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What’s the True Value of a LinkedIn Endorsement?

According to a recent article posted on Mashable, there are now 1 billion Endorsements on LinkedIn. Sounds impressive, but I’m wondering (and it appears others are, as well), what’s the true value of an Endorsement on LinkedIn nowadays? Can you really trust the validity of these “one-click” endorsements if you’re looking at a LinkedIn user’s professional profile?

The Endorsements feature, which was introduced last September, offers a quick way to recognize your first-degree connections’ skills and expertise. To endorse someone in your network, you simply scroll down to the Skills and Expertise section on the person’s profile and click the name of the skill or click on the + sign next to the skill. That’s all.

After you endorse a person, your photo shows up next to that skill on the person’s profile (which is why I feel so many people have jumped on the bandwagon!) The person you endorsed will also receive an email alerting them that you’ve endorsed them for a particular skill.

As much as I truly appreciate all recommendations from clients and colleagues, I have to wonder if this new feature adds anything to your professional value or diminishes it. How does this fit in with your networking goals?

For example, I have several “thumbs up” endorsements for the skill “Non-profits,” which is not really a skill – so the whole idea just confuses me. And I’ve heard of so many people who say their email box is filling up with endorsements from people they’ve never worked with.

The fact that they have made it so easy to “endorse” a professional connection on LinkedIn is a double-edged sword. Sure, easy seems better – since we’re all so busy – but what about authenticity? As an example, there will be job seekers who will simply have their buddies give them the LinkedIn thumbs up- and there’s no way for an employer or recruiter to know whether the person making the endorsements is qualified to do so. Which, in my opinion, is why the credibility of those endorsements are diminished by this new feature.

Recommendations on LinkedIn, whether given or received, are a way of sharing specific ways you enjoyed working with an individual, the traits they possess that helped you overcome a business problem, or best describes the kind of skills you bring to the table. It’s based on your personal experience with the individual you’re recommending. And it’s typically specific—and authentic—and adds value to your business profile.

LinkedIn is a wonderful place to build your professional network and showcase your skills and expertise, so I’m not quite sure why they would place an “easy” button on the site.

I would love to hear what you think of the new unsolicited “Skill Endorsements.” Do you think they add any value to your professional profile—or do you feel it muddies the waters of the networking site?

Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette and tagged linkedIn endorsements.