The fine line between personal and professional social media makes it hard for some to understand the function of either platform.
While Facebook is mostly for the three “F” crowd – friends, family & fun – LinkedIn is a network of professionals that communicate and socialize at a whole different level.
Earlier this year, I explained why it’s not a good idea to add connections on LinkedIn without analyzing their function in your circle of professionals.
In a hilarious twist that further defines the pitfalls of over-connecting, Tim Ash – founder and chairman of the social Conversion Conference – explains how a request for an employment testimonial by a mere connection, can lead to some unpleasant results:
“This may happen to you also if you ask for me for a LinkedIn work recommendation although you have never worked with me and we have not ever met…”
Tim removed the LinkedIn recommendation after a few minutes, but not before ‘Geoffrey’ emailed him with a complaint; the latter act convinced Tim to post about the incident publicly. The debate, at this point, is whether he over-reacted, or if his reaction was justified. In my personal opinion, he was rather mild in his response.
The bottom line: Seeking professional endorsement from people you have not worked for, is the same as resume stuffing and can often get you in trouble – temporarily or otherwise.
This LinkedIn recomendation is uselless, the first to recomend me for a skill written “SEO” for a reason I ignore and from there almost anyone placing a recomendation stupidely do the same and flagged me as a SEO expert.
Some skills with domains, web development, … but SEO!!?
Funny when I do not care about SEO, there is +7 now I not optimize any web page for SEO nor read any SEO blog nor follow what happen in the SEO world… and if you look at my profile you may think I am the SEO pro now 😉
Francois 😀 The example is not about ‘endorsements’ that occur between contacts, but about actual recommendations of association or employment. E.g. if I worked on a design for you, I would be justified in asking an endorsement of employment. It’s a way to keep professional connections – well – professional.
Damn! I just noticed you also recommend me as a SEO expert … LOL
These endorsements are based on characteristics of your profile; you can edit it in such a way that only those which apply to you are included. 🙂
Francois, AFAIK it’s because you’ve included SEO in your profile skills section. I wonder how it can help our profiles or LinkedIn in general when most of us lately just click “endorse all” hoping to hide a pop-up screen?