How LinkedIn worksBy the LinkedInEmbed team · Updated
What's the difference between LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements?
Short answer
A recommendation is a written testimonial that a 1st-degree connection writes about working with you, and you decide whether to show it. An endorsement is a quick validation of a skill listed on your profile, also from a 1st-degree connection. LinkedIn treats them as separate features, and recommendations carry far more detail.
Side by side
| Recommendation | Skill endorsement | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A written commendation of your work | A validation of one skill on your profile |
| Who can give it | 1st-degree connections | 1st-degree connections |
| Do you ask for it? | Usually: you request it from a connection | No request needed |
| Your control | It shows once you accept it; you can hide accepted ones later | Hide individual endorsements or opt out of receiving them |
| Limits | One per position, per member; no overall limit | Managed per skill |
| Website use | Strong testimonials, with name and context | Little meaning outside LinkedIn |
How to request a recommendation
- 1
Open your profile
Click the Me icon, then View profile, and go to the Recommendations section. Click the plus icon and choose Ask for recommendation.
- 2
Pick the connection
Search for the person in the Search for people field and click Continue. You can also start from their profile with More → Request a recommendation.
- 3
Add context and send
Fill in your relationship, the position you worked together in, and an optional message, then click Send.
- You can have only one open request to the same connection at a time, but there's no limit on the total you request or receive.
- You can't change the relationship after sending; the connection has to delete the request and you send a new one.
- Requests are made in your primary profile language.
- If you remove a connection, recommendations between you are withdrawn and aren't restored if you reconnect.
Which one to show on your website
Recommendations work as testimonials because they're written by real people, under their own names, about specific work. Endorsements are a count next to a skill, which says little to a website visitor.
To show recommendations, the LinkedIn recommendations widget displays the ones on your public profile, with each person's photo, headline and relationship to you, and keeps them up to date. For a single quote in a slide or social post, the free testimonial card generator makes an image. The profile widget can list your skills.
Before featuring recommendations, check which ones are visible: you can hide accepted recommendations on LinkedIn, and a widget only shows what's on your public profile. Recommendations you've given can be shown too, which is a nice way to show how you support colleagues and clients.
Sources
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