LinkedIn Endorsements: What They Are & How to Get More
Learn what LinkedIn endorsements are, how to get them, and why they matter. Complete guide to skill endorsements vs recommendations in 2026.
LinkedIn endorsements are one-click skill validations from your connections that boost your profile visibility. According to Jobscan, endorsed profiles are 17x more likely to be discovered by recruiters. Profiles with 5+ skills get 17x more profile views, and reaching 99+ endorsements for a skill signals strong social proof.
Key Takeaways
- One-click validation: Endorsements are quick skill verifications from your connections
- 17x more visibility: Endorsed profiles appear more often in recruiter searches
- 99 is the maximum: LinkedIn caps endorsements at 99 per skill for display purposes
- Give to receive: Endorsing others first is the most effective way to get endorsements back
- Quality over quantity: Five endorsements from industry experts beat fifty from random connections
What Is an Endorsement on LinkedIn?
According to LinkedIn's official help page, a LinkedIn skill endorsement allows your connections to vouch for the skills and expertise mentioned in your profile. It's a public way of validating that you have specific abilities.
Think of endorsements as micro-validations—a simple click from a connection vouching for skills like "Project Management," "SEO," or "Sales Strategy."
Where Endorsements Appear
Endorsements show up in your Skills section. Each skill displays:
- The skill name
- Number of endorsements (up to 99+)
- Profile photos of people who endorsed you
- Their relationship level (e.g., "Good," "Very Good," "Highly Skilled")
Why Endorsements Matter
According to Teal, LinkedIn endorsements matter because they:
- Increase profile visibility in LinkedIn searches
- Add credibility to your claimed skills
- Help recruiters verify your expertise quickly
- Strengthen your professional brand
- Give you an edge over other candidates with similar backgrounds
Endorsements vs. Recommendations: Key Differences
Many LinkedIn users confuse endorsements with recommendations. Here's how they differ:
| Aspect | Endorsements | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Format | One-click skill validation | Written testimonial |
| Effort | Takes seconds | Takes 10-15 minutes to write |
| Depth | Validates specific skills | Describes work experience, character |
| Examples | None | Specific project/achievement examples |
| Weight | Lower (easy to give) | Higher (requires time investment) |
According to Careerflow, both are valuable but serve different purposes. Endorsements quickly validate skills, while recommendations provide deeper social proof with specific examples.
When Each Matters More
Endorsements matter most for:
- Search visibility (algorithm uses endorsed skills)
- Quick credibility signals
- Building initial social proof
- Validating technical skills
Recommendations matter most for:
- Job applications
- Building trust with prospects
- Showcasing soft skills
- Demonstrating work relationships
How to Endorse Someone on LinkedIn
According to SalesRobot, here's how to endorse someone:
Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the profile of the person you want to endorse
- Scroll down to the Skills & Endorsements section
- Click the plus sign (+) next to the skill you want to endorse
- Select your endorsement level: "Good," "Very Good," or "Highly Skilled"
- Optionally, select your relationship to the person
Endorsement Limits
LinkedIn limits endorsements to 150 per 24 hours. This prevents spam and ensures endorsements carry meaning.
Best Practices for Endorsing Others
- Only endorse skills you've witnessed in action
- Be selective—endorsing everything dilutes credibility
- Prioritize close colleagues who can reciprocate meaningfully
- Endorse strategically for skills they want to be known for
How to Get More LinkedIn Endorsements
According to LinkedIn Helper, the most effective strategies include:
1. Endorse Others First (Reciprocity Works)
One of the most effective ways to get endorsements is to give them first. When you endorse someone, they often reciprocate—especially if you've worked together and your endorsement is genuine.
2. Ask After Successful Projects
The best time to ask for endorsements is immediately after completing a successful project together. The experience is fresh, and your colleague has direct evidence of your skills.
