What is This New Verification Feature?
LinkedIn has rolled out a new set of trust and verification features designed to combat the rise of fake profiles and false work histories. The core of this update is a system that allows your connections to vouch for your professional and educational
experience. This isn't the same as a skill endorsement or a recommendation; it is a direct confirmation that you worked at a particular company or attended a specific institution during the time you've listed. The move is part of LinkedIn's broader effort to increase trust on the platform, where authenticity has become what one company executive calls "the single most valuable currency on the internet."
How Does Peer Vouching Work?
The process is rooted in your existing network. LinkedIn will prompt verified members to confirm the work or school history of connections they know. To prevent misuse, there are safeguards in place: the person vouching for you must have a verified profile, be connected to you for at least a year, and have two-factor authentication enabled on their account. Once you receive a sufficient number of these confirmations, a verification badge will be added to that experience on your profile, although you have the option to hide it. In the near future, LinkedIn plans to allow members to proactively request these verifications from their colleagues and classmates.
Why Now? The Fight Against Digital Deception
The timing of this feature is no coincidence. The rise of generative AI has made it significantly cheaper and easier for bad actors to create convincing fake profiles, complete with realistic headshots, biographies, and work histories. This has led to an increase in job scams and professional impersonation, undermining the platform's integrity. By shifting the verification model to rely on social proof—the idea that your professional network is harder to fake than a resume—LinkedIn is betting on human connections to restore trust. The company has already verified over 115 million members and notes that verified profiles see significantly higher engagement and nearly 90% more views.
What Are the Benefits for Your Career?
For professionals in India and beyond, these credibility checks offer a clear advantage. A peer-verified work history can make your profile stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, giving them greater confidence in your background. For freelancers and consultants, it serves as a powerful signal of trust when pitching to new clients. Beyond your profile, LinkedIn is also expanding its 'Verified on LinkedIn' partnerships with platforms like Truecaller. This means your verified status on LinkedIn can add a layer of trust when you contact someone, as they can see you are a verified professional.
More Power for Companies, Too
The updates aren't just for individual users. Companies are also getting new tools to protect their brand reputation. Verified company page administrators can now remove people who falsely claim to work there from the company's associated search results. While this doesn't delete the claim from the person's profile, it does disassociate them from the official company page. Furthermore, LinkedIn is piloting a feature that will allow companies to require some form of workplace verification—like using a work email—before someone can list them as a current employer.
