How to get LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements

Getting LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements can really help improve your job chances because they impress employers. So how can you get more?

First, make a list of LinkedIn connections who will be glad to recommend or endorse you. Don't ask people who don't know or like you enough to vouch for you (it's obnoxious) or who obviously don't "get" LinkedIn (your request will scare them).

Particularly ask people from your past jobs. Recommendations and endorsements don't have to be from bosses. They can be from clients, distributors, friends, etc. Aim to have at least two written recommendations from each company and at least 100 total skills endorsements.

For someone to recommend or endorse you on LinkedIn, they must be connected to you (a 1st degree connection). To enlist their help, send them a message like this:

[NAME], I'm seeking a [JOB TITLE] position in [CITY] and could really use your help. Can you please recommend and endorse me on LinkedIn? Here's how:

• Log onto LinkedIn and visit my profile by typing my name into the search box
• Click the triangle next to the "Send a message" button
• Select "Recommend"
• Complete the form and then click "Send" 
• Endorse my skills on my profile by scrolling to the Skills section and clicking the gray + sign next to skills that you believe I possess. You can endorse as many or as few as you want. Once you click the gray + sign, it will turn blue, which means that you have endorsed me.
• If you know of job opportunities that might be right for me, please let me know and let me know if I can help you, recommend you, or endorse you.  

I really appreciate your help! And please don't feel obligated, simply ignore my request if you prefer. I've attached my resume as a reminder to you of my background and abilities. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you and catch up! I can be reached at [phone number] or [email address]. Thank you so much! [YOUR NAME]

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Recommendation Details

• You will receive an email notification when you've been recommended, which you can review and ask for changes before accepting (but don't be annoying about it. After all, they're trying to help.)
• To improve the chances that they will write a relevant recommendation, attach your resume, or include bullet points about the job you want and why you qualified for the position. 
• People are more likely to recommend you if you write a recommendation for them first ... so recommend people using thoughtful details. 

Endorsement Details

• You must have skills listed in your Skills section of your profile (you can list up to 50) for people to be able to endorse you for them.
• You must have your skills endorsement settings set to "Yes" where it asks "I want to be endorsed".
• You will usually receive an email notification when you've been endorsed. Simply approve the endorsement to have it added to your profile.
• People are more likely to endorse you if you endorse them, so endorse them for skills that you know they possess. Doing so not only helps them show up higher in LinkedIn search results for what they do, it helps you show up higher, too!

Get and give LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements! It will not only help you in your job search, it will help you build lasting relationships with your LinkedIn network. 

If I've helped you, please recommend or endorse me on LinkedIn or send a message via the Contact page. I appreciate it! Thanks, Kathy

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An easy way to get people to see your LinkedIn recommendations

Did you know? 

Unless employers or customers are your 1^st or 2^nd degree connection or have paid for a premium account, they can’t see your full profile … or all of the splendid written LinkedIn recommendations that you’ve racked up. 

To fix that limitation, send them your LinkedIn recommendations as a document. It’s easy to do and so effective.

Get more and better LinkedIn recommendations

LinkedIn recommendations will
impress your profile visitors.

Request recommendations from LinkedIn connections ... but take extra steps to secure the best recommendations possible. Here's how: 

To request a recommendation:

Visit the person's profile, click "More" and then select "Request a Recommendation. Note that the person must be your 1st degree connection. 

To ensure you get more and better recommendations:

1. Determine who you should ask to recommend you. Do not send the recommendation request to every contact, but rather just send it to people who know you and your abilities well enough to vouch for you. In addition to requesting recommendations from past company leaders and bosses, also request recommendations from previous peers and subordinates ... it's really a numbers game, so seek recommendations from all levels.   
2. Recommend others first and then ask them to return the favor. To recommend someone, visit the person's profile (he or she must be one of your 1st degree connections) and then click the triangle next to 'Send a message'. Follow the prompts to recommend the person as a Colleague, Service Provider, Business Partner, or Student.  
3. Send an email to the same people, letting them know you have asked them for a LinkedIn recommendation through the LinkedIn system. If you notice (from viewing their LinkedIn profile) that they are LinkedIn novices, provide them with basic instructions so that they will know how to give you a recommendation.
4. Attach your resume or include a list of relevant skills and work experiences that make you uniquely qualified for the jobs that you want. Also tell them specifically what type of positions that you seek. 
5. Encourage them to call you if they have questions … or job leads, for that matter!
6. Follow up with the people if they have not provided you with a recommendation within a week or two.
7. Accept the fact that not all people will be comfortable with or technically savvy enough to provide you with a recommendation. Don't pester them if they are unable or unwilling.

Note that you can reject or hide a recommendation and you can ask a person to revise his/her recommendation (but don't be a pain in the butt with multiple change requests). 

Secure valuable LinkedIn recommendations! Doing so can help land a job that you will love.

How do you maximize your LinkedIn recommendations? Share your suggestions or questions via the Contact page. Thanks! -- Kathy
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