Asking your manager for a recommendation on LinkedIn can be intimidating, but it’s an important part of building your professional brand and expanding your network. A recommendation from a supervisor carries a lot of weight and shows you are valued by your employer. Here are some tips on how to successfully request a LinkedIn recommendation from your manager.
Why Ask for a Recommendation?
LinkedIn recommendations serve several purposes:
- Validate your skills and accomplishments
- Strengthen your professional brand and credibility
- Expand your professional network
- Show you contribute value to your team and company
- Help you stand out in job searches and career moves
Positive recommendations from managers act as social proof and third-party endorsement. According to LinkedIn, members with at least one recommendation are 13x more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.
When Should You Ask for a Recommendation?
The best time to request a LinkedIn recommendation from your manager is when you’ve accomplished something noteworthy or are preparing for a career transition. Some good times include:
- After completing a major project or milestone
- Before your performance review
- When promoted or given more responsibility
- When celebrating a work anniversary
- When looking for a new job
You want the recommendation to be relevant to your current role and contributions. Timing it right ensures your manager can provide up-to-date and meaningful examples.
How to Ask Your Manager for a Recommendation
Here are some best practices for requesting a LinkedIn recommendation from your manager:
1. Schedule a Meeting
Don’t catch your manager off guard with an impromptu recommendation request. Schedule a 15-30 minute meeting specifically to discuss the recommendation. This shows you value your manager’s time and allows them to prepare rather than feeling put on the spot.
You could say something like: “Hi [manager’s name], I was hoping to schedule 15 minutes with you this week to discuss a potential LinkedIn recommendation. Please let me know if you have any time on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
2. Pick the Right Time
Think about your manager’s workload and schedule the meeting when they aren’t under a tight deadline or dealing with other priorities. First thing in the morning or end of the week are usually good options.
3. Explain Why You Want a Recommendation
Briefly explain why you are requesting a recommendation now. For example, you are applying for jobs in a new field or gearing up for a promotion. Giving context sets the stage and helps your manager provide a more personalized recommendation.
4. List Your Key Achievements and Contributions
Come prepared to the meeting with 3-5 bullet points highlighting your biggest accomplishments, projects, skills, and contributions since working with this manager. Attach these bullets in an email or bring them printed out.
Quantify your achievements with numbers whenever possible. Remind your manager of key successes under their management.
5. Provide Recommendation Content Suggestions
To make the process easy for your manager, provide 2-3 key points or topics you would appreciate them including in the recommendation. This gives your manager content inspiration to draw from.
For example:
– My successful [x project] that delivered [x results]
– How I expanded my skills in [x area]
– Examples of my strong teamwork, communication, or leadership
6. Express Your Sincere Appreciation
Thank your manager for supporting your career growth and taking the time to provide a recommendation. Be clear that you greatly value their endorsement and input.
LinkedIn Recommendation Request Email Template
Here is an email template you can adapt to request a recommendation from your manager:
Subject: Request for LinkedIn Recommendation
Dear [Manager’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to schedule 15-20 minutes to discuss a potential recommendation on LinkedIn.
As background, I am currently [looking for new job opportunities in x field/preparing for promotion/celebrating x work anniversary/etc]. A recommendation from you would greatly help validate the skills and contributions I’ve made on your team this past year.
To make it easy, I’ve put together a few highlights for you to consider including:
– [Accomplishment 1]
– [Accomplishment 2]
– [Accomplishment 3]
Please let me know if you have availability on [date] or [date/time]. I greatly appreciate your time and endorsement of my work. Your support of my career progression means a great deal.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Tips for Request Email:
- Keep email clear, concise, and 2-3 paragraphs maximum
- Note reason you are asking for recommendation now
- Provide pre-written bullet points of achievements
- Suggest skills or accomplishments manager could highlight
- Express genuine appreciation
- Follow-up if you don’t hear back within a week
What to Say During the Recommendation Meeting
When meeting your manager, reiterate why you value their recommendation and how it will help your career. Come prepared with any documents, such as:
- Bullet point list of accomplishments and contributions
- Your updated resume or LinkedIn profile
- Performance reviews exhibiting your achievements
During the meeting, say something like:
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. As I mentioned, I am currently looking to make a career change into [x field]. Your recommendation on LinkedIn would help validate the skills I’ve gained and work I’ve done on your team these past [x years/months].
