Endorsements vs Recommendations

[Nancy Allison]

For those techwhirlers who use Linked-In, what are your thoughts about the endorsements feature? Do you refer potential employers to them? 

I'm asking my most recent managers for endorsements, but I suspect that they're most useful for people who find me online. I don't think they can substitute for recommendations -- employers probably want to have a real-time conversation with someone who's worked with me.

Just wondering if you use the endorsements at all, and, if so, how.

--Nancy