Writing Recommendations for Students and Graduates

Overview

• Benefits

• Understanding Recommendations

• Writing Recommendations

• Creating Recommendations

• Wrap-Up

Benefits• Displays National College students and graduates in a

positive manner– Lets employers see why they should hire graduates

– Shows employers how well prepared graduates are

• Social validation– Employers feel better about conducting business with

someone if other people in his/her extended network are pleased with that person’s work

– LinkedIn users know that people are putting their own reputations at stake by making a public Recommendation of another person

Understanding Recommendations

Writing Recommendations

• Recommendations allow for local employers to find out more about National College students and graduates

• Go through your list of contacts and make a list of National College students and graduates you want to recommend

Making Your Recommendation Standout

• Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing your Recommendation:– Be specific

• Talk about specific strengths and skills

– Tell how you know the person• i.e. “John was a student in my Medical Assistant class at

National College two years ago”

– Reinforce the student or graduate’s major skills and goals• Look at the person’s profile and compliment how they are

trying to position themselves

Creating Recommendations

Creating Recommendations

• To create a Recommendation, pull up the person’s profile

• Before you start writing the Recommendation, review the following profile sections to help you get a sense of skills, attributes, or results you should be reflecting on– Experience

– Professional headline

– Other profile elements

Creating Recommendations

• Click “Recommend This Person” to the right of his/her name and photo

• Select the “Student” category

• Click the “Go” button

Creating Recommendations

• The basis of Recommendation should state that you were this person’s teacher

• For the student’s school at the time, National College should be selected

Creating Recommendations

• Write the Recommendation in the Written Recommendation field

• Click send

Wrap-Up

• Writing Recommendations for your students and graduates is an extremely beneficial process:

– Assists with placement

– Shows employers why they should hire graduates of National College

– Provides your students and graduates with confidence, especially during the job search

– Maintains relationships with alumni beyond graduation