Positive recommendations are one of the important parts of showcasing your abilities and talents on LinkedIn.
Unlike the rest of your LinkedIn profile, recommendations are seen as a type of social proof written by others in your network. They provide a glimpse into who you are and what you are capable of from the viewpoint of someone else.
In this article, I’m going to give you some of the best LinkedIn recommendation examples so you can write your own with confidence.
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Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter
LinkedIn has been estimated to have over 756 million members which makes it the best place to meet with new people.
With this, it means that you will have an established public profile and you also need to craft your profile in a way that helps you stand out.
That’s where recommendations from other users stand as a great way to achieve this.
One definitive reason a recommendation matters is that it enhances your credibility as a professional and LinkedIn user.
Among those millions of users are generic-looking pages that look like fake accounts.
Having recommendations from verifiable users, alongside other actions like an uploaded professional photo, give your account much-needed evidence of authenticity.
Another reason is that recommendations are social proof of your capabilities. Not everyone will have their achievements and skills documented in newspapers or broadcasted on TV.
However, recommendations from colleagues, clients, and bosses tell others that you are good at your job and can handle specific responsibilities.
Below are other additional benefits of having a LinkedIn recommendation:
- It helps to Improving your visibility to recruiters
- Appearing on other LinkedIn profiles
- Deepening your networking relationships
Unfortunately, crafting a recommendation for someone requires some intentionality and more skill than one would ordinarily expect. But that’s not to say it is difficult once you internalize the structural premise of an excellent recommendation.
How To Ask Your Network For LinkedIn Recommendations
Having recommendations is very important, but inboxing everyone on the entire network with recommendation requests is the wrong way to go about it.
In particular, asking people to testify on your behalf when they don’t even really know you is going to harm your credibility in the near future.
And this works both ways.
Making false recommendations is a public stain on your integrity, and anyone in your network who knows the person you’ve recommended is unqualified will notice.
Instead, seek recommendations from people who can speak about you from personal experiences, such as employers (both past and present), colleagues, clients, and customers.
If you want them to agree, start by writing a recommendation and want them to agree, start by writing a recommendation for them before approaching them with the request. Some people will reciprocate without even asking.
Here are some examples of possible requests:
Request 1: The Straight Ask
“Hi [Name],
I hope all is well. I’m in the market for a new job and I’m developing my LinkedIn presence.
Would you be willing to write a recommendation for my profile?
Thanks!
[Your name]“
Request 2: The Conditional Ask
“Good morning [Name],
I hope you’re well. I’m trying to update my LinkedIn profile and I was wondering if you’d be willing to write me a recommendation based on our work at ABC?
I’d be willing to write one in return.
Thanks in advance!
[Your name]“
Request 3: The Reciprocal Ask
“Hey [Name],
How’s it going?
I just left a recommendation on your profile, please let me know if you’d like me to change anything.
I’d really appreciate one back if you have the time, no pressure though.
All the best,
[Your name]“
How To Write A Good LinkedIn Recommendation
LinkedIn is a professional means of marketing yourself, and successful marketing is about adding value to Something.
Below are the best ways to write a good LinkedIn recommendation:
- Keep It Short.
Don’t try to fill the recommendation up with irrelevant information since your aim is to write a credible and attractive recommendation.
- Make It Personal.
You are writing a recommendation for one person, not describing the efforts of an entire team.
Feel free to highlight their ability to work within a team, but your main focus should be on their personal skills and value.
- Keep It Professional.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform so it is advisable that you keep your recommendations positive and also describe the person’s abilities and skills in a professional manner.
- Consider The Goal
Read through the recipient’s summary, as this will give you an insight into what they deem important about themselves and their skills.
It will also enable you to craft a relevant recommendation in line with their expectations.
- End Well
Complete the recommendation with a positive and reassuring note, even if it means reiterating what’s already been said.
Read More:
7 Best LinkedIn Recommendation Examples
Below are the 7 Best LinkedIn Recommendation Examples for different careers.
1. LinkedIn Recommendation Examples For Colleagues
Example 1
“Only one word that comes to mind when I think of [Name], and that’s AWESOME. I worked with [Name] at [Company] and [he/she] was a consummate professional at all times.
[He/She] explained the inner workings of the company perfectly and was instrumental in helping me to find my feet.
[Name]‘s work ethic was impeccable, and [he/she] was always the first person to offer help and support.
Thanks, [Name]! You made my time at [Company] a pleasure.”
Example 2
“I’ve worked with many [Job Title] but [Name] was one of the best.
[He/She] consistently gave 100% of herself to our team, and was critical in ensuring the completion of our projects by the deadline.
[Name] was always reliable and professional, and at stressful times [he/she] was a positive influence on all of us.
Overall, [Name] was a pleasure to work with and I have qualms recommending [him/her] to anybody looking for an excellent [Job Title].
Both samples above started with a glowing but direct statement about the individual that communicates how valuable this person is on a professional level.
When going to recommend both past and current colleagues, it’s important to emphasize how it was to work with them because it provides insight into their personalities. This positions them as team players, and by extension, you.
