diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 8e0f3ec..97a3d55 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # Moving up the [Contributor Ladder](https://github.com/cilium/community/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR-LADDER.md)
-   
+
+Before submitting, replace REPLACE-ME in the links below with your GitHub username, so the links still point at your contributions when a reviewer clicks them.
+
 ## My Relevant Contributions to the Cilium Ecosystem:
-- [ ] Link to issues you have opened. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+author%3A%40me+&type=issues)
-- [ ] Link to pull requests you have reviewed. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+reviewed-by%3A%40me&type=pullrequests)
-- [ ] Link to pull requests you have authored. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+author%3A%40me&type=pullrequests)
+- [ ] Link to issues you have opened. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+author%3AREPLACE-ME+&type=issues)
+- [ ] Link to pull requests you have reviewed. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+reviewed-by%3AREPLACE-ME&type=pullrequests)
+- [ ] Link to pull requests you have authored. Check this [here](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Acilium+author%3AREPLACE-ME&type=pullrequests)
 - [ ] Links to discussions or issues you actively participated in
 - [ ] Other relevant community involvement