When a person asks me to be a reference or write a recommendation for them, whether privately or on LinkedIn, I approach it the same way as I do any type of endorsement.
For example, if am going to donate to a charity, I want to know what the charity stands for before I will decide if it is something I want to be associated with.
Likewise, I would want to know what I am recommending a person for – it is entirely possible that someone I would not be able to recommend under most circumstances has found exactly the perfect situation for themselves, and for that I can wholeheartedly endorse them.
The main issue with LinkedIn though is it is not specific. I have no way to tailor it to a specific job, and therefore I can only speak in generalities. Therefore, I will only write recommendations and similar online endorsements for people who I am confident will succeed in any position they go after.
I have unfortunately had to turn people down due to that reason, but I stand by the quality and adaptability of the people I have recommended.
As for asking for recommendations in return, I have never asked anyone for one so I wouldn’t have any tips for that.
Originally Posted: https://www.quora.com/Should-you-endorse-a-person-who-asked-you-to-endorse-him-on-LinkedIn-if-you-dont-really-think-he-is-worth-it
Originally Posted On: 2015-03-22