The trouble with LinkedIn “endorsements”
By Mark W. Wright (@Wright_One)
Stop endorsing me. Really, stop. It’s weirding me out. We haven’t spoken in five years. We haven’t worked together in over a decade. We’re barely friends, but it’s LinkedIn so we’re not really supposed to be friends anyway. Listen, I get it – endorsements are good. It’s supposed to make it easier for people to recognize others for their skills and expertise “with just one click.”
Maybe that’s the issue; LinkedIn made it too easy to endorse people. The skills (or recommended skills) listed on profile pages are infectious. You can click on “writing,” “reporting,” “publishing,” and “blogging” in a matter of seconds. That’s great, if it’s a wanted endorsement. Not so great, if you view it as an annoyance – or SPAM.
Endorsements on LinkedIn should work like endorsements in real life. Let me ask for it—before you go Rambo with the attaboys. Maybe, since we haven’t worked together in years, I no longer want to be tied to my “newspaper reporting” skills because I’ve transitioned to “digital media.”
Want to know the other problem with the “endorsement” phenomenon: There’s too much of it, and so you have to wonder if potential employers are taking them seriously.
When was the last time you picked up the phone—or sent an email—to a former colleague, and asked them for an endorsement because you’re looking for a job or up for a promotion? I’m not preaching — I’m actually asking myself the same question. My own answer is: “It’s been a long time.” Maybe that’s a skill we should all dust off—making real contact with people we know. Everybody can do it; just click on “add a skill” on your profile page, and after you’re done – you can endorse yourself!
