LinkedIn has become an integral part of the job search and hiring process. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. For job seekers, a well-optimized LinkedIn profile, which includes a professional headshot, branded background image, succinct summary, and detailed work experience section, has become as vital as a résumé. In addition to these core profile sections, many users also showcase their skills, volunteer work, courses, projects, and more.
One of the most popular parts of a LinkedIn profile is the recommendations section. LinkedIn members can request colleagues, managers, clients, and others they’ve worked with to write a recommendation highlighting their skills, accomplishments, and work ethic. It’s similar to a written letter of reference.
But do employers actually read LinkedIn recommendations during the hiring process? Let’s explore this question in more detail.
The Prevalence of LinkedIn Recommendations
LinkedIn recommendations are extremely common among users. According to LinkedIn, there are over 2 billion recommendations on the platform. The average number of recommendations per user is 10.
Recommendations serve several purposes:
– They act as social proof and lend credibility to your skills and background.
– They allow you to exhibit gratitude to colleagues and showcase your professional relationships.
– They give you opportunities to get endorsed by connections for key skills.
– They expand your professional network, as you can engage with new connections by providing recommendations.
Given how ubiquitous recommendations are on LinkedIn, it’s clear they’re valuable in some form. But this doesn’t necessarily mean employers are reading each one carefully. Let’s analyze some key considerations.
Do Employers Have Time to Read Recommendations?
With an average of 10 recommendations per LinkedIn user, a job candidate can accumulate quite a few over the course of their career. When employers are skimming through profiles during the hiring process, do they actually click the “See all recommendations” button and read each one thoroughly?
The short answer is: probably not.
Consider the perspective of an employer sifting through 100+ applications for an open position. They likely don’t have time to dive deeply into every LinkedIn recommendation for every candidate.
According to hiring experts, recruiters spend around 5-10 seconds skimming a LinkedIn profile before deciding whether to further explore or discard a candidate. They’re scanning for key qualifications, looking to see if the candidate’s background aligns with the job description.
So during that 5-10 seconds, there likely isn’t enough time to click into the recommendations and analyze each one.
Does this mean employers completely ignore the recommendations section? Not necessarily. While they may not thoroughly read each recommendation, certain factors might catch their eye.
What Employers Look for in Recommendations
Although recruiters may not dive into every recommendation word-for-word, some characteristics of this section likely still catch their attention:
The number of recommendations
Even at a glance, the number of recommendations sends a signal. Having a sizeable list expands your credibility. It shows you’ve impress numerous colleagues enough that they enthusiastically endorsed you on a public platform.
According to LinkedIn, profiles with at least 5 recommendations are 5x more likely to be contacted by recruiters.
The job titles/companies of people providing recommendations
Seeing recommendations from reputable companies and influential individuals carries weight, lending instant credibility. Recruiters might notice recommendations from executives, well-known thought leaders, big brand employers, or highly-regarded contacts.
A brief skim of the recommendation content
While they likely won’t analyze every word, recruiters may skim some of the recommendation content as they swiftly browse the profile. Clear, enthusiastic language with tangible examples of accomplishments may catch their eye.
Profile thumbnail photos of recommenders
A consistent profile photo next to each recommendation personalizes it. Recruiters can glance at the faces endorsing you, making the content feel more vivid.
So in summary – while recruiters may not thoroughly read recommendations word-for-word, they still gain value from glancing at this section.
How Many Recommendations Should You Have?
We’ve determined recruiters are unlikely to read each recommendation meticulously. But having *some* recommendations is better than having none.
What’s the ideal number of recommendations to appear qualified, but not clutter your profile?
According to LinkedIn’s research, the “sweet spot” falls between 8-15 recommendations. Anything below 8 recommendations begins to look sparse. Anything above 15 veers into information overload territory.
Of course, this guidance isn’t an exact science. Job seekers early in their career may have slightly fewer recommendations, while very experienced executives likely have above 15.
The key is making sure your number of recommendations aligns with your career stage. A sparse section stands out. An overly cluttered section lacks focus. You want a comfortable middle ground appropriate for your level of experience.
Who Should Provide Recommendations?
We’ve explored the optimal number of recommendations. But which people should fill those slots?
