What are LinkedIn Endorsements and how do you get them?

LinkedIn Endorsements are confirmations of skills on your profile. A first-degree connection can say that you have a skill listed in the Skills section. LinkedIn often calls this skill endorsements. You get relevant Endorsements by adding the right skills and politely asking people who truly know your work for an honest confirmation.

Only endorse skills you have actually seen in action. Quality and relevance matter more than a large random number. An Endorsement from a colleague, client, or manager who knows your work means more than dozens of confirmations with no clear basis.

An Endorsement is not a written recommendation. In a recommendation, someone writes a personal text about your cooperation. An Endorsement is a quick confirmation of one specific skill.

Where do you find Endorsements on LinkedIn?

Open your personal profile and scroll to Skills. Under a skill, you will see the matching confirmations. You can change the order of your skills and hide unwanted confirmations.

Is the Skills section missing? Add it like this:

1. Open your LinkedIn profile.
2. Choose Add profile section.
3. Open Core.
4. Choose Add skills.
5. Type a skill and select the official suggestion.
6. Indicate where you use this skill, if LinkedIn asks.
7. Save your choice.

On mobile, tap your profile photo. Then open your profile and choose Add section. The rest of the path is similar.

According to LinkedIn’s current help pages, you can add up to 100 skills in the Skills section. Skills that are linked to a specific role in Experience do not count toward this limit.

You do not need to use all 100 slots. A shorter, focused list makes it easier to show what you are good at. So put the skills on your profile that match your current work, clients, or next role.

How do you give someone a LinkedIn Endorsement?

You can only endorse a first-degree connection. The skill must also already be on that person’s profile. So you cannot add a new skill to someone else’s profile yourself.

1. Open your connection’s profile.
2. Scroll to Skills and endorsements.
3. Choose See all if there are more than three skills.
4. Find the skill you can truly judge.
5. Click or tap the plus icon next to the skill.
6. Answer any extra questions from LinkedIn.

Your name and photo may appear next to the endorsed skill. The other person may receive a notification or email. This depends on their settings.

LinkedIn may ask how well someone knows the skill or how you know that skill. According to LinkedIn, this extra feedback is not shown directly to the connection, recruiters, or external parties. LinkedIn uses these answers in aggregate to improve relevance.

Only endorse what you know from work, study, a project, or clear content. An endorsement without a real basis helps nobody. If you have only seen someone’s profile, but never worked with that person? Then you usually cannot give a reliable judgment.

A larger network can create more relevant professional contacts, but bought connections do not automatically lead to trustworthy Endorsements. If you are considering to buy LinkedIn connections, keep real collaboration and substantive relationships as the basis for skill confirmations.

How do you get relevant Endorsements without begging?

First choose the skills you want to be known for

Do not make a list of everything you have ever done. Choose skills that match your current goal. For a content marketer, content strategy, search engine optimization, web analytics, and copywriting may be logical. An old skill that is no longer relevant does not need to stay at the top.

Preferably use the name LinkedIn suggests for the skill. That makes the link to jobs and other profiles clearer. Also pay attention to language. LinkedIn says you cannot change the language of an existing skill. You must delete the skill and add it again. As a result, all related Endorsements are permanently lost.

So first check how many relevant confirmations a skill has. Do not remove it just because you prefer a different spelling. Sometimes it is better to keep the existing skill.

Make your work visible

A connection can more easily endorse you honestly if they can see proof. Describe results in your experience. Add relevant projects, certificates, or examples. Publish content in which you actually use the skill.

For example, do not just say you are good at web analytics. Also explain which problem you investigated, which data you used, and what result followed. That makes the skill concrete.

This is not a guarantee of Endorsements. But it does give people a real basis for their judgment. It also gives recruiters and potential clients more context.

Ask the right people

Ask a colleague, manager, client, teacher, or project partner who has seen your skill in action. Briefly mention why you are asking that specific person. That makes your request personal and logical.

A friendly message could sound like this:

“Hi Sam, we worked together on the new website. Would you be willing to endorse my content strategy skill on LinkedIn if you think it is accurate? No problem if you would rather not.”

Do not ask for ten skills at once. One or two relevant confirmations feel fairer and are easier to judge. The recipient then knows exactly what you are asking for.

Do not create an obligation to trade

You can endorse someone else if you know their work. Do not write: “I’ll endorse you if you endorse me.” That makes the value questionable. An Endorsement should be based on a real professional observation.

