On Recommendations

Whether you are applying for a job, scholarship, or admissions to a degree program, recommendation letters are important tools. While important, it is a personal decision to write a letter of recommendation for a business, a former employee or co-worker; however, take into consideration that it may benefit you in simple ways like building relationships, being seen as approachable and making you a better communicator, even for someone you aren't as willing to recommend over another. As my experience tells me, receiving a recommendation letter is always exciting. As a recipient, I get acknowledged and see what others think of what skills of mine are the strongest and if written thoughtfully, where I can improve. I experience a feeling of appreciation and gratefulness to whomever can give me a recommendation.

When writing a recommendation letter, keep your comments specific to your experience with whom you are recommending and highlight results, strengths and weaknesses positively. This is your perspective and as I mentioned earlier, you can give constructive feedback, if applicable. You can use various tools like a word processor for more formal or traditional recommendations or LinkedIn's recommendation functionality. In fact, it's now becoming more relevant to use LinkedIn for recommendations as in the example of searching for a job and in combination with the more traditional methods.

In terms of managing your professional brand, recommendations, like performance reviews, can indicate if you're a team player, how you contribute to other's success, and if writing one, demonstrate your writing skills.

Now, if you are in the process of writing a recommendation, here are a few examples that others have written for me and one that I've written. And to sum up, a well-written recommendation opens up opportunities and possibilities for one another and I encourage those of you reading this to write one today.

Example 1 (Traditional)

I am pleased to have the opportunity of providing a reference for Kerri A. Rogers. As the program manager responsible for application portfolio management in XIT, my job was to minimize the impact of the next wave of Microsoft products across our line of business applications. During the last 12 months from October 2005 to September 2006 Kerri was part my project team that achieved outstanding results. With Kerri’s help, we:

• Tested 500+ applications across Exchange, Internet Explorer, Security Update, Office, Vista, and Managed Solutions.
• Accepted 27 builds.
• Submitted product feedback in the form of 104 bugs.
• Achieved minimal impact to our application portfolio. Roughly 19% of all feedback sent to product group resulted in a change to an application (CR).
• Increased year-over-year cost savings for the program.

In the beginning of the project, Kerri had a huge learning curve. For example, Kerri had products in the Managed Solutions space that she hadn’t even heard of and that was to be expected. She had to conduct research in a short amount of time while at the same time write test cases for our apps. Her primary duties were to understand the changes related to a specific build, apply the build to the test environment, perform the testing and write a bug if it was necessary. And if it was necessary, she would be responsible for reporting on the status of the bug until it closed.


As we neared the end of the project, I was reticent of the day Kerri had to leave because she brought with her a positive attitude and a willingness to achieve results. So in closing, I have no reservations about recommending Kerri for your organization. If I can provide additional information, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Regards,
Gil Gido
Microsoft IT Program Manager

Example 2 (Traditional)

As the Executive Director of the Executive Development Institute (EDI) I have had the privilege of knowing Gil Gido and calling him a friend of EDI for the last few years. The mission of EDI is to develop culturally diverse leaders starting first with Asian Pacific professionals and then, reaching out to other ethnicities. We do this by offering culturally tailored leadership programs.


EDI was approved as a nonprofit organization in July 2002 and over the last six years it has emerged as a financially sound and successful organization. We have grown our program offerings for Asian Pacifics geographically to Portland, Oregon and through offering a higher tier program, and now in 2009 EDI has expanded to the Hispanic community with like programs. It is individuals like Gil that have been helpful in making this success happen and quite honestly, without them it may not have.


Gil Gido has a deep seeded caring for all people which is rooted in his value system. He is a role model of integrity, a sense of community and selfless giving of his time, talents and treasures for the greater good. These are not just empty words however, demonstrated through his actions. As examples, Gil volunteered his time to EDI’s Tastes of Asia Benefit. He was instrumental in the preplanning phase and spent considerable volunteer hours in the EDI office procuring auction items and supporting processes.


Further, I’ve also observed Gil as in the role of Co-Chair, Microsoft Asian Pacific Society (MAPS). Gil and his colleagues volunteered their time to host in April 2009 the 2nd MAPS Leadership Conference for Microsoft Asian Pacific employees. This is a very large undertaking in that over 1000 employees attend as well as several senior executives present at the event. Gil with ease and levity was effective with all stakeholders in communicate, influence and motivate them which resulted in a exceedingly successful and memorable conference.