As important as the opening line, both samples conclude with a positive and authoritative summary to round out the recommendation.
2. LinkedIn Recommendation Examples For A Boss Or Client
Let’s move on to some LinkedIn recommendation samples and templates for previous bosses and/or clients:
Examples 3
“[Number] years ago, [Name] took a chance and hired me.
While I knew I’d have to work hard, I never anticipated how hard [Name] would work alongside me. [He/she] never expected anything done that [he/she] wasn’t prepared to do [himself/herself].
We all grew and improved under [Name]’s guidance, who was a genuine and constant source of motivation that enabled us to outdo ourselves week after week.
[Name] didn’t just manage expectations, [he/she] managed our goals and aspirations. Working under [Name] was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”
Examples 4
“[Name] is the best [boss/client] I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.
[Name] has a knack for analyzing the requirements of a role and finding the right person to fill it, which often resulted in increased efficiency and improved team dynamics.
What’s more, [Name]‘s positive attitude towards work helped encourage and support all of us, which made for a very enjoyable but productive work environment.
I witnessed [Name]‘s commitment to [his/her] role firsthand, and I recommend [him/her] without hesitation.”
Both examples demonstrate the individual’s ability to inspire and encourage those around them. because they are important.
People want to work with people who make the experience enjoyable, and this is often just as important as having hard skills.
3. LinkedIn Recommendation Examples For A Manager
Writing recommendations for managers requires a slightly different tone unlike the previous examples.
Here are some LinkedIn recommendation examples you can use to get started:
Example 5:
“For [number] years, I had the pleasure of working with [Name] as my direct superior.
During that time, [he/she] became both my mentor and friend. [Name] has the unique ability to keep everyone grounded through difficult challenges.
As a manager, [he/she] has all the essential characteristics: responsive, positive, analytical, and inspiring. [Name]‘s facilitation skills are second to none. [He/she] doesn’t just direct, [he/she] guides, coaches, and encourages.
I consider myself lucky to have learned from [Name]. If you’re looking for an exceptional manager who can help your team achieve their full potential, look no further.”
Example 6
“While some managers dictate, [Name] inspires by example.
I had the pleasure of being managed by [Name] for the six years I worked at [Company], and I was constantly amazed by [his/her] ability to set goals and coach us toward reaching them.
Under [Name]’s tutelage, I was able to grow as an employee and improve my capacity to work within a team. Leading by example, [Name] was always able to work with conflicting personalities in high-pressure situations.
I’m grateful to have worked with [him/her].”
Both samples emphasize the managers’ ability to guide and motivate their subordinates, which are essential characteristics of a managerial role.
You have shown your own growth during the years you started working under them by recommending them, which benefits both parties.
4. LinkedIn Recommendation Examples For A Mentor Or Coach
Finally, let’s cover a LinkedIn recommendation sample for mentors or coaches that have had a positive impact on your professional life.
Example 7
“If you’re looking for a coach to guide you through your transformation journey, then [Name] is it.
[Name] focussed on outlining my core role, and [his/her] guidance was critical to my role as a [Job Title]. With her direction, my career trajectory has altered and improved, and my confidence and capability have sored.
[Name] didn’t instruct me, she supported me, and she taught me to evaluate my options and skills, and my response to outside influence. [His/her] business savvy is complemented by a deep understanding of human nature.
I’m a better person for having worked with [Name], and I recommend [him/her] to anyone who wants to improve their performance. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions about [Name] and [his/her] coaching.”
The above examples describe how the coach made them feel and how their contribution helped them advance in their career.
You can create your own personal recommendations with this guides and examples.
LinkedIn Recommendation Mistakes To Avoid
If you desire to expand your LinkedIn, then you must cultivate the habit of sending and receiving recommendations, but you also need to be mindful of common potential problems such as:
1. Using Default Request
Although using the default text for a recommendation request may be efficient, we seriously encourage tailoring it.
You can’t possibly expect someone else to take the time to personalize a recommendation if you don’t personalize your request.
2. Using LinkedIn Recommendation Generators
There is no recommendation generator that is as familiar with the candidate as you are, and using the output from one will result in a generic recommendation devoid of emotion.
A recommendation should describe how you met the candidate, why the relationship was meaningful, and highlight specific professional qualities. This is not something a generator can produce.
Worse, it may partially replicate a recommendation you made to another person, making you look shady.
3. Asking For Recommendations From Strangers
Never ask for recommendations from people who don’t know you or haven’t worked with you in order to gain more recommendations on your profile.
Even if they agree, these people are unlikely to render genuine and insightful remarks about your professional career, and this is almost always obvious.
Conclusion
LinkedIn recommendations are hard to obtain, but this is what tends to make them so desirable on a channel like this.
Using and incorporating these LinkedIn recommendation examples should alleviate the discomfort of the process, even if you’re writing or seeking recommendations for your personal profile.
With this, have you created your own LinkedIn Recommendation?
Let’s hear your comments!