Checklist
✅ Choose specific skills rather than broad categories
✅ Pin your top 3 skills
✅ Give endorsements first, if you want to receive endorsements
✅ Use warm, personal messages when requesting endorsements
✅ Align your skills list with the roles and clients you want to attract
✅ Clean up outdated or irrelevant skills
How to optimize the skills section
Choose specific, relevant skills
LinkedIn allows you to add up to 50 skills, but what matters most is relevance and specificity.
When two options exist, always choose the more specific one.
For example:
- “Pharmaceutical Sales” is better than “Sales”
- “Machine Learning Engineering” is better than “Engineering”
- “B2B Demand Generation” is better than “Marketing”
The more specific the skill, the more precise your search visibility and profile positioning will be.
Pin your top 3 skills
Your first three skills carry the most weight.
They appear as badges under your About section.
How to choose your top 3:
- Pick skills tied to the work you want more of
- Prioritize skills mentioned in job descriptions or client briefs
- Avoid generic, crowded skills like “Leadership” or “Teamwork” unless they are truly central to your role
Give endorsements to receive endorsements
Endorsements add credibility to your skills, and the easiest way to receive them is to give them first. People naturally reciprocate.
Start by endorsing colleagues, teammates, collaborators, and clients for skills you genuinely observed in action.
After endorsing someone, it's then OK to send a short message like:
“Hey [Name], just endorsed you for [Skill]. If you believe there are a few skills I’m strong in as well, especially [Skill] I’d really appreciate your endorsement. No pressure, feel free not even to answer if this isn't relevant”
This creates a warm and natural exchange.
Clean up outdated or irrelevant skills
You do not need 50 skills.
If a skill doesn’t strengthen your value proposition, remove it.
Items to consider removing:
- Skills from past careers you no longer pursue
- Generic skills that add no clarity
- Tools you haven’t used in years
- Skills unrelated to the type of work you want
A focused list makes your profile sharper and more professional.