Every professional knows how important having a LinkedIn profile is to network with people in the industry, and more crucially, how important it is to have endorsements from them.
The problem is how to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn since there isn’t an established etiquette for doing so.
If you know how to ask for recommendations or references, then you should have a pretty good idea about how to ask for endorsements. This is just the LinkedIn version for people who view your profile.
If you don’t know how to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn, it’s not as difficult as you think. We’ve put together a guide you can use, and some samples to make your job easier. We’ll start with some key things you should note:
The difference between endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn
Photo by Evelina Zhu under pexels license
While we said an endorsement was sort of like a recommendation, there’s a clear distinction on LinkedIn. Let’s start with endorsements.
When you created your LinkedIn profile, you will have noticed that you were asked to select your skills to be displayed on your profile.
You had the choice of up to 50 skills, and they were placed under a section called “Skills and Endorsements”. From there, connections are able to verify your skills whenever they see that list.
Recommendations on the other hand are similar to a traditional reference. They are written statements by your connections vouching for your skills and capabilities. These are displayed on your profile or are available in the form of a virtual recommendation letter.
Endorsements are usually easier to come by so don’t feel too pressured to ask for them.
In this article, we’ll focus on how to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn when your profile is fresh and you haven’t had many visitors.
Important Things to Pay Attention to that will Guarantee an Easy “Yes” to the Request
LinkedIn is a more serious social platform. It’s not like other platforms where a lot of the information is not verified.
Professionals use this website to find suitable candidates and business partners. They will only pay attention to profiles that seem legitimate, with endorsements and recommendations from other people.
Before learning how to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn, you must pay attention to these things:
01If he/she actually knows you
Though you may have worked on the same floor as another person at a company, it does not mean you shared much of a working relationship.
As a result, a person may be hesitant about endorsing skills he/she does not know of. A good work buddy on the other hand will not hesitate to give you an endorsement.
Photo by Alexander Suhorucov under pexels license
02If you left on good terms
Before asking for an endorsement from a former boss or co-worker, it’s best to consider how things ended.
When the job ends on bad terms, it can be an uncomfortable interaction and best left alone. However, if things were all good when you left, then this person should not have a problem with saying yes.
03The skills listed
You cannot expect people to endorse you on skills they do not know of.
While you may have been good friends with someone from college, how can you expect them to endorse certain skills when you haven’t been in contact for over a decade? Ensure that whoever you ask has seen these skills in action.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on unsplash
04Leaving endorsements
A great way to get endorsements is by giving endorsements. Some people do not have to ask because after endorsing others, the favor is returned.
A person is more inclined to leave endorsements on your profile if you have already endorsed them. Asking them is your way of giving them a friendly reminder!
05Be polite, but don’t sound desperate
Remember that you’re asking for a favor, so be polite and professional. If the person says no, then there’s nothing you can do about that.
Endorsements are important but don’t sound too desperate. Maintain your dignity and thank the person for his/her time.
Photo by Cayley Nossiter on unsplash
06No pressure
We know you are excited about having endorsements on your LinkedIn profile but do not use a hurried tone in your message.
Instead, try to seem laid back and cool about it. Remember that this is a favor, so you are using the other person’s time.
By now, the creative juices should be flowing so we won’t keep the templates away from you any longer.
We’ve put together five for the most common scenarios- asking for an endorsement from an ex-colleague, current colleague, manager, friend, and client.
01Ex-colleague
When asking for endorsements on LinkedIn from an ex-colleague, it helps to mention the company in case the person does not remember you right away.
Make sure you ask for endorsements that are specific to the function you played at that company, otherwise he/she may be hesitant.
For example, if you worked as an accountant and are currently in the tech industry, your ex-colleague cannot endorse your programming skills. He/she can however endorse your experience in the accounting world.
This is one way to ask for endorsements on Linkedin from an ex-colleague:
Hi Laura, it’s been a while since we’ve connected. I hope things are great back at [insert former company] and that the whole team is doing well!
As you may have noticed, I’m new to LinkedIn and I’m trying to build up my profile. Would you mind endorsing the skills I displayed at [insert name of company]? It would be a great help!
Hoping to hear from you soon,
Henry Franklin
Photo by Emma Dau on unsplash
02Current colleague
It’s usually pretty easy to get a LinkedIn endorsement from a current colleague since he/she will probably want one in return.
Older employees are also usually open to helping university graduates and interns boost their profile.
In this situation, you can be a bit more informal in your approach. Here’s one way to ask for endorsements on Linkedin from your current colleague:
Hello Michael,
Happy Tuesday! Don’t eat up all the blueberry muffins in the breakroom before I have a chance to get a nibble at them!
I love our work relationship and how we are able to make this job fun. On a more serious note, I value your insight and integrity.
I’ve noticed lately my LinkedIn profile is a bit out-of-date and I would like to give it a little touch-up. Could I trouble you for a few endorsements? It would help to boost my profile.
Thanks a lot.
I know I can count on you,
Erin
Photo by Helena Lopes under Unsplash
03Your Manager
It can be quite nerve-wracking to ask your manager for an endorsement on LinkedIn, but you’d be surprised to find out how willing they are to help in boosting your career. You won’t know what will happen until you ask.
Just remember to remain respectful when making your request. This is how to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn from your manager:
Good Morning Mr. Daniels,
I hope this message finds you well. I just wanted to ask for a small favor when you have the time to do so.
My LinkedIn profile is fairly new, and I was encouraged to continuously update it as I advance in my career. I am currently seeking endorsements from people I know, so an endorsement from you would be a great help.
Would it be possible for you to fulfil this request? I know you are very busy so if you are unable to it’s not a problem.
Asking a friend for an endorsement on LinkedIn is the easiest of them all. Just be mindful of how close you and that friend are because you wouldn’t want to approach anyone in the wrong way.
Here’s an example of how you can ask any friend for an endorsement:
Hey Tim,
Thanks for connecting with me on LinkedIn. I went ahead and gave you a few endorsements to help build your profile.
If there are any others you need, don’t hesitate to let me know. It would be a great help if you could please add some endorsements on my profile as well!
Have a great day,
Max
Photo by buri on photo-ac
05A Client
When asking a client for an endorsement, your main consideration should be how satisfied he/she was at the end of the project.
A satisfied client will likely be more than happy to recommend, or in this case, endorse, a good partner or service provider.
Here’s a template:
Hey there!
I had a great time collaborating with you on our last project. The feedback was amazing!
I am looking for new clients, so it would be a great help if you could please endorse a few of the skills I have listed on my profile. I’ll do the same for you!
Thank you in advance,
Kelly Myers,
Photographer
Photo by Gustavo Fring under pexels license
Conclusion
See? It’s not so hard to ask for endorsements on LinkedIn now, is it?
You don’t need a long message, just one that bears all the important things in mind and gets to the point. Once you do that, your chances of getting an endorsement increase tenfold!
