A friend just pointed me to a free AI tool you can use as a LinkedIn recommendation generator.
Then she showed me a recommendation she “wrote” using the tool (let’s call it Hal). She, like many people, doesn’t like to write.
Do you ever wonder how much help you should give someone when you ask for a LinkedIn recommendation?
If so, this should encourage you to go for it. Otherwise, your recommender might turn to Hal or one of his competitors.
OK, I can see your wheels turning. Hal could come in darn handy, couldn’t he?
Top Performer Example — Written by the LinkedIn Recommendation Generator
I decided to write a LinkedIn recommendation for myself to test Hal, assuming I’m a star performer.
It was easy. I looked at the tool’s list of keywords, picked 5 things I like about myself, and told Hal I was “perfect” at them.
He came up with this:
Regularly produces creative, original ideas, plans, products or methods, well attuned to the needs and capabilities of the organization, and producing clear benefits.
A skillful negotiator, who instinctively reads a situation correctly, understands the motivations and feelings of the other party, and chooses the right time to proceed or withdraw.
Applies professional experience and/or knowledge of people expertly to forecast outcomes with at least 90% accuracy.
Others trust her judgement because the choices have usually been good. (Note: Hal needs a spell checker.)
Donna enjoys working without supervision and always continues to carry out duties effectively. But also knows when a supervisor’s advice or authority is required, and seeks help at the appropriate time.
Always succeeds in explaining ideas clearly. Others find Donna easy to understand.
She also has the ability to listen carefully to what others are saying, to understand and then to respond appropriately. Conversations with Donna are 2-way.
The truth is, it wouldn’t take much effort to turn that text into a LinkedIn recommendation.
About-to-Get-Fired Example — Written by the LinkedIn Recommendation Generator
Next, I wanted to see what Hal produced when I checked the “worst” box on the same keywords:
Constantly ignores the motivations and feelings of others, and is totally unsuited for sensitive negotiations.
Donna doesn’t put across ideas well. Either doesn’t make an impression at all, or others find explanations confusing.
Also takes no notice whatsoever of the contributions of others.
Donna is incapable of doing the job at all without almost constant supervision. Has not produced a new idea, plan, product or method in the past 6 months.
Donna is unable to apply professional experience and/or knowledge of people to forecast outcomes with any degree of accuracy. Her forecasts are correct less than 30% of the time.
Would You Use an AI Tool to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation?
Hal is a decent start, although I wouldn’t want anyone to return the favor of one of his negative reviews.
Would I use an AI language generator to write a LinkedIn recommendation? Or a performance review?
Perhaps. I would want a program that has the keywords I need and that uses the Oxford comma (just kidding).
Plus, I would edit the results — via Hemingway and Grammarly, of course. AI helping AI, love it!
I ran the 2 recommendations Hal wrote through Grammarly. It gave me 15 suggestions. Hemingway thinks he writes sentences that “are very hard to read.”
Seriously, Hal coupled with Hemingway and Grammarly might tempt me.
Unless, of course, the person needing the recommendation was smart enough to draft it for me.
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Updated April 2022
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Donna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, authors all of AvidCareerist’s posts.
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Comments 4
Very interesting Donna. By the way, Hal is not necessarily guilty of a typo with “judgement”. Could a British Hal, or South African, or Australian etc. :)
Des,
Excellent point!
Donna
In a world where computers write news articles, I suppose it was just a matter of time before they started automating recommendations. I’m not sure I’d want such a machine-like rec on my profile, but then I might be fussier than some.
And, of course, LinkedIn’s computers are already recommending Endorsements for members who are too lazy, er, I mean, too busy to scroll all the way down to their friend’s Endorsements area. Maybe they can offer to automate recommendations as a premium feature?
Is it a lack of integrity to tell somebody you will write them a recommendation, and then use an AI program to write it for you? Is it any worse than asking your assistant to write it for you? Some ethics issues here, too.
And should AI give you a choice on using Oxford Commas or not? (A REAL AI would know your preference without asking!)
Andy
All good questions Andy. Many executives have others (people, now software) create drafts for them. I’m good with any approach that generates a product someone wants to sign.
But if I’m calling the shots, the Oxford Comma would be a given.