Rank Higher: LinkedIn Endorsements give you the edge!

In the past, whenever I brought up the subject of LinkedIn Endorsements in my seminars, I would see eyes start rolling like I was about to waste their time with a useless LinkedIn feature.

After all, these people are actively seeking jobs, so they don’t have time to discuss those little keyword skills on their profile that are often given by people they don’t know, endorsing them for skills they don’t have. How is that useful?!?

I would then explain how those Endorsements were really just a nice way to open a door to network with someone. They weren't a formal letter of recommendation, they were the equivalent of holding a door open for someone headed towards a doorway you were already going through. You could chat as they walked by, or not. It was just a nice gesture.

That's not true anymore! The game has changed.

First, LinkedIn now allows employers to search for candidates by their endorse-able skills. If you have a 99+ by the skills for which you want employers to find you, not only will more of the right employers be able to find you, but when you endorse others for those same skills, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PROFILES will list YOU as someone "who is highly skilled at this" - and it will be a link to your profile!

Recruiters click on those links. (see the red boxes highlighted below) Again, recruiters click on those links.

That will help more recruiters find you, but that's not why you'll rank higher in employer searches. Keep reading.

Second, the screenshots above are from a mobile phone. Have you tried endorsing someone from a mobile phone recently? You can't just click the button anymore, it asks you HOW GOOD they are and HOW DO YOU KNOW!! So it's no longer a Facebook "Like", it's an actual endorsement. LinkedIn will likely move this functionality to the desktop soon making it much harder to build up your endorsement numbers so employers can find you, so build them now! I learned about this new Mobile feature from Bruce Bixler, a LinkedIn Trainer who spoke at my Job Club recently. Click here for a highlight video of his Mobile App presentation on my YouTube channel (which was just ranked the #3 overall top channel for job seekers to watch in 2019, and ranked #1 of all channels with coaches based in the U.S.A by Jobscan.co).

[Article Edit] As a quick follow up, after making the setting changes Bruce suggested in that seminar, LinkedIn noticed! I typically get 10 to 20 invites to connect per day, but immediately after making the changes Bruce suggested in his seminar, LinkedIn put me on a "Recommended" list and over the next 7 days I received over 2,500 invitations to connect!! Amazing. I definitely recommend you check out that video...even though that still isn't why you'll rank higher in employer searches. Here it is...

Third, LinkedIn's ATS allows recruiters and employers to search ALL of LinkedIn, not just their network, so it can be overwhelming. However, LinkedIn built an algorithm that will rank people higher in the search results if they have the right keywords AND if they would be most likely to respond to an inquiry from that specific employer!!

How can they do that??

Easier than you think. Who is more likely to return your calls, strangers, or people you know? Obviously people you know are more likely to respond. With that in mind, LinkedIn's algorithm will rank people highest if they are following the company, are connected directly to an employee (or employees) of the company, and have interacted with an employee (or employees) of their company!

So, follow the companies to which you are applying, find who you're connected to at those companies and interact with them; i.e. message them, or at the very least, endorse them!

[Article Edit] I recently learned from Denis Curtin, another LinkedIn Expert and Trainer like Bruce, a job seeker from his job club in the Chicago area was a top 3 finalist for a senior executive position and it was a close race between them. Ultimately, he didn't get the job, and he found out a contributing factor was that he was the only candidate of the three who wasn't following the company on LinkedIn! Lesson: Always apply and follow!

Fourth, those "chats in the doorways" I mentioned earlier can lead to real opportunities. I'll explain.

The next time someone endorses you for a skill you don't have, or that they couldn't know you have, instead of rolling your eyes and forming a negative opinion of this person, take a quick look at their profile.

Endorse their top 3 skills in return. Then take note of their recent employers and go to indeed.com to look for current job openings that meet your needs.

If you find some, then send a message to this person who very recently tried to help you by endorsing you. They will be receptive to your message.

Send them this…

“Hi [insert their name], thanks for the endorsements! I just endorsed you back, and if you want more, just let me know.

I noticed you used to work at XYZ Company, and I was interested in a Business Analyst role there. I was about to apply, but since you know them, do you know who I should send my information to rather than just applying online like everyone else?”

If the person still works at that company, add this to your message…

“Actually, if XYZ has an employee referral program, I’d be happy to send my resume directly to you so you can present it to the appropriate person and potentially earn that bonus if I’m hired. Please take a look at my profile and let me know what you think. Thanks!”

Now you’ll have an internal employee lobbying on your behalf to help you get the job!

Employee referral programs are the 2nd most popular way people land jobs; 2nd only to networking in person.

How many endorsements do you get a week? Probably not an overwhelming number, so truly in less than 20 minutes a week sending these quick emails out, you can create multiple opportunities for yourself where employees within local companies are pushing to help you land a job…all from “useless” endorsements. Adding this strategy to your week can clearly give you an edge.

Job search doesn’t have to be such a random, stress-filled process. With an efficient structure, consistently utilizing tactics like these, you won’t have to settle for the wrong job just because you don’t have options.

For free and immediate help with your search, check out www.YouTube.com/SpeedUpMyJobSearch to find over 100 strategic job search videos. Pick one video a day or a week, implement the idea to improve your results, then pick another one. Rinse and repeat.

For a more organized approach with a structure already determined to be the most efficient, visit www.SpeedUpMyJobSearch.com.

It's not about rushing or hurrying, it's about efficiency. When you do thing the right way, better results come faster AND with a lot less stress. Your confidence builds when you know you're doing the right things daily. Check out the recommendations on my profile, see what others are saying about my coaching, and then let's get to work!