Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

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How to secure recommendations that open doors

December 15, 2025

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, I share practical tips and scripts to help more women win so you land the roles you want, thrive with confidence at work and grow faster.

When someone speaks highly of you, it amplifies your credibility in ways self-promotion can't.

Receiving concrete recommendations, especially on LinkedIn, aren't just a checkbox to fill. They serve as powerful endorsements that fast-track your growth.

Equally important is the strength of your network. Having supporters in your corner, those willing to vouch for you publicly, builds trust and momentum in your career. These connections act as allies who not only defend your skills but also advocate for your potential, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.

So how do you actually secure these recommendations effectively, without awkwardness or hesitation?

How do you make the ask so that it doesn't raise flags that you're looking to leave your company but, instead, gather accolades accurately reflecting your work ethic and impact?

How do you use recommendations as a way to reinforce your relationships and build goodwill?

This is exactly what I coach my clients to do that opens up proactive opportunities without needing to rely on online applications. For one of my clients last week, she solidified an internal advocate at her top tech company of choice. Through our coaching support and outreach templates, her connection has already offered to make multiple warm introductions for internal roles on her behalf.

So let's dive in so that you gain high quality recommendations with ease that make all the difference.

Key mistakes that limit your recommendations

Contrary to what you may believe, asking for recommendations should not be all about you.

Now of course, the endorsement itself will be referring to you, but it should always come from a place of gratitude or appreciation for the other person first. A few watch outs to avoid:

→ Being vague about what you want: Don’t just ask someone to "write something nice". If you leave the request open-ended, the result may not reflect your professional achievements or align with your goals. It also puts far too much ownness on the other person which can feel like a heavy lift, leading them to say no.

→ Failing to personalize the request: Don't simply send a generic message as it feels transactional. Recommendations are about relationships, so show the person you value their time and unique perspective and provide context as to why you're asking them specifically.

→ Asking too late: Waiting until months (or even years) after working with someone can make it harder for them to recall specific examples of your impact. Timing is key. This is especially important if you're looking to make a transition to a new role. Capitalize on your time in your current role or company to capture those recommendations before you go anywhere.

3 ways to ask for recommendations confidently

1. From leaders you actively work with

When you’re still collaborating with someone, it’s much easier to frame the conversation and ensure the recommendation reflects your current impact.

You also want to share what you admire about working under their leadership, what you respect about how they manage their teams, or the influence they have had on you.

From there, you will transition to the recommendation ask.

2. From people you worked with in the recent past

Reconnect with former colleagues or managers by acknowledging your shared experience before making your recommendation request.

Start from common ground, piggy back off a recent conversation you've had together, or segway from something you particularly appreciated about working with them. This will allow your ask to feel genuine and authentic and lead to an easy yes from them in return.

Ideally, make the ask verbally instead of in writing so they can feel the sincerity in your voice. I only recommend using email if it's someone you don't physically see as often.

[Check out my free LinkedIn Learning nano-course on Nano Tips to Fast-Track Your Career]

3. For referrals to land new opportunities

This approach combines a recommendation request with a subtle referral ask, positioning you as someone open to new opportunities. This can be helpful for both internal growth and external roles.

When asked right, the recommendations you gain easily lead the other person to proactively take that next step in recommending you to others and for open positions. This is exactly the case for my clients like this recent example inside my coaching program.

Pro tip: You can proactively write them a recommendation before even making your ask, so that they will be more inclined to return the favour when you approach them.

You've got this!

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This week’s mission: Use these 3 steps to ask for recommendations (and actually secure them!)

• Reach out to a current leader. Identify 1 leader you actively work with who can speak to your current contributions. Use the provided template to craft a personalized request and send it by Friday this week.​
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• Reconnect with a past colleague, mentor or boss. Think of 1 person you worked closely with in the past whose recommendation would highlight your key skills and serve as an accurate representation of your strengths and impact. Reach out verbally acknowledging your shared experience before requesting a recommendation.
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• Plant seeds for future opportunities. Choose 1 person in your network who might also serve as a referral source. Frame your recommendation request to include an open invitation for them to keep you in mind for new opportunities.

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