Is it OK to ask for reference on LinkedIn?

Asking for a reference or recommendation on LinkedIn can be beneficial, but like anything else on social media, there are some etiquette guidelines to follow. Here is a quick rundown of dos and don’ts when requesting LinkedIn references:

The Benefits of LinkedIn References

Having strong references on your LinkedIn profile can help in a few key ways:

• They act as social proof and endorsements of your skills and qualifications
• They can strengthen your professional brand and reputation
• They may help you stand out more to recruiters and hiring managers
• They add credibility to your work history and background

In short, quality LinkedIn recommendations can give you an edge and highlight the value you brought to past roles and organizations. They show you have the respect of colleagues and leaders who have worked with you.

Who to Ask for a LinkedIn Reference

So who should you ask? Ideally, your LinkedIn recommendations should come from:

• Former managers and direct supervisors
• Coworkers and colleagues you worked closely with
• Clients, customers, or vendors you served
• College professors if you recently graduated
• Influential professionals in your industry

In general, the references that carry the most weight are from people who have directly managed you or worked with you in a professional capacity. The focus should be quality over quantity – a couple of thoughtful endorsements from leaders can be more powerful than ten random ones.

How to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation

When asking someone to recommend you on LinkedIn, it’s important to be polite and thoughtful in your approach. Here are some best practices:

• Make the request personalized, warm, and genuine, not automated or rushed.
• Jog their memory on projects and accomplishments you worked on together.
• Give them context on what you’re applying to and how their recommendation would help.
• Make it easy for them to endorse you in their own words.
• Allow them time to write you a thoughtful recommendation.
• Offer to return the favor and recommend them as well.

It also helps to politely follow up in a week or two if you haven’t heard back to gently nudge them. Always thank them for taking the time once they provide the recommendation.

When NOT to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation

There are a few scenarios where asking for a LinkedIn reference may not be appropriate:

• Right after firing an employee or leaving a company on bad terms
• From someone you barely know or haven’t worked with
• If you plan to give them a poor recommendation in return
• Via impersonal bulk messages instead of personalized asks
• From direct competitors or controversial connections
• Repeatedly from the same people

Use good judgment, and only request endorsements from people who seem truly willing and enthusiastic to recommend you. Quality over quantity applies here.

Recommendation Etiquette

To keep LinkedIn recommendation exchanges positive, fair, and valuable for everyone involved, consider the following etiquette tips:

• Personalize each request, don’t spam connections.
• Give recommenders reasonable time to respond.
• If they decline, graciously accept their decision.
• Offer to reciprocate recommendations when you can.
• Endorse them for relevant skills in return.
• Only recommend others if you can authentically endorse them.
• Say thanks for their time and praise.

Treat the process as a mutual exchange between professionals, not just a favor for you. Recommendations matter more when this etiquette is followed.

How Many Recommendations Should You Have?

How many LinkedIn recommendations are enough? Here are some benchmarks to aim for:

• Recent grads: At least 2-3 recommendations
• Early career: 3-5 recommendations
• Mid-career: Around 8 recommendations
• Late career: 10 or more recommendations

That said, quality matters more than a specific quantity. Even just a couple of thoughtful, detailed endorsements can positively showcase your capabilities more than a dozen generic one-liners.

Recommendation Numbers by Industry

The average number of recommendations also varies by industry. Here is a breakdown by field:

Higher collaboration fields like media and technology tend to have more recommendations, while specialized fields like healthcare have fewer. But reaching or exceeding the industry average can help make you more competitive.

Tips for Getting Great LinkedIn Recommendations

Here are some additional tips for getting awesome LinkedIn recommendations:

• Connect regularly with former co-workers and managers
• Remind them of key accomplishments from working together
• Thank them again for the positive experience working together
• Endorse and recommend them in return
• Authentically praise them in your recommendation
• Write recommendations for others without expecting anything in return
• Give recommenders an easy template to follow if needed
• Let them know how their recommendation made a difference

The more you can earnestly build long-term mutually beneficial relationships, write meaningful recommendations, and add value to your network, the more positive endorsements will naturally come your way over time.

Key Takeaways

• Quality references can boost your professional reputation and opportunities
• Request them from managers, colleagues, clients you’ve impressed
• Personalize asks, offer to reciprocate, and follow-up politely
• Aim for 2-3 recent grad, 5+ mid-career, 10+ late career
• Give meaningful recommendations without expecting anything
• Focus on quality endorsements over quantity

Conclusion

Asking for LinkedIn recommendations from the right people at the right time can significantly strengthen your professional profile and career prospects. But it should always be done mutually, politely, and with authentic endorsements in mind. Follow these etiquette guidelines, selectively request endorsements from those who respect your work, and thoughtfully recommend others in return.

With the right strategy, LinkedIn recommendations can take your reputation and relationships to the next level, making you stand out from the competition and open more fulfilling career doors.