Besides the tried-and-true recommendation or reference letter that runs about a page and is mailed (or, sometimes, emailed), there is now a new breed of recommendation “letter”: brief personal and professional endorsements on business and social networking sites such as LinkedIn.
What would a professional profile be without recommendations? One of the best ways an employer can understand what you are all about is from what others say about you. A great feature of LinkedIn lies in your ability to easily show what people think of you by way of a personal recommendation.
Writing an effective recommendation is an art. Knowing what to write about and more importantly what format to put it in, is important.
Here are some things to remember about what to write and how to structure a good letter of recommendation. The typical letter should be comprised of no more than three paragraphs:
- In the first paragraph specify in what capacity you are writing this recommendation. Who you are shows why the recommendation should be considered
- In the second paragraph give a detailed description of the person and evaluate his/her achievements and performances. Also describe individual strengths.
- In the third and last paragraph, sum up what you have said in the second paragraph and make a broad characterization of the person. Like whether the person is responsible, polite, or enthusiastic.
Never relay anything negative in your referral. Keep the message up and informative. Most importantly, keep it simple. Make it as quick a read as possible.
LinkedIn recommendations are by nature a little informal, but still, keep it professional. Don’t write like you’re emailing a buddy; picture a potential employer reading what you’ve written. Be specific. Don’t just say the person is “smart,” say what he or she is good at.
Also, keep in mind that while it’s common for people on the same playing field to “trade” endorsements (you ask your coworker to vouch for you and he or she returns the favor), just like any other reference letter, those on LinkedIn carry more weight if they come from a superior.
Finally, if you are actively seeking recommendations from people you could also recommend, be proactive and endorse them first. (On LinkedIn, you can only recommend an existing connection in your network) Don’t give one just to get one. You need to genuinely respect the person you endorse. So think it out through thoroughly before doing anything.
