Food & Beverage Career Success: 6 Steps to Landing an Amazing LinkedIn Recommendation

June 19, 2017 in Career and Job Search Tips

 

“Grade A.”

“Non-GMO.”

“USDA Certified Organic.”

When you’re evaluating food brands, phrases like these provide assurance that you’ll get what you expect.

Great, but what do LinkedIn recommendations have to do with food labeling?

Just as a “USDA Certified Organic” stamp validates a food brand, a strong LinkedIn recommendation validates your personal brand. When a third party provides evidence that you have the skills, expertise and qualities listed on your resume, it sends a clear signal to recruiters that they’ll get what they expect if they hire you.

If you’re aiming for a new job (or even a raise or promotion), an amazing LinkedIn recommendation offers valuable social proof that can tip the scales in your favor. Here’s the best way to ask for one (and help make sure it’s accurate and powerful):

  1. Brainstorm a list of potential contacts. Your goal is to secure powerful recommendations that support your personal brand, expertise and soft skills. Only ask well-respected professionals who know you and your work – and are able to write intelligently about your capabilities.
  2. Aim for variety. If possible, identify people from a wide range of companies with varying backgrounds and different levels of responsibility (i.e., in a management role or higher). This breadth will help ensure your recommendations sound unique.
  3. Use LinkedIn’s “Request a recommendation” feature. Once you sign into your account, navigate to the referring member’s profile page. Click the “…” (more) icon in the top section of the profile (to the right of their picture). Then, select “Request a recommendation.” Fill out the “Relationship” and “Position at the time” fields of the recommendations pop-up window, and click “Next.” You can change the text in the message field (see the next tip), and then click “Send.”
  4. Approach potential “recommenders” with a specific, professional request. Craft a friendly message that directly asks for a recommendation and explains how their endorsement will help you. If you want them to address a specific project, skill or attribute, mention it. Close by expressing your thanks and offering to reciprocate.
  5. Stagger your requests. Recommendations are date-stamped, so limit your requests to one or two per week. This way, it looks to a recruiter as though your recommendations have come in organically (not hastily, in preparation for a job search).
  6. Send a personal thank you. When you receive a recommendation, send an email or handwritten note of thanks.

Related Posts:

Why are Some Food & Beverage Professionals 40x More Likely to Be Contacted on LinkedIn?

Get Recruiters to Look at Your LinkedIn Profile

What You Need to Know to Get on a Recruiter’s LinkedIn Radar

Pros and Cons of Including a LinkedIn Photo

Looking for your next professional or executive food & beverage position?

  • Follow Kinsa’s Company Page on LinkedIn (where we post our open positions).
  • Join our Group page and network with Kinsa recruiters.
  • Connect with our recruiters on LinkedIn by visiting the “Contact Us” page on Kinsa.com.
  • If you see a job posting that interests you on our job board, click our button “Apply with LinkedIn.” It’s an easy way to provide the comprehensive information our recruiters need to get to know you as a professional.