Resources
Make an Impressive LinkedIn
Most students don’t know how to utilize LinkedIn to their advantage. This is a sure way to get you noticed.
2 hours to complete
Request and Provide Recommendations
Social proof is one of the most effective ways to gain people’s trust online.
85-88%
of hiring managers say they take LinkedIn recommendations into consideration during the hiring process
You can tell people about your incredible accomplishments all you want, but for people to truly believe and understand, you need others to affirm positive things about you!
To do this, ensure you’re building great relationships at school and work. These people can be your:
- Teacher/professor
- College/career/school counselor
- Supervisor/manager in a work setting
- Mentor who is an industry expert or professional
- Fellow classmate on a project
- Fellow team member at work, club/org, or project
👉 Once you have identified people who would be confident in recommending you, it’s time to request them to provide a LinkedIn recommendation!
To request a recommendation, follow these steps
1. Identify the best times to ask for a recommendation, which usually are:
- When you’ve completed a meaningful project with/under the supervision of someone else in or outside of the classroom setting.
- When you’ve reached a new education or career milestone.
- When you’ve received praise for an achievement.
2. Ask the person in a conversation
- It’s best to be in a face-to-face or phone call with the person and ask if they’d be willing to write a LinkedIn recommendation for you, based on a reason you’ve identified.
- However, if time doesn’t permit you both to have a conversation, then you can proceed to the next step for a written request.
3. Craft a written request
- Ideally, the person has already agreed to write you a recommendation. Now it’s time for you to send them an email or text to remind/nudge them to write you one.
Email example:
[person’s email address]
Request for a LinkedIn Recommendation
Hi [person’s name],
Thank you so much for agreeing to write me a LinkedIn recommendation! I have grown and learned great things from you during the course of our [event], such as [learning lessons, accomplishments].
It would be great if you could speak directly to our collaboration and a time when you felt I added value to our [event]. This would help others to get a better sense of who I am as a [general role] from someone who knows me like you!
I will send you a recommendation request on LinkedIn. Let me know if you have any trouble doing so!
Many thanks,
[your name]
4. Send a recommendation request
- Select the person you are requesting from, the relationship you have with them, and your position at the time (if the position is not found, make sure you add it to your experience or education section).
- Include the same message from step 3 or modify it as you wish.
🏆 Start with 1 and for at least 3 recommendations over the next 5 years!
🏆 Pro-tip: You should also provide recommendations to others if you have a good relationship with them and would honestly say positive things about them.
Don’t be afraid to offer it to a fellow classmate or team member, and ask for one in return. Most of the time, they’re also building a strong LinkedIn profile like you and would most likely say yes!
Remember to write it professionally and thoughtfully as these are public!