Asking for a LinkedIn Recommendation
Asking for a LinkedIn Recommendation
Q: I’m trying to build up my LinkedIn profile with some recommendations, but I’m nervous about asking my managers and colleagues to write them. How do I approach it? What if they don’t think I’m a good employee? Do recommendations even matter?A:
Asking for recommendations is a skill and practicing with a LinkedIn recommendation now will serve you well when you need them for specific jobs. Being a good employee means being self-aware and part of that self-awareness is knowing who will most likely be willing to write you positive recommendations. Try to gauge whether or not someone would be comfortable recommending you—do they feel positively about your contributions? About their work experiences with you? In terms of actually asking someone for a recommendation, how you phrase it is key. Whether it is a verbal recommendation for a job ,or a written one for LinkedIn, you want to ask if the person is willing to write a positive reference for you. Don’t just ask for a general reference, either; indicate what specific skills or qualities you’d like to highlight. You should also ask more people for references than you need—in case a reference isn’t as positive as you’d like, you don’t need to use it.
There may be people you ask who tell you they need to think about it or express hesitation to recommend you. If you think you need this person specifically because of their working relationship with you—such as your direct manager—you can say something like, “There are some specific areas of my work that I’m hoping you can speak positively about,” then engage in a conversation about those specifics and list three or four points for them to consider. Offer to draft a couple of statements for the individual and see if they would be comfortable endorsing those statements. Try to make them as positive as possible, without being effusive, and offer them a selection of adjectives—your statements might range from “totally outstanding” to “solid performer.” Make sure to support the statements with specific examples from your work experience. This will also give your reference something to consider. Mark it “draft” so they know you know it might be edited. If you still sense hesitation, remember this: It’s better to get a glowing recommendation from someone than a lukewarm one from someone you think is irreplaceable.
If you are asked to provide a recommendation and you aren’t comfortable with the candidate, be honest. If you can’t write a positive recommendation say, “I think you have other people you’ve worked with who can speak more knowledgeably and positively about the work that you’ve contributed.” It may be awkward, and you may worry about the negative effects it could have on your working relationship, but your reputation is built or tarnished by people you consider equal level contributors.
Aside from a few industries, formal written references and “to whom it may concern” are on the way out. LinkedIn recommendations are the new face of references. And while all recommendations are taken with a grain of salt, building up your online presence and personal brand through LinkedIn recommendations is a smart move in today’s job market.
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