LinkedIn moves to offer skill validations in the AI era

"LinkedIn is taking steps to prove that job candidates really have they skills they claim. The Verified AI Skills program unveiled in January involves LinkedIn partnering with AI tool providers to automatically validate and display a user's proficiency directly in their certification section. The initial partners include Lovable, Replit, Relay.app, and Descript, which will track AI proficiency of candidates using their tools to create AI apps."

"the company is betting certification of AI skills directly from companies is more trustworthy than when users manually self-report their skills. Verifications are definitely a big part of our strategy. We're starting with AI skills because they're very in demand in the labor market."

"It's hard for job seekers to stand out in the noisy market - and it's hard for hiring managers to find highly qualified candidates. This is an opportunity for people to say, 'I'm using these tools every day, I'm getting better at them.' Job seekers who can use and build with AI tools will always have a leg up on their less-skilled colleagues."

LinkedIn introduced a Verified AI Skills program in January to help job seekers prove their AI competency through third-party validation rather than self-reporting. The program partners with AI tool providers including Lovable, Replit, Relay.app, and Descript, with GitHub, Gamma, and Zapier joining soon. These partners automatically track and verify users' proficiency based on their actual tool usage and app-building activities. LinkedIn chose to prioritize AI skills certification because job postings for AI Engineers and similar roles are rapidly increasing, with demand significantly outpacing supply. The verification approach provides more credibility than manual skill claims, helping job seekers differentiate themselves in a competitive market while enabling recruiters to identify genuinely qualified candidates.

Read at Computerworld