can be a daunting task. LinkedIn assessments allow you to showcase your skills and stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. Choosing the right assessment for your goals and skillset is key to getting the most out of the experience.
What are LinkedIn assessments?
LinkedIn assessments are online tests that allow you to demonstrate your professional skills and knowledge. There are over 15 different assessments covering a wide range of topics including programming languages like JavaScript and Python, software like Excel and Word, business concepts like marketing and accounting, and professional skills like communication and leadership.
These assessments are created by industry experts and are designed to accurately reflect real on the job skills and knowledge. The tests have time limits ranging from 10-120 minutes and include multiple choice and true/false questions as well as interactive coding exercises.
Once you pass an assessment, you receive a verified skill badge that displays on your LinkedIn profile. This validation from LinkedIn can catch the eye of recruiters and give you an advantage over other candidates in the hiring process.
Why should you take LinkedIn assessments?
Here are some of the key benefits of taking LinkedIn assessments:
- Validate your skills – Earn credible skill badges endorsed by LinkedIn to showcase your abilities.
- Stand out to recruiters – Verified skills attract recruiter attention and can give you a competitive edge.
- Build your brand – Demonstrate your professional capabilities and strengthen your LinkedIn presence.
- Grow your network – Taking assessments exposes you to more job and networking opportunities.
- Practice for interviews – The tests help sharpen your skills and prepare you for the hiring process.
- Get insights on strengths – Assessments provide feedback so you can focus your career growth.
Top LinkedIn assessments
Here is an overview of some of the top LinkedIn assessment options across common categories:
Programming
- JavaScript – Tests your knowledge of JavaScript language fundamentals like operators, data types, and functions.
- Python – Covers a range of Python programming concepts like data structures, APIs, and software testing.
- C# – Assesses your ability to build applications using C# programming language features.
- Ruby – Evaluates your understanding of Ruby scripting fundamentals like iterators and Gemfiles.
Software & Tools
- Excel – Tests your skills with spreadsheets including formulas, data analysis, and visualizations.
- Word – Covers Word functionality like document formatting, tables, and mail merge.
- PowerPoint – Assesses slide design, presentations, and multimedia content creation skills.
Business Concepts
- Marketing – Tests marketing principles like buyer behavior, segmentation, competitive analysis, and campaigns.
- Accounting – Covers financial accounting basics including journal entries, T-accounts, trial balance, and statements.
- Project Management – Evaluates knowledge of PM methodologies, budgeting, resource allocation, and risk management.
Professional Skills
- Leadership – Assesses leadership styles, team development, conflict resolution, and change management.
- Communication – Tests verbal, nonverbal, written, and listening communication abilities.
- Time Management – Evaluates skills in scheduling, prioritizing, delegating, and achieving efficiency.
How are LinkedIn assessments scored?
LinkedIn assessments are scored on a scale of 0-100%. The passing score varies by test but is typically around 70-80%. Some assessments also award levels like “Emerging”, “Proficient”, or “Expert” based on your score. Key factors impacting your score include:
- Number of questions you answer correctly
- Overall percentage of questions you answer correctly
- Time taken to complete the assessment
Along with your overall score, LinkedIn provides feedback on your performance like how you did on different skills or topic areas. You can retake assessments to improve your score.
How long do LinkedIn assessments take?
LinkedIn assessments are designed to be completed quickly, but also test your skills comprehensively. Here are the time limits:
Assessment | Time Limit |
---|---|
JavaScript | 25 minutes |
PowerPoint | 30 minutes |
Python | 40 minutes |
Marketing | 45 minutes |
Excel | 60 minutes |
Leadership | 90 minutes |
The time limit applies as soon as you click the “Start Assessment” button. The tests are designed to assess your skills under a time constraint, simulating a real world environment.
How do you prepare for LinkedIn assessments?
Here are some tips to prepare for LinkedIn skills assessments:
- Review LinkedIn’s provided study guides and topics lists for each assessment.
- Take practice tests and sample questions to understand the format.
- Refresh your knowledge by studying skills courses on LinkedIn Learning.
- Practice and time yourself to get comfortable with time constraints.
- Study technical manuals, reference guides, and books to solidify knowledge.
- For coding tests, practice writing and executing code in IDEs.
- Focus your study on areas where you have less experience or comfort.
- Leverage online resources like Skillshop and tutorials to build skills.
Giving yourself plenty of time to prepare and not underestimating the difficulty level of assessments is key. Taking practice tests helps boost familiarity with test formats and identify knowledge gaps.
When should you take LinkedIn assessments?
The ideal timing for taking LinkedIn assessments includes:
- When you are actively job searching – Verified skills can give you a recruiting edge so showcase them when you need them most.
- After completing training or education – Take the test when the knowledge is fresh to give you the best chance of passing.
- When you are established in your career – Assessments demonstrate your ongoing learning and evolving skillset.
- Before a desired promotion or new role – Use assessments to show you are ready to advance your responsibilities.
- When changing careers or industries – Demonstrate transferable skills by earning badges in new areas.
- After accomplishing a major goal or project – Capitalize on the growth by documenting expanded skills.
Take time to consider your career goals and how assessments align to your situation. Timing them strategically can maximize their impact.
How much do LinkedIn assessments cost?
One of the major benefits of LinkedIn assessments is that they are offered completely free for all LinkedIn members. Anyone with a LinkedIn profile can take assessments at no cost. You can take assessments and retake them after the waiting period without any charges.
LinkedIn wants to provide an easy way for all professionals to validate their skills without financial barriers. The company views assessments as part of its mission to create economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce.
This free offering differentiates LinkedIn assessments from other paid skills tests. It generates goodwill and engagement from LinkedIn users.
Do LinkedIn skill assessments expire?
Once achieved, LinkedIn skill badges do not expire. You can showcase badges on your profile for skills assessments you have passed indefinitely. The badges do not need to be renewed or re-verified over time.
However, keeping your skills fresh and maintaining relevant badges can still be beneficial for your brand. Some additional considerations regarding badge expiration include:
- Skills may become less relevant over time, especially in fast-changing fields like technology and business.
- New professionals continually take assessments, so your badges don’t stand out as much over time.
- Passing new related assessments demonstrates the expansion of your skills.
- Retaking an expired badge can show you have updated knowledge on the latest industry practices.
While badges don’t expire, periodically refreshing or rounding out your validated skills can be strategic.
Conclusion
With a wide range of assessment topics and formats, LinkedIn skills tests provide valuable opportunities to prove your capabilities to recruiters and hiring managers. Choosing assessments strategically based on your career goals and timing them effectively can pay dividends in your job search and advancement.
The free availability makes assessments accessible for all professionals. Motivated candidates can take control of their career trajectory by showcasing relevant skills badges on their profiles. With no financial barriers and renewals, LinkedIn assessments offer an ideal way to communicate your ongoing learning and development.