A LinkedIn recommendation is a short testimonial written by one professional for another, publicly displayed on their profile. It highlights someone’s skills, work ethic, and impact in a way that builds trust with recruiters, colleagues, and clients.
Whether you’re job hunting, hiring, networking, or building a personal brand—LinkedIn recommendations can give your profile a strong, personal edge. In this guide, we’ll cover why they matter, how to write one effectively, and share ready-to-use examples tailored to different professional relationships.
Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter
Think of recommendations as mini-references—but public and permanent. They show:
- Professional reputation: Real feedback adds weight to your achievements.
- Social proof: Others vouching for you builds credibility quickly.
- Credibility with recruiters: Hiring managers often skim recommendations when evaluating candidates.
Tips for Writing a Great LinkedIn Recommendation
Before you start typing, keep these in mind:
- Be Specific
Avoid vague praise like “great person to work with.” Instead, mention what they did well and how it impacted the team, project, or outcome.
Example: “Priya streamlined our onboarding process, cutting training time by 30% while boosting new hire satisfaction.”
- Keep It Authentic
Write like you’re talking to someone—don’t sound like a formal letter. Think: warm, clear, and natural.
Example: “What I admire most about Rohan is his calm energy, even during high-pressure product launches.”
- Tailor to Role
Your tone and focus should match your relationship—whether it’s a peer, boss, or client.
Example: “As my direct report, Meera consistently delivered well-researched insights that helped shape our GTM strategy.”
- Use a Structure
Try this:
-
- What was your relationship?
- What did they do well?
- What impact did they have?
- A closing statement of endorsement.
Example: “I had the pleasure of managing Akash for over a year on the BizDev team. His ability to turn cold leads into warm conversations was unmatched—he regularly exceeded his targets by 20%. I’d recommend him to any team looking for a sharp, self-driven SDR.”
Pro Tip: Keep It Short, But Memorable
A great LinkedIn recommendation doesn’t need to be long—3-5 sentences packed with genuine praise and a specific example will leave a stronger impression than a generic paragraph. Think quality, not quantity.
LinkedIn Recommendation Examples
1. For a Manager
2. For a Colleague
3. For a Direct Report
4. For a Student
5. For an HR Professional
6. For a Client
7. For a Boss
How Do LinkedIn Recommendations Work?
You can write or request recommendations from 1st-degree connections only. Here’s how it works:
- Giving: Visit a person’s profile → Click “More” → Select “Give a recommendation.”
- Receiving: Go to their profile → Click “More” → Select “Request a recommendation” → Choose how you worked together.
The person can edit, accept, or decline the recommendation before it goes live.
How to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation
- Pick the Right Person
Choose someone who genuinely knows your work and can speak about it.
- Personalize the Request
Avoid the default message—briefly mention what you’d like them to highlight.
Example: “Hi Emma! I really enjoyed working on the ABC project with you last year. If you’re open to it, I’d love for you to write a short LinkedIn recommendation highlighting our collaboration and the impact of our work together.”
- Offer to Reciprocate
Let them know you’d be happy to write one for them too—it builds goodwill.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A LinkedIn recommendation is a written testimonial from a connection that highlights your skills, work ethic, and professional impact, displayed publicly on your profile.
LinkedIn recommendations build credibility, provide social proof, and help recruiters and clients better understand your strengths through real experiences shared by others.
A strong recommendation should be specific, authentic, and structured—mention your relationship, highlight key strengths, share a real example, and end with a clear endorsement.
A LinkedIn recommendation should ideally be 3–5 sentences long, focusing on quality over quantity with clear, impactful details.
You can request a recommendation by visiting a connection’s profile, clicking “More,” selecting “Request a recommendation,” and sending a personalized message explaining what you’d like them to highlight.
Ask people who have directly worked with you—such as managers, colleagues, clients, or mentors—who can genuinely speak about your skills and contributions.
Endorsements are quick, one-click validations of skills, while recommendations are detailed written testimonials that carry more credibility and context.