Here are some connection types who tend to provide the most impactful recommendations:
Former managers
A manager has directly overseen your work and can speak to strengths that drove success. Their word carries authority.
Influential people in your industry
Well-known leaders who can endorse your skills make a bold statement. Recruiters take notice of big names.
Former colleagues
Peers you collaborated with provide credibility. They have firsthand experience working with you.
Clients/customers
External stakeholders like clients or customers carry objectivity. They have unbiased perspectives on delivering work.
College professors
For recent graduates, professors who mentored you provide valued insights into your potential.
Choose connections who make natural advocates based on their relationship with you. The most genuine, enthusiastic recommendations come from people who deeply understand your abilities.
How to Get Great Recommendations
Don’t just randomly ask any connection for a recommendation. Put some strategy behind who you select:
– Choose people who have seen you at your best and can speak to concrete successes. Avoid vague, generic praise.
– Look for connections who authentically like you and will gladly endorse you.
– If possible, meet with them to explain why a recommendation is important for your job search.
– Share key talking points on your skills, accomplishments, and strengths you’d like them to highlight. This gives them content to work from.
– Tell them to be specific. Quantitative facts and examples are best.
– Express that you’re happy to write them a recommendation in return. Reciprocity helps motivate people.
– Follow up if they don’t complete your recommendation request within 2 weeks. Send a polite reminder.
Putting thought into who you ask and framing your request carefully leads to better recommendations.
Where Should the Recommendations Appear?
Recommendations can appear in two places on your LinkedIn profile:
1. The “Recommendations” section visible on your profile overview tab.
2. Within the description of each job entry in your experience section.
Because of higher visibility, putting recommendations in the dedicated “Recommendations” section near the top of your profile is best. You want them prominently displayed where recruiters quickly see them.
However, you can also add recommendations within job descriptions if they are specifically relevant to that role. For example, if a former manager recommends your performance in a particular position, place it in that job entry.
Can You Remove Recommendations?
What should you do if someone you no longer want to associate with has written you a recommendation? Or what if a past recommendation no longer fits your career trajectory?
LinkedIn allows you to remove recommendations from your profile. Simply click the three dots next to the recommendation and select “Remove”.
The person who provided the recommendation will be notified you removed it. Use discretion – removing a recommendation may upset the person who took time to write it.
That said, it is your profile. Prune as needed to showcase your skills accurately.
Should You Recommend Connections in Return?
We’ve explored getting recommendations, but what about giving them?
When someone recommends you, it’s courteous to offer to provide a recommendation in return. Reciprocity helps build relationships.
However, don’t feel overly pressured into writing recommendations unless you can authentically endorse someone. Avoid hollow praise or recommendations for connections you barely know.
LinkedIn recommendations work best when they include tangible examples and clear evidence that you respect the person’s abilities. Only provide recommendations you feel genuinely good about.
Key Takeaways
To summarize the key points:
Do employers read LinkedIn recommendations?
Most don’t thoroughly read every recommendation word-for-word. But they still gain value from skimming top-line factors like:
– The number of recommendations
– Job titles and companies of the recommenders
– Scanning some of the content
– Profile photos of the recommenders
So recommendations do get noticed, just not necessarily read meticulously.
Ideal number of recommendations
Shoot for 8-15 recommendations. Too few looks sparse; too many is overload.
Best people to recommend you
Managers, industry leaders, colleagues, clients, professors – people who enthusiastically endorse you.
Strategically request recommendations
Ask selectively, share talking points, politely follow up.
Display in dedicated “Recommendations” section
Prominently showcase recommendations at the top of your profile for visibility.
Remove recommendations if needed
You can delete recommendations that no longer fit. Use discretion.
Reciprocate, but only if authentic
Offer to write recommendations in return, but only if you can recommend the person credibly.
Conclusion
LinkedIn recommendations are a valuable part of showcasing your professional brand and qualifications. Though employers may not read each one in depth, they still provide important signals.
Be thoughtful about who you ask for recommendations and how you display them on your profile. Objectively assess whether your number of recommendations fits your career stage. Quality over quantity, and prominent placement, will make this profile section maximize your job search.
