How to Get and Give LinkedIn Endorsements in 2025

LinkedIn endorsements play a key role in today’s job search landscape. With over 1 billion members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, standing out from the crowd is more challenging than ever. While many job seekers focus solely on their work experience and education, those who master the art of LinkedIn endorsements often gain a significant edge in their job search. This guide will help you learn how to add and manage endorsements on your profile, making you stand out from other job seekers and boosting your chances of finding your perfect job.

What Is LinkedIn Endorsements

LinkedIn endorsements serve as digital votes of confidence for your professional skills. Unlike recommendations, which are detailed written testimonials, endorsements are quick confirmations of your abilities from your connections. These skill validations play a crucial role in your LinkedIn profile’s visibility.

When your connections endorse your skills, LinkedIn’s algorithm takes notice. The more endorsements you receive for specific skills, the more likely you appear in search results when recruiters look for candidates with those abilities. This increased visibility can make a significant difference in your job search success.

Here are the main types of skills people can endorse on LinkedIn:

Technical Prowess

From coding in Python to mastering cloud architecture, technical endorsements verify your hands-on capabilities in specific tools and technologies.

People Skills

Soft skills endorsements cover essential workplace abilities like:

• Team collaboration
• Project management
• Problem-solving
• Leadership qualities
• Communication effectiveness

Industry Knowledge

Field-specific endorsements demonstrate your expertise in particular sectors:

• Healthcare Protocols
• Digital marketing strategies
• Educational methodologies
• Financial analysis
• Legal procedures

Software & Tools

Endorsements for practical tool proficiency include:

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Google Analytics 4
• Popular CRM systems
• Industry-specific software

Professional Certifications

Validation of your formal qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• AWS Certifications
• Google Certifications
• Industry-specific credentials

Language Abilities

Multi-language proficiency endorsements, indicating your:

• Language fluency levels
• Business communication capabilities
• Cultural competency

How to Add LinkedIn Skill Endorsements

People who view your LinkedIn profile can endorse your skills with a simple click. These endorsements work in two ways: you can add skills to your profile, and your connections can validate them. According to LinkedIn’s official guidelines, you can list up to 50 skills on your profile. The most endorsed skills will automatically appear at the top of your skills section, making them immediately visible to profile visitors.

To add skills to your profile:

1. Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage
2. Select “View Profile”
3. Select “Add profile section”
4. Find “Core” in the dropdown menu
5. click “Add skills”

The system will automatically match some skills related to your profile, or you can search for skills in the search box.

Your connections can then endorse these skills, confirming your expertise in specific areas. These endorsements create a dynamic map of your professional capabilities that evolves as you grow in your career.

Getting Quality Endorsements

The secret to meaningful endorsements lies in building authentic professional relationships. Start with your closest colleagues who have directly witnessed your work. Former supervisors, team members, and clients make excellent endorsers because they can verify your skills firsthand.

What works best when seeking endorsements:

1. Time your requests after successful project completion
2. Make personal connections before asking for endorsements
3. Focus on getting endorsements for skills most relevant to your career goals
4. Build two-way relationships by offering genuine endorsements to others first

Remember: five meaningful endorsements from industry experts carry more weight than fifty random ones from distant connections.

Managing Your LinkedIn Endorsements

Taking control of your endorsements requires regular attention. The LinkedIn Skills & Endorsements section offers several management options:

Adding and Removing Skills: First, ensure your skills list matches your current career direction. Remove outdated skills and add emerging ones relevant to your field. You can delete skills by clicking the pencil symbol on your skill page.

You can edit your skills, or delete outdated skills and save the changes.

Visibility Controls: You can choose to:

• Show all endorsements
• Hide specific endorsers
• Turn off endorsements completely
• Reorder skills based on relevance

Common Questions About LinkedIn Endorsements

Q: Are LinkedIn endorsements important?
A: Yes, LinkedIn endorsements matter because they increase your profile visibility in LinkedIn searches, add credibility to your claimed skills, help recruiters verify your expertise, strengthen your professional brand, and give you an edge over other candidates.

Q: What’s the difference between LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements?
A: Endorsements are quick skill validations with one click, while recommendations are detailed written testimonials. Endorsements focus on specific skills, whereas recommendations cover overall work experience and relationships.

Q: How do I get more endorsements on LinkedIn?
A: You can increase your endorsements by actively engaging with your network, endorsing others first (they often reciprocate), politely asking colleagues after successful projects, keeping your skills section up-to-date, and sharing professional achievements that showcase your skills.

Q: How many skills can you list on LinkedIn?
A: LinkedIn allows you to list up to 50 skills on your profile. However, it’s better to focus on 15-20 most relevant skills rather than listing all 50.

Q: Do LinkedIn endorsements show up in order?
A: Yes, skills typically appear with the most endorsed skills first, followed by skills you’ve pinned to the top, and then recently added skills. You can manually reorder them in your profile settings.

Q: Can anyone endorse you on LinkedIn?
A: Only your 1st-degree connections can endorse your skills. However, you can control who can endorse you and whether to show these endorsements on your profile.

Q: How do I turn off skill endorsements?
A: To disable endorsements, go to your profile, click on the Skills & Endorsements section, select settings, and toggle off “I want to be endorsed.”

Conclusion

LinkedIn endorsements remain a powerful tool for professional growth in 2025. Focus on quality over quantity, maintain regular profile updates, and align endorsements with your career goals. Remember these key points:

1. Build genuine professional relationships
2. Regularly update your skills list
3. Be strategic about which endorsements to highlight
4. Use modern tools to improve your profile’s effectiveness

For more guidance on building your professional presence, consider exploring LinkedIn’s Official Blog or trying AI-powered career tools like Jobright.ai, a platform that offers features such as resume optimization, insider connections for networking, and 24/7 AI support to enhance the job search experience. These tools can help you make the most of your professional network.