Who should you endorse? 

WITH all the many recommendations tools, referral tools, social media tools like branch out stik, linkedin etc… have you ever had the next predicament?

 Someone asks for a recommendation/referral but you simply do not know them at all. Sure they added you as a friend, by their profile they have something quite impressive going on, but lets get down to basics. 

recommendation n

1. the act of recommending

2. something that recommends, esp a letter presenting someone as suitable for a job, etc.

3. something that is recommended, such as a course of action

Up above we see the basic meaning online through a dictionary. So you have to put yourself in line to help that person. You also maybe used for doing a job, now this means something more serious in the real world.  

The 3rd is quite extraordinary to think we can be asked a recommendation based on an action. So if we are used for a job that would place it on a par with a reference from a job. Do you realise  your recommendation is used for acquiring a real world job now? 

So instead of getting all analytical on you, I took up a task of looking a little deeper with the help of a trusted thesaurus.

Noun1.recommendation – something (as a course of action) that is recommended as advisable

advice – a proposal for an appropriate course of action

referral – a recommendation to consult the (professional) person or group to whom one has been referred; “the insurance company says that you need a written referral from your physician before seeing a specialist” 

2. recommendation – something that recommends (or expresses commendation of) a person or thing as worthy or desirable good word, testimonial congratulations, extolling, kudos, praise – an expression of approval and commendation; “he always appreciated praise for his work” character reference, reference, character – a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person’s qualifications and dependability; “requests for character references are all too often answered evasively”puff – exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes) 

3. recommendation – any quality or characteristic that gains a person a favorable reception or acceptance or admission; “her pleasant personality is already a recommendation”; “his wealth was not a passport into the exclusive circles of society”  passport

characteristic – a distinguishing quality

 So look upon this, advice , referral. I only do those in the real world if someone has impressed me or worked for me. I gave out references for those that I had some form of relationship with. How can we really give a recommendation for someone who we have never had this with : 

A working relationship

a personal relationship

a employer/employee relationship

a knowing of the persons abilities

a knowing of the persons strengths. 

So this would be used for their reputation, it would be used to show others their strengths, ability, praise of something good, build up their character online, as we have no way many times to correspond to offline world, or is that where we are wrong. Are we forgetting that this can be something that can also bring down our reputation? Are we forgetting if we give someone a testimonial and someone reading makes a judgment based on our comment that we have a ethical situation in process? Are you going to recommend someone you only added to your profile or read a few comments of? Are you really going to write a recommendation based on how they look in a photo, as I am suggesting in this paper. Research here is showing that it should produce the following scenario’s 

A recommendation/referral should be given in one circumstance.

You know something about them to be true and can pass a comment on it. 

So think to yourself next time someone asks you for a recommendation or referral. What do I know to be true of them? If you know nothing about them personally really ask yourself, am I giving my reputation a puncture if I say something is good or someone is good before I know it to be true and honest. 

My personal opinion has caused a lot of people getting a little upset with me. I have not known the person enough so cannot pass comment on another. I have met a lot of people, but If I have not got any information from the real world to comment on, I do feel I am putting my reputation on the line. I personally think the internet is merely a tool to assist real life. That is why local marketing works the best online, because it can be verified and supported. Hey I thought it was worth writing about as I think honesty is very important in everything you do.