Do you think too many recommendations can be counter productive?
As far as finding a job/project is concerned do you think that having a lot of recommendations can be considered suspect?
What would be "too many" and can it vary depending on geography/culture?
Clarification added March 31, 2008:
by recommendation I mean LinkedIn recommendations or endorsements.
Good Answers (3)
Kevin S
Staffing Manager at Microsoft Corporation (2000+), Mylink 500
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Hello Claude,
I think it is important to remember the source. This is a social networking site that is business focused so in my opinion, there should not be too much credit given for either having a lot of recommendations or for having none. They are not very reliable as a comparative metric because there are no standards around giving or receiving them. In my opinion, they are simply a data point to be considered among many data points of various levels of reliability that can be used as you see fit. Therefore, I do not think there is such a a thing as too many or too few.
I hope you find this helpful.
Kevin
Victor M
Senior Clinical Research Associate, MD *Want to launch a trial in Eastern Europe? www.trials.at.ua
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I would be suspicious if some person had only 1 recommendation, no matter how great it might have sound.
Having none is OK - maybe this person doesn't bother at all about receiving and/or posting them.
Having lots of them is OK as many people back you up:
- you can deceive one person all the time - or
- you can deceive lots of people once - but
- you cannot deceive lots of people for prolonged periods of time. If you have 16 recommendations (and I've read all of them :) you must be either a very bright person or a great pretender :) - nothing personal, just joking (I myself have 14 endorsements here). Endorsements on LinkedIn are subject to being recalled once the your benefactor chooses to do so, thus 16 is quite OK for me...
Not only words speak a lot, also do numbers.
Bruce S
Tenured resource for staffing programs, process, performance managment and recruiting. bruce.simmons@att.net
Claude,
Fair question and there is a relevance I suppose, but before we create a value based on number of reccommendations, I would suggest that people focus on content of the reccomendation.
I read countless reccommendations that proclaim an individual is "awesome" or a "consumate professional" or "extremely reliable." I would hold all those as bare minimum requirements to receive a reccomendation. I want to see a little detail illustrating unique qualities or succeses that I may value and benefit from.
I would also question the " . . . would be an assett to any company." The breadth of industries, products, services, focus verticals and business models does not allow for a one-size-fits-all proposition. If it were otherwise, we would never have to interview -- just call the individuals that are pledged to be an assett to any company and give them an offer.
My belief is that an overwhelming number of reccomendations come from the sense of reciprocating favors -- he wrote a reccomendation for me so I should write one for him.
Bottom line in my mind is content over number.
More Answers (11)
Having a recommendation is great. I know most people deserve one but never ask. If someone has a recommendation then they probably know they are strong contributers and wanted to have it documented. I think 3 to 5 is a good number but you want to make sure they are current. Within the past 24 months. I have had people bring me recommendations that were over 5 years ago. I have several awards, recommendations, and accomplishments but I only reveal my most current ones. The recommendations should be from a manager not from a trainer, co-worker, or friend. If the manager will put a recommendation in writing then that is a solid recommendation and you should consider that candidate to be an effective team player. I think this is the standard "rule of thumb" for recommendations. Thanks- Jeff
James W
Business Development
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Yes it is. If you hire the right people they will do their jobs with less "guidance".
I am always slightly suspicious of recommendations from internal colleagues - even if they are a manager. For example, if you are a BDM and your direct boss writes that you are fantastic at what you do - would that really surpise anyone?
Client references are always interesting and would probably hold far more weight. We use client referencing on our website - but not in an anonymous form - they are full branded and named.
Links:
Carlos G
Headhunter - MRINetwork MRIWW :: Open Networker :: Now Hiring for Egypt, Brazil, ANGOLA, Portugal.
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Good question, Claude.
I think too many anything can be counter productive, as a general rule.
Too much info, doesn't help... It reminds me of "analysis paralysis"...
Having too many recommendations can be considered suspect or counter productive, yes, but mentioning that you are ready to provide professional references on request, it will look more helpful.
Like a Resume or a CV: a 100 pages one will not help at first... You need to be more selective and more focused as per your audiences.
What "too many"? Well, generally speaking, on a first introduction to someone, more than 2 or 3 A4 size pages would exceed normal standards, would nomal typing standards too... so, put there what looks to be first priority to tell about you!
And can it vary depending on geography/culture? Surely. Think global, act local.
James M. K
Registered Professional Architect at James Koenig Architecture LLC
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Claude,
No.
Jamie
Jan S
President, Simpson Management Group
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Why do you ask? I think if peeps think that much of you - then yeah - I guess if I were to look at my profile and I had only 5 reccomendations which I think I do and I have 700+ connections - then I would probably think I was unbalanced and needed additional recommendations, but I don't find jobs in this type forum - so I don't really care one way the other - now I do think that there should be muliple pages to our profiles - you know like:
1. Profile
2. Contact Listings
3. Recommendations
4. Q&A
5 Groups
6 Notes Page - (Sheilah would use this one alot)
And not jumbled up on one page.
Then you wouldn't be asking this question - since obviously you had to scroll down a long page. Organization is key.
Illona C
Information Technology and Services Professional, Technical Writer, Business Analyst
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If all your recommendations say the same thing, then yes, I'd question it.
Also, if they all came from 1 job source, it would look a little odd.
If you're asking, then perhaps you feel uncomfortable about the number?
Bob G
COO at JGPHL
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Nope unless they/you dont know each other - then its a waste of disk storage
Hi Claude,
Everything depends on the people you are going to work with.
Everything is based on trust anyway, so have an interview first,
you will be your best ambassador.
Try then to find out if they really need references, and chose 1, 2 based on how the interview went.
Christophe ;)
Faith Renee S
Some of Everything and All of Nothing Extraordinaire
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That reminds me of the mandatory references potential employers and clients request of us.
What are their 'true' value? How many of us would provide a 'bad' reference when seeking employment or engagements?
<LOL>
Faith
I don't think you can have too many, nor does crossing a certain number become "suspect", you will never find yourself reading a negative recommendation because then it would no longer be a recommendation. On LinkedIn, you can control what recommendation to show/delete...seeing a negative "review" would only mean that the individual does not know their way around a computer/browser as well as others. I believe that a actual list of reference you can contact directly(3-5 with phone numbers) is a better indicator of a possible candidate.
