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
- Keep It Authentic
- Tailor to Role
- Use a Structure
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.”
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.”
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.”
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
- Personalize the Request
- Offer to Reciprocate
Choose someone who genuinely knows your work and can speak about it.
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.”
Let them know you’d be happy to write one for them too—it builds goodwill.
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