I've only just decided to be brave enough to post this, having changed the names to protect the guilty, I thought it's a great lesson of how not to do something. In our social media tips booklet I wrote about how not to ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn i.e. "don't ask". Offer a recommendation first. If you make five recommendations of other people I guarantee you'll get at least three back.
Also, be selective. This kind of broadcast email does the person asking no favours. Here's why :-
- Dear David - yep, I felt kind of special at that point.
- Fellow professionals - smacks of "bulk request" so now I feel less special.
- I've only met the person twice - and not for very long.
- What they are asking me to recommend them for is not the work/experience I remember them doing/having.
So all in all, a great lesson for not doing it this way. Thanks for helping me out [name].
