Why Skills & Endorsements Matter in LinkedIn?

Did you know LinkedIn profiles with five or more skills listed and endorsed receive up to 17x more profile views?

We’ll talk about something many of us overlook in our LinkedIn profiles.

Skills and Endorsements.

We all know they’re there, but how much attention do we give them?

Do they matter?

Think! Think! Think!

Let me tell you, they do!

They’re powerful tools for building your brand and credibility.

Let’s delve into how these seemingly small details can unleash opportunities in your professional journey, whether you’re a student, working professional, or entrepreneur.

The Hidden Power of Skills and Endorsements

Skills and endorsements on LinkedIn are like badges of honour that provide social proof of your expertise. They make your profile look more attractive to potential employers, clients, and collaborators.

Yet, many people ignore this section, thinking it’s just a minor detail.

But do you know what they mean in the eyes of those looking to hire or work with you?

How could Skills and endorsement leverage to boost your online presence?

So, Skills act as keywords that recruiters and employers search for.

Endorsements from Peers act as social proof of your expertise.

Why do People Overlook Skills and Endorsements?

Despite its importance, many people ignore this section.

Why so?

Do you believe filling out your job history and education section is enough?

Or Is it because you think you won't get a job on LinkedIn?

Neglecting skills and endorsements means missing out on a powerful way to enhance your profile and, even more, on the opportunities they could have reached.

How to Leverage Skills and Endorsements?

1. Identify Key Skills: Focus on relevant skills to your industry and role.
2. Request Endorsements: Don’t be shy—ask colleagues, classmates, or clients to endorse you.
3. Endorse Others: Often, endorsing others leads to reciprocal endorsements.
4. Update Regularly: Keep your skills section updated to reflect your current capabilities.

Steps to Optimise Your Skills Section:

• List All Relevant Skills: Cover all bases, from technical to soft skills.
• Prioritise: Move the most important skills to the top of your list.
• Endorsements: Regularly endorse others and request endorsements in return.

From the Employer’s POV: What Do HR Professionals Look For?

Imagine you’re an HR professional searching for the perfect candidate for a new insurance-related position.

What do you look at first? Here’s a peek behind the curtain:

1. Profile Summary and Headline: A quick overview of yourself and what you do.
2. Experience Section: Detailed descriptions of your past roles and responsibilities.
3. Skills and Endorsements: They see if you have the specific skills needed for the job.

For instance, if you’re hiring for an insurance analyst position, you’ll likely search for skills like “Risk Management,” “Data Analysis,” and “Insurance Claims.” Profiles with these skills endorsed multiple times will stand out.

Example:

• Candidate A: Has ten endorsements for “Risk Management” and 15 for “Data Analysis.”
• Candidate B: Has no endorsements for relevant skills.

Which candidate seems more credible at first glance?

Candidate A.

Endorsements act as a quick validation of your capabilities.

Final Thoughts

Skills and endorsements are more than just profile fillers—they’re critical tools for building your brand on LinkedIn. They help collaborators, recruiters, and potential employers quickly assess your qualifications, making you stand out in searches and increasing your visibility.

So, don’t ignore this powerful section of your profile. Take a few minutes today to update your skills, ask for endorsements, and start endorsing others. It’s a small investment of time that can pay huge dividends in your career.

Remember, your LinkedIn profile is a dynamic representation of your professional journey—keep it updated and reflect your evolving story.