How to Add Skills to LinkedIn (And Get Endorsements)
Follow this step-by-step guide to add skills to linkedin (and get endorsements). Each step builds on the previous one – complete them in order for best results.
Step 1: Navigate to your linkedin profile
Click your profile photo or your name in the navigation bar to go to your profile page. Scroll down to find the Skills section, which typically appears in the lower half of your profile.
Step 2: Click Add skill
In the Skills section, click the Add skill button (or the pencil edit icon if skills already exist). A search box will appear where you can type skill names.
Step 3: Search for and add relevant skills
Type a skill name and select from the dropdown suggestions. LinkedIn has a standardized skill taxonomy – using the exact terms LinkedIn recognizes (rather than free-text custom skills) makes you more discoverable in recruiter searches. Add up to 50 skills, prioritizing the most important ones first since only the top 3 are shown initially without expanding.
Step 4: Reorder your skills for maximum impact
In the Skills editor, drag and drop skills to reorder them. Put your most important, most searched-for skills at the top. The first 3 skills displayed are your ‘featured skills’ – make them the ones you most want to be known for and that match the roles or opportunities you are targeting.
Step 5: Request endorsements from connections
Go to each skill and click the pencil icon, then scroll down to Request endorsements. Select connections who can genuinely vouch for that skill and send a brief, personalized message asking for an endorsement. Alternatively, endorse connections for relevant skills first – many will reciprocate. Aim for at least 5 endorsements per top skill for credibility.
Step 6: Take LinkedIn Skill Assessments
LinkedIn offers free skills assessments (quizzes) for popular skills like Excel, SQL, Python, Google Analytics, and more. If you pass (score in the top 30%), LinkedIn adds a verified skill badge to your profile, which significantly boosts your credibility for that skill and can improve your ranking in recruiter searches.
