Everyone loves to be patted. And appreciated. More so, if the pat comes from a professional colleague you value. But is this what is happening with Linkedin endorsements?
You are being endorsed by people who don’t even know what editing is or what portfolio management is. They endorse you because they happen to be your friends and relatives.
It is quite possible that you return the favour by endorsing them – even if you have little knowledge about their skill sets. It’s more like a social quid pro quo.
These endorsements are then happily displayed on your profile and the profiles of your friends as their Skills and Expertise.
So, should you value Linkedin endorsements? Or should you ignore them?
You will be sensible if you ignore Linkedin endorsements in their present format.
Linkedin, of course, loves its product. And why not? The Linkedin endorsements crossed the one billion mark in May 2013, barely nine months after its launch – and is still growing.
So, why should Linkedin kill a product that is hugely successful?
That’s a decision only Linkedin bosses can make. But they certainly need to tweak the product if they want it to become relevant.
What Linkedin needs to do
1. Change the endorsement procedure: Today, it is so easy. You are shown an auto-suggestion box that displays the skills of four of your connections. You are asked to endorse them by clicking on the endorse button. You can endorse each one separately or endorse them together.
The auto suggestion box throws up a new set of skills for the same connections or new connections. The game goes on, till you get bored.
Linkedin needs to introduce a procedure that requires more thinking, and more effort. It should not be like a blind Like on Facebook. The skills, once endorsed, stay – and become an important part of a member’s profile.
2. List the name of endorser: Today, you do not know who has endorsed whom. You only see the number of endorsements for a skill. The logic is: the higher the number, the more proficient you are in that particular skill.
Linkedin will do a great service if it creates a command that allows the names of endorsers to show up. And their profession. It will then enable you to judge the value of the endorsed skills.
3. Introduce skill ratings: Linkedin should stop mining the profiles of members and indicating their skills. Members should be prompted to suggest skills of their connections and rate them. This will add value to Linkedin profiles and make Linkedin endorsements meaningful.
Leave a Reply