What’s the “Underutilized” LinkedIn Feature to Boost Your Hireability?

Because clients hire me to find them great in-house counsel, I end up reviewing a lot of LinkedIn profiles. I was intrigued to read this post on the “underutilized” LinkedIn feature that “can boost your hire-ability.”

So what is this magic feature? LinkedIn recommendations.

Why are they so helpful? In the post, GrowthLoop recruiter Kathleen Nolan says these recs are “little testimonials to what it’s like to work with you and what it’s like to be on a team with you.”

Do I agree LinkedIn recs are actually “so helpful”? They can be a little helpful by giving color to your profile, e.g., talking about tough projects managed or soft skills in action. I agree with career advisor Gorick Ng that recruiters may “consider it a bonus if the recommender has a well-built-out LinkedIn profile themselves, worked for a well-known company or are in a management position… The higher up you go, the sexier the job title or the more credible the job title.” Yes, the more recognized the recommenders, the more impact their recs will have. I definitely take note if the rec is from someone I know or whose reputation I know.

Should you add LinkedIn recommendations? I would do it after covering the basics. More important to-dos are posting a good recent picture, adding metrics and concrete accomplishments, and deleting extraneous/old information. A strong LinkedIn profile enables a reader to get the gist of who you are and what you do in a quick skim, so a recommendation can bolster your theme.