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Recommendations have become an indispensible tool for accelerating your job search and increasing your visibility. Today, the idea is to position yourself so that hiring managers and recruiters find you, rather than relying on job postings to advance your search. Here are some pointers.

Know the different types of recommendations. A recommendation is a third-party testimonial stating your value to an employer, and can come in numerous forms. In the past, job seekers relied on written letters of recommendation from previous employers. While this form is useful, it is not as up to date as LinkedIn recommendations. Other types of recommendations include client testimonials and thank you notes, company recognition letters, case studies and even excerpts from performance reviews.

Be careful not to confuse recommendations with references. While references are important, think of them as a tool that hiring managers use to gather specific information from managers and co-workers about your past performance. Think of recommendations as a powerful tool for getting the interview in the first place.

Learn to gather powerful
recommendations.
Begin by thinking about the strengths, skills and accomplishments you would like to highlight. Ask the recommender to focus on your top marketable skills, such as project management, data analysis, or customer retention. Ask only co-workers whom you respect, so you can recommend them in return.

Avoid using any recommendations that describe you in vague terms such as “a really great guy.” At the same time, avoid gushing accolades that sound biased and less credible. Instead, focus on gathering recommendations that depict specific ways you helped your boss, team and company to reach their objectives. Make certain each recommendation is honest, brief and verifiable.

The final touch is reviewing your recommendations for spelling, grammar and clarity. Any errors will reflect negatively on you. Don’t hesitate to ask respectfully for corrections before publishing.

Your recommendations in action. There are numerous ways to tap into the power of your recommendations. LinkedIn recommendations have become a standard, and when done correctly, lend tremendous credibility. One creative and effective way to leverage testimonials is to add excerpts from two or three colleague recommendations at the end of your resume. Think about your audience and use sound judgment to select the most credible content to use.

Depending on your industry and job function, consider using a single-page “case study” to tell a compelling success story. This is especially effective if you solved a complex problem and produced a measurable impact, such as significantly increasing revenue or achieving a cost reduction.

Since online media are used so extensively today, consider your own simple website or online portfolio. Identify your most marketable skills and related accomplishments. Present this content in the language of your target industry or companies, using keywords to ensure your online presence is readily found in searches.

Bottom line: Recommendations based on honest accomplishments are a powerful means of transforming your job search from a passive waiting game into a smart, outbound self-marketing strategy.

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