Oddball LinkedIn Endorsements to Give Your Connections

1. Fruity Loops

Fine, fine. We know Fruity Loops is a digital audio work system. The cereal also makes one odd endorsement.

Image courtesy of Flickr, terren in Virginia;


2. Embroidery

Dani embroiders so well it's as though she used Photoshop. Endorsement, earned.

Image courtesy of Flickr, TinyApartmentCraft;


3. Dinosaurs

Unfortunately for Brian, this field is going extinct. Oh, wait...

Image courtesy of Flickr, shvmoz; composite by Mashable


4. Medical Marijuana

Dispensary owners are entrepreneurs in a just-legalized field, after all.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Dank Depot; composite by Mashable


5. Snowshoeing

Nina snowshoes so well she puts Olympians to shame.

Image courtesy of Flickr, FurryScaly;


6. Tractor

Matt's expertise stems from honing his skills from a very young age.

Image courtesy of Flickr, dave_7;


7. Virus

What other endorsement would you give Mashable's viral content editor?

Image courtesy of Flickr, kat m research; composite by Mashable


8. Dangerous Drugs

Having skill in dangerous drugs is a real art.

Image courtesy of Flickr, e-MagineArt.com;


9. Exotic Animals

Not just skilled in basic, run-of-the-mill animals.

Image courtesy of Flickr, m.prinke; composite by Mashable


10. Footprint

Matt leaves his mark wherever he goes.

Image courtesy of Flickr, m.prinke; composite by Mashable


11. Guinea Pig

Taming a rodent takes some real chops. Hats off, Christine.

Image courtesy of Flickr, uberzombie; composite by Mashable


12. Gorilla

This gorilla is so intelligent, you could endorse it in Elisha. Doesn't work the other way around? Hmm...

Image courtesy of Flickr, Corey Leopold; composite by Mashable


13. Baskets

Neha is one skilled craftswomen.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Balthazira; composite by Mashable


14. Towels

And one big thank you to my colleague for sending me this kind endorsement.

Image courtesy of Flickr, davco9200;


LinkedIn, the most clean-cut, professional social network, is rarely known for its sense of humor. But little did you know, there's endless fun to be had when you endorse your connections with the most unusual skills.

The pre-written list of LinkedIn Endorsements include a host of job skills you're familiar with — think PowerPoint, leadership, social media and time management.

Wondering what else is on this list? Gorilla is listed as a job skill. Baskets is on there as well.

We understand that there are in fact experts in gorillas, baskets and many other things that we in the digital media world find humorous. And we certainly don't mean to offend the badass basket makers of the world.

That said, no matter your industry, we promise you'll laugh perusing some of the most oddball options on LinkedIn's list — we sure did.

Take a look through the gallery above for some inspiringly weird endorsements we found on LinkedIn's list of job skills. What's the most bizarre skill you found on LinkedIn? Let us know in the comments.































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The amount of time a recruiter spends looking at your resume is roughly six seconds — the length of a Vine video.

For people who are unemployed or underemployed, figuring out how to stand out in the job search is crucial. Despite discovering job openings that fit your experience, you send your resume out to the ether — and feel you're continuously overlooked in favor of someone with equal qualifications. Many job seekers have taken to desperate measures.

"Visual design is a great way to differentiate yourself from other job candidates," says Dodd Caldwell, cofounder of Loft Resumes. "Design in general is increasingly important in the business world."

Companies are always looking for candidates who will go the extra mile, and your resume is literally your first point of contact — your first chance to put yourself in the "yes" bucket. And what recruiters are looking for can mostly be narrowed down to science, as The Ladders found last year in an eye-tracking study on resumes.

Recruiters spent 80% of their time looking at six data points:

• Name
• Current title and company
• Previous title and company
• Current start and end dates
• Previous start and end dates
• Education

The key is to keep these important data points clear. Loft Resumes recommends a hierarchy that presents information in a way that is easy to find and digest. Its service relies on graphic design principles, and clients can select from various formats or color palettes, but no two resumes will be exactly the same.

While presenting information visually is a plus, especially in a time when Pinterest, Instagram and other visual experiences are winning our time and attention — it's still not a good idea to put a photo on your resume (unless your industry requires it). Research from The Ladders on online profiles found the human eye is naturally drawn to photos, in this case the profile photo, which prevented recruiters from looking at more relevant data such as experience.

While a resume from Loft Resumes is not cheap ($99), it is an investment. The price includes two rounds of revisions. Additional revisions later — perhaps after you've acquired additional skills or experience — are only $5.

Have you tried using a service for professionally designed resumes? Did it make a difference in your job search? Let us know in the comments.

Here are some examples of resume makeovers by Loft Resumes:







Images courtesy of Loft Resumes, lead image via iStock, RussellCreative


































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After widespread criticism of Yahoo's decision to ban employees from working at home, the company has addressed the controversy in a vague statement.

"This isn't a broad industry view on working from home," it said. "This is about what is right for Yahoo right now."