To have Gil, an honorable, competent, dependable, trustworthy and reputable community citizen, volunteering his valuable time, talents and treasures to our agency helps to assure EDI’s future stability.


I cannot thank Gil enough for making the world a better place and for being such a strong example of the enduring human spirit and heart so much needed in leadership today.


Sincerely,

Starr Macdonald
Executive Director

Example 3 (LinkedIn)

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Good Value

When Gil became President of NAAAP Seattle, he immediately reached out to as National Chairwomen of Women in NAAAP. After our initial phone conversations, we realized that Gil's company Ulysses Social Media could launch Women in NAAAP's social media platform. With his experience working at Microsoft, Gil specializes in start-ups and intrinsically understands the needs and budgetary constraints that emerging businesses may have in their beginning phases. He gives personalized attention and focus to each individual business while producing results beyond a customer's wildest expectations. I really appreciate Gil for all of his work in creating Women in NAAAP's NING social network. I highly recommend his company Ulysses Social Media Marketing Company (USMMC) to any budding business that is looking for a guide through navigating the social media jungle.

       - Judi Rhee Alloway, Women in NAAAP National Chairwoman, April 22, 2010

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Links:

Women in NAAAP
Executive Development Institute (EDI)

Your Brand: Dressing for your next role

According to Vanna Novak, CEO of Speak to Persuade, "you only have 10 seconds to make that first impression and in a competitive situation, you will have even less time. Moreover, 55% of your impact as a communicator is attributed to your physical appearance as opposed to 7% in what you say. " Think about that the next time you present yourself at a meeting, conference or even at an interview. You might even ask yourself especially when you go to an interview, How do others perceive you? Well, with the help of my friends, Sonrose Festejo and Terry Jones, I was able to answer that question really easily. Both are individual stylists located at the Nordstrom flagship store in downtown Seattle.

                             Photomura Images Copyright 2010

My style is obviously business casual - very business casual. It's very rare for me to wear a jacket or suit and tie and I have to admit that after working with Sonrose and Terry, modifying my appearance was easy and stress-free. Just as some of you read this, I don't want to be prescriptive about what to wear as it'll depend on the work environment or situation you are in.  For me, as I go to fundraisers and client meetings, it's appropriate and even required to dress in a style that is more formal over business casual.

                                                           Photomura Images Copyright 2010

  

So my 3-hour appointment started with a needs assessment in addition to providing my shoe, shirt and pant sizes. Sonrose filled my dressing room with an assortment of styles ranging from business casual to interview styles readying me for my transformation. I took the experience as both educational and as an adventure. I didn't know what she would give me, but I was impressed.  There were suit jackets, slacks, shoes, mix and match ties, as well as a variety of easy care shirts. It took close to 2 hours to try on all of the items she presented.

  

                                                           Photomura Images Copyright 2010

When it came down to suits, Terry showed me the right length, fit and interchangability of the suit components with what Sonrose provided.  He distinguished for me fit over the size of a jacket, something I've always wondered about.  I actually brought in one of my jackets to get an insight on the size of it.  I thought it was too big and have never worn it for just that reason. Rather, after talking with Terry, it was just the right size, but the fit needed adjustment through alterations, like shortening the sleeves or taking in the waist.   Fit you can say is the personal touch that makes a jacket fit your frame.

                Photomura Images Copyright 2010

After all was said and done, I ended up with a brand that I felt be-fitting for my current and next roles. It was also a brand that I felt comfortable wearing as much as I do in business casual.

                                                           Photomura Images Copyright 2010

Thank you, Sonrose Festejo and Terry Jones of Nordstrom for your great service and a very special thanks to Julie Sotomura of Photomura Images for taking these fantastic photos, Rory Dufault for shoes and Lani for alterations.

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Calling cards:
Sonrose Festejo Individualist and Special Occasion Department manager
Nordstrom Flagship | Downtown Seattle
500 Pine St. Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98101
206-628-1230

Terry Jones All star Men's Clothing
Nordstrom Flagship | Downtown Seattle
500 Pine St. Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98101
206-628-1220

Rory Dufault Men's Shoes
Nordstrom Flagship | Downtown Seattle
500 Pine St. Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98101
206-628-1500

For nationwide Nordstrom Individual Stylist locations visit their website: https://secure.nordstrom.com/services/personal_touch.asp