No matter if you’re a job seeker or a business owner LinkedIn can prove to be a great way to network and find new career opportunities or build strong business connections.
With LinkedIn’s most recent feature, the Endorsement tool, it’s now easier than ever to recommend someone. However it’s certainly not the end all as hiring managers for example, will still obviously take into account your references, past work experience and more.
That being said, this tool is great for “voting” for someone so as to validate their skills, but if you’re not sure exactly how to approach the tool in terms of the LinkedIn etiquette to using it here are some answers to pressing questions offered by the U.S. News:
1. Do I need to thank someone for an endorsement?
LinkedIn’s new Endorsements feature is promoted as a way to give kudos with one click. Yet, if it is so simple to give, what does it really indicate? Is it valid to measure someone’s skills if there is no context assigned? And why can any connection be qualified to make these endorsements? The feature raises many issues, but the better question is, do these endorsements justify your response? Old-fashioned etiquette would say, yes, you can and probably should thank someone in a message through LinkedIn. However, that takes time and effort; more time and effort than it took the person to endorse you. If you chose to return the favor and endorse them, that is another option and decision you can make.
2. I don’t remember (or know) the person who has endorsed me. What should I do?
Have you ever received a request to connect on LinkedIn from someone you didn’t know or can’t remember? If you are open to new connections, then most likely you will accept the request to connect. If you prefer to connect only with people you know, then your choice is a bit more difficult. Maybe you did meet this person and they haven’t reminded you. You could chose to send a message to them and ask for a reminder of how you have met or how each other. Or you could simply ignore their request. If you do chose to ignore the request, also think about the potential opportunities you may miss out on or the additional relationships you may not forge.
Every person on LinkedIn will use the new tool differently – you need to decide how to use it based on what you wish to gain from it. At all times, it’s important to “always keep in mind standard business etiquette and be polite, considerate, and respectful of differing opinions and views.”
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