What is This New Vouching Feature?
LinkedIn is rolling out a system that allows users to confirm that they worked or studied with one of their connections. This isn't like the existing 'Endorsements' for skills; instead of recommending someone's abilities, this feature simply verifies
an affiliation. It's a direct confirmation that a person was indeed at a specific company or university during the time they claim. The goal, according to LinkedIn, is to make authenticity the most valuable currency on the internet in an age where faking credibility has become easier than ever, partly due to generative AI creating convincing but false personas.
How the Vouching Process Works
The system is designed with several safeguards to prevent abuse. To vouch for someone, a user must have a verified profile, use two-factor authentication on their account, and have been connected to the person they are vouching for for at least one year. LinkedIn will prompt verified members to confirm the work or school history of their connections. Once a member receives a sufficient number of these confirmations, a verification badge can be added to that section of their profile, though users will have the option to opt out of displaying it. In the future, members will also be able to proactively ask connections to verify their experience.
A Tool for Companies, Too
This update isn't just for individual users. LinkedIn is also empowering company page administrators with more control. Verified company pages can now remove people who falsely claim to be employees from their page and associated search results. This helps protect a company's brand from impersonation and fraudulent activity. While this action removes the false association from the company's end, it does not alter the individual's profile itself, though the clickable link to the company page will be gone. Furthermore, LinkedIn is testing a setting that would require members to verify their employment, for instance with a work email, before they can associate their profile with a company page.
Why This Matters for Your Career
For job seekers and professionals, these new layers of verification can significantly enhance credibility. A profile with peer-backed confirmation of work history is likely to be viewed with more trust by recruiters and hiring managers. LinkedIn notes that verified members already see significant boosts in engagement, receiving 50% more post engagement and nearly 90% more profile views. In a competitive job market, having a verified work history could become a key differentiator, helping your profile stand out and assuring potential employers that your resume is accurate. This move is part of a broader strategy to combat a rise in job scams and fake recruiters, which have become a growing problem.
Potential Limitations and the Bigger Picture
While a promising step, the new system isn't a complete guarantee against deception. Verification can raise the cost and difficulty of creating fake profiles, but it can't eliminate them entirely. Scammers can still create convincing but entirely fabricated company pages or use stolen accounts to build a web of seemingly credible profiles. The effectiveness of the feature will also depend on widespread adoption; if only a small fraction of users engage with vouching, its impact will be limited. It is a useful signal of authenticity, but professionals should continue to exercise healthy skepticism when approached with unsolicited job offers or unusual requests.
