This past week I saw a new feature in LinkedIn (linkedin.com) called Endorsement. I was able to click on a person in my circle and ‘endorse’ their skills. It’s a simple click and it pleased me to endorse a wide range of colleagues who excel in their work. Some of these people have been out of my life for a very long time.
So, it was a surprise when I received a return email from a ‘recently endorsed by me’ colleague titled “Can you endorse me?”
This is the deal – when I endorse someone, they get a message that says this:
Dear Anne, I’m sending this to ask you for a brief recommendation of my work that I can include in my LinkedIn profile. If you have any questions, let me know. Thanks in advance for helping me out. – Marge
UGH! That wasn’t my intention at all. Now all those people I wanted to applaud —are assuming I wanted their endorsement.
I think this is a great tool and an excellent way to say something positive in a professional forum but I don’t need the additional email asking for an endorsement too.
Sometimes it feels good to do something nice … just because.
- Oh No: LinkedIn Just Went Klout On Us (v3im.com)
- Is your LinkedIn profile suitable for endorsements? (successnetwork.wordpress.com)
- Linkedin Skills Endorsements: What’s Going On? (myrlandmarketing.com)
- LinkedIn Releases One-Click Endorsements for Professional Skills (cperky.wordpress.com)
- Introducing LinkedIn Endorsements (slideshare.net)
- LinkedIn Introduces Endorsements, A Way To Get Recognized For Your Skills (LNKD) (businessinsider.com)
- LinkedIn rolls out skill endorsements, and it’s as easy as one-click (digitaltrends.com)
- Projecting a Professional Image on LinkedIn (news.terra.com)
Happily ... after retirement 
I do think it is a great tool just because some people like myself do not know how to ask for endorsements of their work or skills, but it does feel like it is putting people in an awkward position.
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Thanks for passing this on, Marge. Goes to show ya, one click can bring added work to a busy schedule.
Blessings ~ Maxi
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Goodness, I’ve recently linkedin and don’t quite understand it yet but I’ll treat it like facebook, minimal interaction!
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Hi Marge,
I got your endorsement and another from another friend. Neither time did I receive the message above. I don’t do anything on LinkdIn but thought it was a sweet gesture on your part.
You KNOW I endorse you 🙂
x…x
steph
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Oops! I made the same mistake. Had no idea!
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I did the same thing. I wonder if all the people got that message? I certainly hope not! Thanks for posting.
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The only time I have seen that message is when I used it. Someone recently endorsed me and I didn’t receive that message. So it’s a bit of a puzzle.
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I agree and think it will be very popular. It’s just that I would prefer to offer an endorsement just for the heck of it without it seeming as if I wanted one in return! Ugh!!
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Ha Ha Maxi, Good way to look at it!
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Well Lucid Gypsy, if you want to add me as a connection – go right ahead!
If you go to the LinkedIn.com search box and enter marge katherine you’ll be sure to see my name pop up!
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I don’t know what the trigger is – some get the message and some don’t! Either way, I appreciate your endorsement!!!
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I searched and searched but am unable to figure out what triggers the return email message asking for a mutal endorsement. If you figure it out, let me know!
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A conundrum for sure! I’m sure someone wrote about it somewhere – but who? And Where?
Thanks for chiming in!
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Hi Marge,
LinkedIn’s One Click endorsement feature is a great way to recognize the skills of our colleagues and connections and I like the way it compliments the personal recommendations we write. As for the email that Anne got from you, that usually goes out when you request a recommendation for your work not when you endorse someone for their skills. My suspicion is that it might have happened by accident; a system glitch or perhaps sometime ago, you might have asked Anne for a recommendation and she is now requesting same from you… just a thought. Take care!
Elizabeth
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will do
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Not a clue!
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