So I noticed somewhere around March or April that I've been endorsed for some of my skills- and I'm very grateful to the new contacts and ex-colleagues and friends who have taken the time to endorse me.
I've also noticed - and I shall keep names out of it - that some of my skills ( which I do have) have been endorsed by people that could not possibly have experienced or witnessed those skills. Because I know them in a completely different sphere than the skills they have now endorsed.
For example. I know some SQL. I know it because I learnt it by working on an Oracle database while being a Business Analyst at Discovery Health. Unless you have worked with me at Discovery ( and even then , I did a lot of different things at Discovery Health) you wouldn't really be able to endorse my SQL skills.
I also know a fair bit about databases and database management. Not all of it by direct experience mind you, but because in working with DBA's over the years I have picked up a number of things , the databases I know the best would be Oracle, and by trial and error , and by extensive self-teaching , PostgreSQL, and more recently MySQL. But again, if you didn't work with me in that capacity, you couldn't possibly know that I have that skill, let alone be able to endorse me for it.
Which lends me onto my next point , several people have been commenting and blogging in general recently about how endorsements are really not worth much on LinkedIn , because of this exact issue.
Everyone is endorsing everyone, for everything. It's like High School, where the popular kids become and remain popular because kids that don't even know them are enforcing the perception that they are awesome and skilled and nice. How would you know if you've never even met the person? Seriously?
So, here's my little explanation of why I am picky about what I endorse for my connections in LinkedIn, and a short summary of how I manage my own Profile.
I will not connect with you, unless you fit one of the below :
a) I know you .. well ...
b) I've met you at least once and remember you- and I see a mutually beneficial reason to connect (me buying from you is not mutually beneficial)
c) Someone I know and trust introduces us
d) You make an effort to type a personal message explaining why you want to connect with me, and your reasons are not about selling me your product,services, time or some other pitch for things I am not in the market for. **
Almost everyone I am connected with , I know in some way or another,either personally, or as a business colleague, partner or acquaintance.
I will endorse all of the skills that I know you have, either through my experience working with you, or through my observations of your work.
I am also more than happy to write recommendations for people if they ask. There are 2 reasons I will decline a request for a recommendation.
a) I have never worked with you, and I'm not comfortable recomending you.
b) I HAVE worked with you - and I'm not comfortable recomending you.
If you do ask , and I do write you a decent reference, then I expect a reciprocation though. I am flattered that you want my opinion on your LinkedIn profile, and will ask politely for you to consider doing the same for me.
So where does that leave us ?
Please don't endorse me, unless you know personally of that skill and what it means, otherwise you should get comfortable with me hiding those endorsements. And I have done it. Several times for several people that are very dear and good friends.
My in-built honesty just won't let me accept an endorsement from someone who either doesn't know me in that capacity, or doesn't know what they are endorsing exactly.
Thank you for thinking that I am awesome. And I am really. Just don't endorse something , until you know it to be true. And you can expect the same from me.
** So what might I be in the market for ? Here's a tip - I am never in the market for off-shore cold-calling, off-shore lead-generation, or offshore development services. Never. I firmly believe local is lekker. My South African company hires people in South Africa, my Australian company hires people in Australia. And when I take over the world and live in America, then my American company will hire Americans.
I've also noticed - and I shall keep names out of it - that some of my skills ( which I do have) have been endorsed by people that could not possibly have experienced or witnessed those skills. Because I know them in a completely different sphere than the skills they have now endorsed.
For example. I know some SQL. I know it because I learnt it by working on an Oracle database while being a Business Analyst at Discovery Health. Unless you have worked with me at Discovery ( and even then , I did a lot of different things at Discovery Health) you wouldn't really be able to endorse my SQL skills.
I also know a fair bit about databases and database management. Not all of it by direct experience mind you, but because in working with DBA's over the years I have picked up a number of things , the databases I know the best would be Oracle, and by trial and error , and by extensive self-teaching , PostgreSQL, and more recently MySQL. But again, if you didn't work with me in that capacity, you couldn't possibly know that I have that skill, let alone be able to endorse me for it.
Which lends me onto my next point , several people have been commenting and blogging in general recently about how endorsements are really not worth much on LinkedIn , because of this exact issue.
Everyone is endorsing everyone, for everything. It's like High School, where the popular kids become and remain popular because kids that don't even know them are enforcing the perception that they are awesome and skilled and nice. How would you know if you've never even met the person? Seriously?
So, here's my little explanation of why I am picky about what I endorse for my connections in LinkedIn, and a short summary of how I manage my own Profile.
I will not connect with you, unless you fit one of the below :
a) I know you .. well ...
b) I've met you at least once and remember you- and I see a mutually beneficial reason to connect (me buying from you is not mutually beneficial)
c) Someone I know and trust introduces us
d) You make an effort to type a personal message explaining why you want to connect with me, and your reasons are not about selling me your product,services, time or some other pitch for things I am not in the market for. **
Almost everyone I am connected with , I know in some way or another,either personally, or as a business colleague, partner or acquaintance.
I will endorse all of the skills that I know you have, either through my experience working with you, or through my observations of your work.
I am also more than happy to write recommendations for people if they ask. There are 2 reasons I will decline a request for a recommendation.
a) I have never worked with you, and I'm not comfortable recomending you.
b) I HAVE worked with you - and I'm not comfortable recomending you.
If you do ask , and I do write you a decent reference, then I expect a reciprocation though. I am flattered that you want my opinion on your LinkedIn profile, and will ask politely for you to consider doing the same for me.
So where does that leave us ?
Please don't endorse me, unless you know personally of that skill and what it means, otherwise you should get comfortable with me hiding those endorsements. And I have done it. Several times for several people that are very dear and good friends.
My in-built honesty just won't let me accept an endorsement from someone who either doesn't know me in that capacity, or doesn't know what they are endorsing exactly.
Thank you for thinking that I am awesome. And I am really. Just don't endorse something , until you know it to be true. And you can expect the same from me.
** So what might I be in the market for ? Here's a tip - I am never in the market for off-shore cold-calling, off-shore lead-generation, or offshore development services. Never. I firmly believe local is lekker. My South African company hires people in South Africa, my Australian company hires people in Australia. And when I take over the world and live in America, then my American company will hire Americans.
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