LinkedIn endorsements have been around a while now. The little box asking whether someone has certain skills has become familiar and there’s been much debate about whether they add value. There are also aspects of interpretation which need to be considered. First up though, my thoughts having seen them settle in a little:
- I think they can be a useful indicator, but only a very small part of the total picture.
- They’re certainly smart from LinkedIn’s perspective, as they allow LinkedIn to gather searchable data which the user themselves did not necessarily contribute
- They’re very easily gamed, which is why I’d suggest use as an indicator and no more.
- They’re open to some fun (and therefore probably abuse). A friend of mine has been on the receiving end of a harmless practical joke and found himself with several endorsements for his ability to give endorsements!
Today though, I poked around endorsements from another angle. Take a look at this:
Racketeering professionals include a Deputy Attorney General! Whilst initially entertaining, it’s simple to realise that yes, she’s genuinely an expert on the topic having probably put a large number of racketeers behind bars. The question then, is this:
What steps are taken when such an endorsement is made on an inappropriate profile?
I have a pile of endorsements, as I think many people do now – and no, I don’t review each of them carefully. I therefore get the impression it would be remarkably simple to target someone person and pretty quickly have racketeering (or some other such skill) rise to a prominent position on his/her profile. Would this be entertaining? Or career damaging? At what point defamation?
Anyone seen this happen yet?
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