LinkedIn Skill Assessments help connect recruiters with job hunters by having job hunters prove their knowledge and skills.
The tests are run through the LinkedIn website. In this article, we'll show you how to use LinkedIn Skill Assessments to stand out from the crowd.
What Are LinkedIn Skill Assessments?
LinkedIn Skill Assessments are a series of multiple-choice exams that allow you to prove the skills that are stated in your profile.
If you "grade in the 70th percentile or above"---according to LinkedIn---you officially pass and get a LinkedIn skill badge. The social media site will display your badge on your profile.
If you fail the quiz, you can take the test again in three months. Your profile will remain the same. No one will know that you took the test and failed.
To construct these tests, LinkedIn contacted multiple experts and peer-reviewed their answers. Each test is time-based, so people cannot cheat by looking for clues.
While LinkedIn Skill Assessments are available internationally, it's important to note that not all tests will be available to all users. In addition, these tests are only available in English. However, LinkedIn plans to expand the Skill Assessments program over time.
NB: LinkedIn are consistently innovating in order to keep the platform fresh. So much so that in February 2019, LinkedIn launched its own video streaming service called LinkedIn Live.
What Skill Assessments Are Available?
There are lots of tests currently available through LinkedIn Skill Assessments. Topics range from coding to office-based applications like Adobe Acrobat.
According to the LinkedIn Help Pages, the following tests are available. However, as previously noted, availability depends on your location:
- Angular
- AutoCAD
- AWS
- Bash
- C
- C#
- C++
- CSS
- GIT
- Hadoop
- HTML
- Java
- JavaScript
- jQuery
- JSON
- Maven
- MongoDB
- NodeJs
- Objective-C
- PHP
- Python
- R
- React.js
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Scala
- Swift
- WordPress
- XML
When it comes to other skills, you can be tested on:
- Adobe Acrobat
- Maya
- MS Excel, MS Word, and MS Outlook
- MS PowerPoint, MS Project, MS SharePoint, and MS Vision
- QuickBooks
- Revit
Once you finish a test, you'll be give a score. If you Pass, you'll need to renew your LinkedIn skill badge on an annual basis. Please note that if you delete your badge by accident, you cannot take the test again for another three months.
If you Fail, LinkedIn will advertise LinkedIn Learning products to you, to help you prepare for the next test.
What We Learned From Taking a Skill Assessment
We took a couple LinkedIn Skill Assessments to see what they would be like. And here's what we learned:
- LinkedIn tells you right away what to expect for time allowance, and what you need to do in order to successfully complete a test.
- LinkedIn also explains how these multiple-choice quizzes will be broken down into sections.
- Once you press Start, you'll be taken to a screen where you'll be asked your first question. You'll have a bunch of multiple choice options below that.
- You'll also see a timer in the bottom left-hand corner, along with a blue bar that shows you your overall quiz progress.
- After you answer each question, you'll press the Next button in the right-hand corner. This will move the test to the next question, and then the next, and the next. Once you reach the end, you'll be told if you passed the assessment or not.
- If you didn't pass the LinkedIn skill quiz, you'll be given the opportunity to delete the test results from your profile history.
Our Verdict on LinkedIn Skill Assessments
After taking several of these tests, we can testify that they're very straightforward. If you prefer multiple-choice quizzes or exams, you'll do well. However, if you're a visual learner, you may find them frustrating, as they don't really accommodate for different learning styles.
The full range of LinkedIn Skill Assessment tests also veers heavily towards coding. This leaves little leeway for people who desire LinkedIn skill badges in other areas of expertise.
It should also be noted that these tests are not a great way to determine if a person is truly "skilled" at a task. Some people do great at a task in execution, but perform poorly in written tests, or vice versa.
Hopefully these areas of conflict will be improved with future updates.
A LinkedIn Skill Assessment Can Give You Credibility
LinkedIn is one of the best websites for job searching. While its size makes it crucial to create and maintain a LinkedIn profile, it can also make it harder for you to stand out, as there are just too many applicants.
Which is where LinkedIn Skill Assessments come into play. Taking one of these tests (and passing) can help confirm you're the real deal, and help you stand out from the crowd as a result. And recruiters will use any tool at their disposal to zero in on the best candidates.
Do You Need to Complete a LinkedIn Skill Assessment?
You may be sent a request by a company to complete one of these Skill Assessments, especially if you apply to a job posting through the LinkedIn website. It's good practice to have one done ahead of time on the day of your choosing.
However, we should stress---as LinkedIn does---that these tests are not mandatory. They're just another way to add a secondary level of verification. So, don't feel obliged to take one, but know that doing so could help you stand out from the crowd.
Use LinkedIn Skill Assessments in Your Job Search
It's important to note that LinkedIn's tests will be refined as the company receives more feedback. Taking a test---or getting a LinkedIn skill badge---is also not a guarantee that you will land your dream job.
However, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking a LinkedIn Skill Assessment. Especially if you know you'll pass first time.
Are you looking for other ways to stand out in the job market? LinkedIn Premium can help give you a headstart, and here are the reasons why LinkedIn Premium is worth paying for.