How to Get LinkedIn Recommendations as an Engineer

A LinkedIn recommendation does something your resume cannot. It shows what it is actually like to work with you, in the words of someone who has done it. For mid-career engineers, a few strong recommendations can be the difference between a profile that looks solid and one that feels genuinely credible.

Most engineers have recommendations they could ask for but have not, either because it feels awkward to ask or because they are not sure who to approach. Both of those are solvable problems.

The best people to ask for a recommendation are former managers who saw your work directly, colleagues who collaborated with you on significant projects, and clients or stakeholders who experienced the impact of your contributions. You do not need ten recommendations. Two or three that are specific, detailed, and genuine carry more weight than a dozen generic ones.

Asking does not have to be uncomfortable. A direct, warm message that acknowledges the relationship, explains what you are working toward, and makes it easy for them to say yes is usually well received. Most people are glad to help when asked clearly. The version that gets ignored is the vague request with no context and no guidance on what to write.

If you would like help drafting the outreach message to request a recommendation, that is something we can work on together in a Strategic Career Diagnostic Session. Book your session here

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