As part of any traditional recruitment cycle, past and present colleagues and supervisors of potential job candidates are called to verify the integrity and accomplishments of the candidate. Recommendations are usual an integral part of job application processes — especially for companies with several layers of policies and procedures. With the rise of digital media, employers can now use social networks to verify these same qualifications in a job applicant. One of the easiest ways to do this is with LinkedIn, as a key feature of this professional network is the ability to leave a recommendation for a former colleague or contractor hired. These recommendations can be browsed by HR staff or recruiters even during a stealth recruitment process, potentially making or breaking the decision to move the candidate forward in the process.

While you, as a LinkedIn user, may ask those in good favor with you to leave a glowing recommendation — especially if you are currently looking for a job — you can be less tacky about the process by leaving a good recommendation for your colleagues, both present and past. Even a short note about their work ethic, communication skills, and pleasant demeanor in the office can go a long way. The other LinkedIn user will be notified of your new recommendation, and will likely take a cue from your note to write something similar about you. If they happen to mention your tendency to start happy hour on Friday a little early, you can always delete the note or ask your colleague to write the note again, but this time removing the reference to your recent raid of the beer in the office fridge. You may also have to explain that LinkedIn functions slightly differently than networks like Facebook, and is more professional in nature.

Just as you hope a colleague leaves only good recommendations for you, be sure to do the same for your colleagues if they leave you a good recommendation first. If you are actually asked to leave a recommendation for a colleague who has questionable ethics or an attitude, don’t feel obligated to write a recommendation at all. In this situation, the old adage that “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” will work best for both of you. An inflammatory recommendation, however true, could make you look like a jerk, and trigger a retaliatory “recommendation” from that colleague. Leaving good recommendations can only bolster your reputation in the eyes of anyone recruiting or considering you for a new position.