It is fine if two people endorse each other after working together. It only becomes unreliable when the confirmations are just part of an agreed exchange.

Ask at the right time

A logical moment is after a finished project, positive evaluation, or successful collaboration. The experience is still fresh then. Ask briefly and without pressure.

You can also wait until someone compliments you on a specific task. Thank that person first. Then you can ask whether they would like to confirm the same skill on LinkedIn.

Which checklist helps you get better Endorsements?

• Choose five to ten core skills for your current goal.
• Remove or lower skills that no longer fit.
• Link skills to real experience and projects.
• Use LinkedIn’s official skill name where possible.
• Only ask first-degree connections who know your work.
• Ask for one or two specific skills.
• Briefly explain where the person saw your skill.
• Always leave room to say no.
• Only endorse others based on real experience.
• Check unwanted confirmations and notification settings.
• Every quarter, review whether your key skills still fit.

Do not use this checklist as a trick to collect as many confirmations as possible. The goal is a profile that gives an honest and clear picture of your knowledge.

How do you manage your skills and received confirmations?

Open your profile and scroll to Skills. Tap or click the pencil icon. There you can add, remove, and manage the display of skills.

In the more options menu, you will find Endorsement settings. You can decide whether you want to receive endorsements and whether LinkedIn may show suggestions for giving endorsements.

Do you not want to acknowledge a confirmation? Then you can hide it. You do not have to remove the whole skill right away. That is useful if the person does not know your work well or if the confirmation does not fit your positioning.

If you delete a skill, the confirmations linked to it disappear. So be careful if you only want to change the order. If needed, first make a list of the skills you want to keep.

You can move your most important skills higher. LinkedIn says that many endorsed skills may move up in the display. Check the order yourself so your profile continues to support your current goal.

A personal profile works differently from a company page. Endorsements belong to a person’s skills. So they are not the same as reach or followers for an organization. If you want to increase the visibility of a company page, buying LinkedIn company page followers is a separate choice that does not create personal skill confirmations.

How do you remove an Endorsement you gave yourself?

Open the profile of your first-degree connection. Scroll to Skills and find the endorsed skill. Tap or click the checkmark. The icon then changes back into a plus icon.

LinkedIn does not send a notification when you remove an endorsement you gave. If your connection is broken, endorsements between you are automatically removed. They do not come back by themselves when you connect again later.

Did you choose the wrong skill by accident? Then remove the endorsement right away and only endorse the correct one. You usually do not need to message the person about it.

What is the difference between Endorsements and Recommendations?

An Endorsement confirms one skill with a click. A Recommendation is a written recommendation in which someone gives context about a collaboration, result, or work style.

Endorsements are quick to give and easy to scan. They can help emphasize certain skills. Recommendations add more depth, because the reader can see who is writing and why.

Use both where possible. Show your skills with relevant confirmations and also add a few strong written recommendations. Read LinkedIn Endorsements versus Recommendations: what is the difference? for a more detailed decision guide.

A large number of Endorsements does not automatically prove that someone is the best candidate. Recruiters also look at experience, results, education, recommendations, and fit for the role.

If you mainly want to show quickly which skills others recognize, Endorsements are useful. If you want to explain a collaboration, result, or personal quality, a Recommendation is a better fit.

Do Endorsements work the same on iPhone, Android, and desktop?

The core is the same. You open a profile, scroll to Skills, and choose the plus icon next to a skill.

On desktop, more skills are visible at once. On mobile, you often need to open See all. The settings for receiving and giving Endorsements are on both devices via the pencil icon and the menu in the Skills section.

LinkedIn may change the names and position of buttons. So look for Skills, Endorsements, See all, and Endorsement settings.

Do you not see a plus icon? Then check whether you are first-degree connections and whether the skill is on the profile. Close the app and reopen it if a section does not load properly.

Why can’t you endorse someone?

You are not first-degree connections

According to LinkedIn’s help pages, only first-degree connections can endorse skills. Do not send a blank connection request just for an Endorsement. Build a real professional relationship first.

The skill is not on the profile

You can only endorse an existing skill. Ask the person to add a relevant skill themselves. You cannot just place a new skill on their profile.

The person does not receive Endorsements

Members can use their settings to prevent connections from giving new confirmations. Respect that choice. Do not send repeated requests if someone has intentionally turned this feature off.

The app does not show all skills

Tap See all. Update the app or use desktop if the list does not load properly. Also check whether your internet connection is stable.

