LinkedIn Primer Lesson #2: Recommendations
This stems from both being old fashioned, and a reflex response to working in an environment where recognition was selective, and sometimes even miscredited. I like to recognize good work. I also like being recognized. I made a point to write such notes to individuals and their immediate management when I someone made that extra effort, and when I joined LinkedIn I continued that effort, which was long before I got caught up in a Reduction In Force.
Think about it this way; the person most likely to get opportunities is the one people say good things about. But why should they have to wait until you are asked to say it? That rave review of Steve's work you gave to a guy at a cocktail party is great, but what about having a way for others to know you think Steve's a real asset?
You may not be actively seeking opportunities, but others you know may be. And that recommendation may make the difference between being considered or not.
Some of the same rules apply to these endorsements as do formal letters of reference. You don't offer them if you don't mean them. The recommendations from executive management and recognized leaders in a field are going to have a lot of weight, so if you are willing to write a letter of recommendation for one of your reports, you should consider doing an informal one on LinkedIn.
Remember, this is not an official statement by an organization, it's an informal one by an individual. It is not intended, nor should be interpreted as an official endorsement by the organization someone works at.
Think of them like you would verbal compliments. "I know Steve, he did a great job with XYZ, definitely talk to him." Only you don't have to worry about remember the details of that verbal endorsement you had a cocktail party, you have it at your fingertips on LinkedIn. That conversation doesn't guarantee a job offer, but it does guarantee some interest in getting to know Steve, doesn't it? Same thing. Only you have a means of sharing your opinion with a lot more people.
What you see on LinkedIn is someone's biased opinion, and it shouldn't be your only source of information. LinkedIn works on "mutually acceptance" which means both parties must actively approve anything that ends up on your profile, be it a connection, or a recommendation.
The recommendations are not intended to be the only source of information about a prospect. They used as a replacement of any standard hiring practices. For example, a recruiter has been tasked with finding someone for a consulting position. She goes to LinkedIn, and searches for prospects using keywords. She gets 415 hits in the Austin area. Do you think she's going to read all those profiles in detail? No. She needs to find the best candidates, so she's going to filter those results. After she tweaks the keywords she uses to focus her results, maybe focusing on certifications as well, and she narrows it down to 109. She's still not going to contact each and every one of them, she's going to want to start with the best prospects. I'd bet you she's going to look at the recommendations, and based on the number, the quality of the recommendations, and who is making them, she's going to select a smaller group of people to contact. She's still going to follow through with reference checks and employment verification but she saved herself some time by using LinkedIn.
If you're not actively searching for jobs, you might not care as much about recommendations. You may already be be getting more than enough offers and secure enough in your position and your marketability you don't need to cultivate your network. LinkedIn isn't just about job searching; it's about connecting on professional levels, and having an easy means to stay in touch with those professionals you've enjoyed working with. But you're also a resource for those in your network. Your recommendation may make the difference in someone else's career.
If any bad recommendations get posted, it's because you didn't read it before approving it. In practice, only those recommendations you want get posted. So that guy you respect from Accounting is a connection, and sends you a flowery love letter of a recommendation, you don't have to accept that any more than you would a nastygram from someone who decided they resent you for taking their promotion (and with whom you probably aren't linked in with in first place).
You may also edit or delete the recommendations you make, and delete the recommendations you've received. 
Homework
1)Write a recommendation
2) Request a recommendation
Extra Credit
Get three recommendations, and write three as well.
Categories: LinkedIn, Career Development, LinkedInPrimer
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