Sample message:
"Hey [Name], it was great working on [project] together. I learned a lot from your approach to [specific skill]. Would you mind endorsing me for [relevant skill]? I'd be happy to do the same for you!"
3. Keep Skills Section Updated
Ensure your Skills section includes:
- Current, relevant skills
- Skills you want to be known for
- Skills that appear in your target job descriptions
Remove outdated skills that no longer represent your expertise.
4. Build Authentic Relationships
According to Jobright, five meaningful endorsements from industry experts carry more weight than fifty random ones from distant connections.
Focus on:
- Former supervisors who've seen your work
- Team members from successful projects
- Clients who experienced your skills firsthand
- Industry peers who respect your expertise
5. Engage Consistently on LinkedIn
Active profiles attract more endorsements. When you:
- Post valuable content
- Comment thoughtfully on others' posts
- Share industry insights
You stay top-of-mind with your network, increasing the chance they'll endorse you.
Managing Your LinkedIn Endorsements
Reordering Skills
LinkedIn lets you prioritize which skills appear first. Drag your most important skills to the top—these get the most visibility.
Hiding Unwanted Endorsements
If someone endorses you for a skill you don't want to be known for, you can hide it:
- Go to your profile
- Click the pencil icon on your Skills section
- Hide or delete specific endorsements
Hidden skills retain their endorsements if you decide to make them visible later.
Turning Off Endorsement Requests
If you're getting too many endorsement notifications, you can turn them off in your settings while still keeping endorsements enabled.
Do LinkedIn Endorsements Still Matter in 2026?
According to Neal Schaffer, endorsements remain valuable primarily for:
Search Visibility: LinkedIn's algorithm considers endorsed skills when determining search rankings. More endorsements = higher likelihood of appearing in recruiter searches.
Social Proof: When a recruiter or prospect scans your profile, 99+ endorsements signals credibility. It's a quick visual indicator that others validate your skills.
Algorithm Strength: Endorsements contribute to overall "profile strength," which LinkedIn uses to determine visibility in various features.
The Limitation of Endorsements
Endorsements can be given by anyone—even people who've never seen your work. This is why recommendations and actual demonstrated experience matter more for decision-makers doing due diligence.
Future of LinkedIn Endorsements (2026 Trends)
According to HyperClapper, AI will play a bigger role in endorsements:
- Smarter suggestions: Algorithms will suggest endorsements based on interactions and professional history
- Verified assessments: Endorsements may incorporate certifications or assessment scores
- Quality weighting: Endorsements from verified experts may carry more weight
This evolution means endorsements will become more meaningful and targeted over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an endorsement on LinkedIn?
A LinkedIn endorsement is a one-click validation where your connections vouch for your skills. When someone endorses you for "Project Management," they're publicly confirming you have that skill. Endorsements appear in your Skills section and contribute to your profile's search visibility.
How do I get more endorsements on LinkedIn?
The most effective strategy is endorsing others first—reciprocity is powerful. Also, ask colleagues after successful projects, keep your skills section updated with relevant abilities, and build authentic relationships with people who've witnessed your work firsthand. Quality connections who know your work give more valuable endorsements than random ones.
Are LinkedIn endorsements worth it?
Yes, for search visibility. Endorsed profiles are 17x more likely to appear in recruiter searches. While endorsements carry less weight than recommendations (since they're easier to give), they contribute to LinkedIn's algorithm determining your profile strength and search rankings. For job seekers, they're a useful credibility signal.
What's the difference between endorsements and recommendations?
Endorsements are one-click skill validations that take seconds. Recommendations are written testimonials describing your work, character, and achievements—they take 10-15 minutes to write and carry more weight. Both build social proof, but recommendations provide deeper credibility with specific examples.
Can you remove endorsements on LinkedIn?
Yes. Go to your profile, click the pencil icon on your Skills section, and you can hide specific endorsements or entire skills. Hidden skills retain their endorsements in case you want to restore them later. You can also turn off endorsement notifications in your settings.
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