A previously given confirmation is already active

A checkmark means you have already endorsed the skill. Do not click it again, because that will remove the endorsement.

What changes after you receive an Endorsement?

The confirmation is linked to the relevant skill. LinkedIn says this helps strengthen your profile and may increase the chance that you are discovered for opportunities that match that skill.

Do not see this as a guarantee of a certain position. One confirmation does not automatically lead to a job, a high search result, or a message from a recruiter.

By default, you may receive a notification when a connection endorses a skill. You can adjust the frequency via Settings and privacy, Notifications, Update your profile, and New skill endorsements.

According to LinkedIn, endorsement activity does not appear in your connections’ news feed or in the activity section of your profile. There is currently no setting to change that.

After a new endorsement, check whether the skill is still in the right place. A relevant number of confirmations helps most when the skill matches the rest of your profile.

Which mistakes do people often make with Endorsements?

The first mistake is adding too many general skills. Words like communication and leadership say little without context. Combine them with professional skills and proof in your experience.

The second mistake is asking random people. A recruiter would rather see a logical profile than an artificially high number of confirmations.

The third mistake is deleting skills to change the language without realizing that all endorsements disappear. Check this before you clean up your profile.

The fourth mistake is treating Recommendations and Endorsements as the same thing. Use a written recommendation when context and results are important.

The fifth mistake is only collecting and never managing. Review every quarter whether your top skills still fit your goal.

Another mistake is asking every new connection for a confirmation right away. A connection is not proof that someone knows your work. Wait until there is a real professional basis.

How do you make a simple plan for the next thirty days?

Start with cleanup in week one. Choose ten core skills and check whether the names match the language of your profile. Do not just remove a skill with many good confirmations. First decide whether you want to keep it or consciously rebuild it.

In week two, add proof. Expand two experiences with a concrete project or result. Link the relevant skills where LinkedIn offers that option. Add a work example if you are allowed to share it publicly.

In week three, ask up to three people for a focused confirmation. For example, choose a colleague, former manager, and client who each know a different part of your work. Send personal messages and mention one skill each time.

In week four, manage the result. Hide confirmations that do not feel reliable. Check the order of your skills and see whether your profile still tells one clear professional story.

Measure success not only by the total number of clicks. Look at whether the right skills become visible and whether new conversations better match your work. A single endorsement from someone who knows your work well can be more credible than dozens of random confirmations.

Do not repeat this plan every month with the same people. Ask only when there is new collaboration or demonstrable work. That way, your Endorsements stay current and genuine.

Also keep a short list of examples that prove each core skill. That helps in conversations with recruiters and clients. The number of confirmations may attract attention, but a concrete project makes the skill understandable.

Keep those examples up to date. Add new results and remove examples that no longer match your professional goal.

Which questions are frequently asked about LinkedIn Endorsements?

Can anyone endorse my skills?

No. LinkedIn names first-degree connections as the members who can confirm your skills. The skill must also already be on your profile.

Will someone get a notification if I give an Endorsement?

The person may receive a notification or email, depending on their settings. If you remove a previously given endorsement, the other person will not get a notification about it.

Can I hide a received Endorsement?

Yes. Manage confirmations via the Skills section. You can hide an unwanted confirmation without immediately deleting the whole skill.

How many skills can I add?

LinkedIn states a maximum of 100 skills in the Skills section. Skills that are only linked to roles in Experience do not count toward that limit.

Can I change the language of a skill?

Not directly. You must delete the skill and add it again in the desired language. That permanently removes all linked Endorsements.

Are Endorsements visible to profile visitors?

The skills and displayed confirmations can be visible on your profile. Who viewed your profile is a separate feature. Read disable notifications for profile changes on LinkedIn for more explanation on that topic.

Can I ask someone for multiple Endorsements?

You can, but it is better to ask for one or two skills that the person can really judge. A short, focused request is clearer and feels less pushy.

Are many Endorsements always better?

No. Relevant confirmations from people who know your work are more valuable than a large random number. The skills must also match your experience and professional goal.

Which first step can you take today?

Open your profile and review your first ten skills. Choose the five that best match your current work or next role. Put those clearly on your profile and remove only what is truly unnecessary.

Then ask one colleague or client who knows your work to honestly confirm one specific skill. Give context, keep the request optional, and do not collect random clicks. That way, Endorsements become a credible and useful part of your LinkedIn profile.