#YourCareer : Build Your Brand Through LinkedIn Recommendations. Recommendations are Like an Online Review of Who you Are.

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I don’t know about you, but before I buy anything online, I read the reviews. I like to read a first-hand perspective from other buyers. Very often a review will change my mind. Think about that when it comes to LinkedIn recommendations.

Recommendations are like an online review of who you are, your work, etc. Receiving recommendations from colleagues, past supervisors, professors, etc. can act as a professional reference for your expertise, skills, and overall work ethic. It’s social proof for you.

But how do you go about receiving recommendations from your network? 

Here’s the Plan:

  1. Make a list of people you’ve had contact with at previous companies or projects.
  2. After you write it, send them an email telling them what a great job they did.
  3. The best time to do this is right after the event is done.
  4. Wait a week or so, then contact them and ask if they would be willing to write one for you.
  5. Be sure to send them a thank you if they follow through.

So now you have the plan, but how do you go about executing on it? 

What to Include in Your Recommendation

When you’re writing a LinkedIn recommendation for a connection, think about what you would want someone to say about you. Be specific when it comes to your experience with working with them or how you know what they bring to the table. Grab the reader’s attention with the first sentence and be very clear as to why you think they will succeed in any given endeavor. And never hesitate to ask your connection what information they would like you to include in the recommendation as well, so it’s tailored appropriately. It only needs to be 2-3 sentences, not a novel.

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Requesting Recommendations

Now that you’ve written recommendations for your colleagues, you can feel more comfortable asking for one in return. You can do this through email or through, sending a personalized message or on the main page, under “More” you can ask for a recommendation. Don’t expect everyone to respond with one, but be sure to thank those that send them. 

Choose Your Recommendations Carefully

You may receive recommendations from your network you never requested. Think quality over quantity at this point. LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to review your recommendations before they get posted on your profile. Don’t just accept every recommendation without reading them first. You want to make sure it matches your personal brand before accepting. On the other hand, you could harm your own reputation if you give out a recommendation every time you’re asked. Unless you worked closely with the person or know them very well, proceed with caution before writing one. Hiring managers and recruiters can tell a genuine recommendation from a fabricated one, so it’s not worth it just to make someone happy.

If managed properly, LinkedIn recommendations can increase your brand messaging and shore up your social proof. But live by the motto of “reciprocity”, giving back and sharing the love to your network in return.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.