LinkedIn – Recommendations

Recommendations on LinkedIn are important for a couple of reasons. Of course the big reason for recommendations relevant to a job search is to show employers you are capable of succeeding for them through praise. When I conduct candidate searches, I always check out the individual’s LinkedIn page (as well as other social media sites). Recommendations give me an idea of the type of employee he/she is, and serve almost as informal references (I say informal because reference checks are much more detailed). The other reason, and probably not as apparent, is that your profile is more visible to recruiters and hiring managers with recommendations. The completeness (or incompleteness) of a LinkedIn profile actually does impact the likelihood of being found in searches for potential candidates.

As a quick guide, I would advocate the following for the optimal recommendations.

- Offer to give a recommendation first. The hope of course is for reciprocation. There are varying viewpoints on asking to swap recommendations, as some people feel uncomfortable with it. However if the relationship is right, this should not be an issue at all.
- DON’T solicit recommendations from people you don’t know. It is not uncommon to have direct contacts that you either don’t know well (for example, met briefly at a social function), or that you don’t know at all. I get the “spammed” requests that people to send to all of their contacts, and they are annoying. In fact a few times I have actually removed them as a contact.
- Mix up the level of people you ask – try to spread them across supervisors, peers and direct reports so that the viewer has a wider view of you. Aim for 10-12 if possible.
- Start asking for recommendations BEFORE you need them. If you start building your recommendations prior to a layoff or departure, you will be much more prepared in the impending job search.
- If possible, do it in a way where recommendations can be reviewed first, such as through email. This will provide an opportunity to make tweaks or alterations prior to publishing.
- If a recommendation is too vague or not stellar, don’t publish it. LinkedIn allows you the option to hide it.
- Be specific:, and focus on achievements. The more specific the examples of success and accomplishments, the higher the impact.
- Make it concise. These don’t need to drag on for paragraphs or pages. A 3 or 4 sentence write-up that covers the essentials and is to the point is all that is needed.