A spokesperson for Yahoo declined to elaborate on the matter, telling the New York Times, "We don't discuss internal matters."

But several anonymous employees said Yahoo's move to abolish telecommuting indicates that Marissa Mayer, who became company CEO last July, is "in crisis mode." They told the Times that Mayer believes the policy is necessary rejuvenate Yahoo, which has seen a years-long decline.

An internal company-wide memo from Jackie Reses, Yahoo's head of human resources, said:

To become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side-by-side. That is why it is critical that we are all present in our offices. Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings. Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.

Work ethic at Yahoo has deteriorated over time, and the new policy allows management to better monitor and inspire people at the office, the employees revealed. What's more, it's seen as beneficial if less productive staff chose to leave because of the policy, they added. Indeed, some workers have abused the work-at-home option to the point that they've founded startups while being on Yahoo's payroll, the employees said.

All those currently working from home will be required to work at Yahoo's offices starting this June.

Yahoo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Image courtesy of Flickr, eirikso
































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Employers who leave rejected job candidates with a bad taste in their mouths may see the bottom line suffer for it, new research shows.

A study by online job site CareerBuilder found that candidates who had a bad experience when applying for a position are less likely to seek employment at that company again. They are also more likely to discourage friends and family from applying or even purchasing products from that company. Overall, more than one in four workers have had a bad experience when applying for a job.

The vast majority of job candidates expect to hear responses from a company after an application, whether or not the employer is interested. But 75% of applicants said they never heard back from a business they applied to in the last year.

The research shows that by simply not responding, employers run the risk of losing out not only on a future employee, but a customer as well. Nearly one-third of those surveyed would be less inclined to purchase products or services from a company that didn't respond to their application.

Several other actions also led to bad experiences for applicants, including: employers who didn't let candidates know the company's decision following an interview, job requirements that didn't match what was in the job posting or company representatives who didn't present a positive work experience or seem knowledgeable.

The study found that the effects of a job candidate's negative experience can lead to a broader impact on the employer's ability to recruit and sell products. Specifically, more than 20% of job candidates who have had bad experiences would tell others not to work at that company, while 9% would discourage family and friends from patronizing the business.

Sanja Licina, senior director of talent intelligence at CareerBuilder, said that from the second job seekers view a job ad and apply, they are forming an opinion of who the company is as an employer and as a business.

"One bad applicant experience can have a ripple effect, with candidates not only vocalizing their dissatisfaction with how they were treated, but encouraging others not to apply or even buy products from that company," Licina said. "It's so critical that your employment brand effectively carries through at every touch point with candidates."

Just as bad experiences can carry long-term effects, so too can good applicant experiences, even if the candidate wasn't actually hired. Nearly 40 percent of candidates who were happy with the way an employer treated them after an application would recommend others to work at that bussiness, while 23 percent would be more likely to purchase products or services from that company.

The study was based on surveys of more than 3,900 U.S. workers.

































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Chelsea P. Gladden is the Director of Marketing & PR for FlexJobs, an award-winning service that helps job-seekers find professional opportunities that also offer work flexibility, such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time or alternative schedules. To learn more about Chelsea, visit FlexJobs.com or tweet her @FlexJobsChelsea.

If you’re like millions of Americans looking for a job right now, it might be time to take a step back and evaluate your job-search tactics. There are some common mistakes that can make you your own worst enemy when trying to get your foot in the door of a new employer. To give your employment search some performance enhancement, make sure to follow these tips.

1. Early Bird Gets the Worm

The sooner you get your job application in, the better luck you will have at getting your resume seen. If you are slow to reply to a job listing, you likely will lose your shot at be considered, so make sure to stay up-to-date on new listings as they arise.

2. Get a Jump-Start

Even better than being one of the first to apply for an open position is seeking one out before it is posted. Research the companies you are interested in working for and reach out to see if any openings are on the horizon. Interact with the company on LinkedIn, join the same local trade organizations the company attends and find out where their staff members might be speaking publicly. Consider volunteering at events the company may be involved with to start to get to know the staff and familiarize yourself with the company culture.

3. Tailor Your Information

Applying for jobs can often be a numbers game, so once you have narrowed down the best fits for you, make sure you customize your resume and cover letter for each position you apply for. Though you will want to be one of the first to apply, don’t be in such a rush that you automatically eliminate yourself by not indicating how your skills are a match for a specific position and how you meet that particular’s company's requirements. Not showing you are a fit for that specific job will surely end your chances of being considered.

4. Follow Up

Though it may feel like you are sending your information into a large black abyss at times, there are people on the other end. It’s perfectly acceptable — even preferred — to send a follow-up email if you don't get a response within a couple of days. This is when you confirm that the interviewer received your information, giving you a chance to reiterate your interest in the job. But, if a listing specifically states "no phone calls or emails," abide by that request or you may end your chances. Once you have landed the interview, absolutely follow up with your interviewers through a thank-you note, again expressing your interest in the company and the job.

If you feel like your job search is at a standstill, be sure to reevaluate how you are going about it. After all, we all could use a little performance enhancement from time to time.
























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