I brought a few bullet points of projects and accomplishments I thought might be helpful for you to mention…”
Then walk through the 3-5 bullet points you prepared. Offer to send the list electronically after the meeting for easy access.
Ask if the manager has any other ideas of skills, achievements, or qualifications they think would be beneficial to highlight. This allows them to provide their own perspective.
Finally, sincerely thank your manager again for supporting you and taking the time to write the recommendation. Express your appreciation and let them know it will make a big difference in reaching your career goals.
Following Up After the Recommendation Meeting
Here are some tips for following up after you have met with your manager to request a LinkedIn recommendation:
- Send a thank you email recapping any action items, such as sending your bullet point list of accomplishments.
- Give a deadline for when you need the recommendation, for example if you are applying for jobs.
- If your manager has agreed to provide the recommendation but doesn’t do so within one week, follow up politely via email or in person.
- When you receive the recommendation, let your manager know how much you appreciate them taking the time.
- Share the recommendation on your profile and thank your manager again for the kind words.
- Offer to provide your manager a recommendation in return.
Following up properly ensures a smooth process for both you and your manager.
Sample LinkedIn Recommendation from Manager
Here is an example of how a manager may write a recommendation on LinkedIn:
I highly recommend [Your Name] as a marketing professional with strong leadership, collaboration, and strategic planning skills. [Your Name] worked on my team at [Company] as a Marketing Manager for over two years.
[Your Name] consistently led high-performing campaigns and projects. For example, they headed up our social media initiative in 2018 that resulted in a 20% increase in engagement. [Your Name] also coordinated our brand ambassador program which expanded brand awareness.
Beyond excellent marketing capabilities, [Your Name] demonstrates outstanding teamwork and communication abilities. They collaborated cross-functionally and led brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas. I could always count on [Your Name] to engage stakeholders and implement feedback.
[Your Name] is an asset to any marketing team looking for a thoughtful leader who can develop successful strategies. They have my highest recommendation. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide any further details on how [Your Name] contributed to our organization’s success.
Key details this recommendation includes:
- Specific skills and strengths in areas like leadership and collaboration
- Tangible examples of successful projects and impact
- Quantifiable outcomes like percentage increases
- Emphasizes teamwork, communication, and stakeholders
- Offer to provide more detail on the candidate’s performance
This provides a strong endorsement along with contextual examples and metrics.
Tips for Getting Great LinkedIn Recommendations
Here are some additional tips to get the most out of your manager’s LinkedIn recommendation:
- Set clear expectations up front for what you hope to gain from the recommendation and how it will be used
- Give your manager 2-3 weeks lead time to write the recommendation without feeling rushed
- Suggest your manager complete the recommendation on their desktop rather than mobile for easier writing
- Provide supporting documents like performance reviews to help the manager include detail
- Only ask managers who are familiar with your recent work and can offer a strong endorsement
- Send handwritten thank you notes or small gifts if the manager provides an exceptional recommendation
- Return the favor and write recommendations for colleagues who assisted you
Putting thought into the process and expressing genuine appreciation sets you up for a positive result.
Conclusion
Although asking for recommendations can feel intimidating, they provide valuable validation from leaders in your field. A well-written recommendation from a manager can significantly boost your professional brand and open new career doors.
The key is making the process easy for your manager by explaining why a recommendation matters now, providing content suggestions, and expressing gratitude. With the right approach, most managers will be happy to endorse your skills and achievements on LinkedIn.