How do I cancel a recommendation I have requested from a connection on LinkedIn?

Summary

Sometimes you may request a recommendation on LinkedIn but later decide you don’t need or want it. LinkedIn unfortunately does not allow you to directly cancel a recommendation request once it’s been sent. However, there are a few workaround options to effectively “cancel” the request:

• Ask the person directly not to write it
• Delete the request from your profile
• If they do write it, you can hide the recommendation

This article will explain these options in more detail, as well as factors to consider before canceling a recommendation request.

Asking the Person Not to Write the Recommendation

The simplest option is to directly ask the person you requested the recommendation from not to write it after all.

You can send them a message through LinkedIn or by email politely asking them not to complete the recommendation. Explain that you’ve reconsidered and no longer need their recommendation at this time.

It’s best to acknowledge that you understand they may have already invested time in writing it. Apologize for any inconvenience and thank them for their willingness to provide a recommendation in the first place.

People are usually understanding in these situations. However, you want to give them as much notice as possible in case they’ve already completed the recommendation.

Some tips for asking someone not to complete your recommendation request:

• Do it privately – use direct messages, not public posts
• Be sincere and gracious in your request
• Thank them again for being willing to help you out
• Confirm they understand your request and will not submit the recommendation

This is the ideal option if you catch the cancellation early. However, it relies on the other person agreeing not to complete the recommendation. If you are unsure whether they will comply, you may need to take additional steps covered next.

Deleting the Request from Your Profile

If you no longer want a recommendation that someone hasn’t completed yet, you can simply delete the request from your profile:

1. Go to your profile and click the Recommendations section
2. Locate the pending request and click the three dots icon next to it
3. Select “Delete request”

This instantly removes the request from your profile and withdraws the ask from the other person. They will no longer have the option to write the recommendation for you.

The main caveat is that if the other person has already written or submitted the recommendation, deleting the request does not affect that. The recommendation may still be posted to your profile at any time unless you also directly ask them not to submit it.

So deleting a request is most effective when done soon after sending it, before the person has written anything. It essentially signals you changed your mind and rescinds the recommendation ask.

Hiding a Recommendation

If the person you requested a recommendation from does complete and submit it before you can cancel, your only recourse is to hide the recommendation from your profile.

You can do this by:

1. Going to your profile and clicking Recommendations
2. Finding the recommendation you want to hide
3. Clicking the three dots icon next to it
4. Choosing “Hide recommendation”

This prevents the recommendation from being visible to anyone viewing your profile. However, it does not delete it. The recommendation still exists in LinkedIn’s system and continues to be associated with your profile.

If you later decide you want to unhide it, you can reverse the process and make it public again. Hiding is not permanent.

Also keep in mind that hiding recommendations frequently may negatively impact your profile. People may wonder why you have few visible recommendations.

So in most cases, it’s better to prevent an unwanted recommendation from being submitted in the first place using the other methods. But hiding is useful as a last resort if needed.

Factors to Consider Before Canceling

Before canceling a recommendation request or hiding a recommendation, think carefully about whether it’s truly needed. Here are some factors to consider:

• Is the recommendation relevant for your current job search or career goals?
• Do you have enough other recommendations that are recent and relevant?
• Is this person willing/able to write you another recommendation in the future if needed?
• Does the length of time you worked together justify a recommendation?
• Will canceling negatively impact your professional relationship with this person?

If upon reflection the recommendation seems unnecessary for your purposes right now, it’s perfectly fine to cancel it or hide it from your profile.

But if you might want it in the future, think twice before burning bridges. Try to cancel requests gracefully and keep the relationship intact if possible.

Conclusion

While LinkedIn doesn’t allow directly canceling recommendation requests, you do have options like:

• Asking the person not to complete it
• Deleting the request
• Hiding the recommendation if already posted

The key is acting quickly before the person invests significant time writing the recommendation. Also carefully weigh whether you may want their recommendation later.

With the right approach, you can successfully avoid an unwanted recommendation without jeopardizing the professional relationship. Handled properly, most LinkedIn connections will understand if you need to cancel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I retract a recommendation request after the person agrees to provide it?

Yes, you can retract a recommendation request after the person agrees to provide it. The easiest way is to send them a message asking them not to complete it and explaining why you changed your mind. You can also simply delete the request from your profile, but this relies on them noticing that the request disappeared.

What happens if I delete a request but the person writes the recommendation anyway?

If you delete a recommendation request but the person writes and submits the recommendation anyway, it will still be posted on your profile. Deleting the request does not prevent them from submitting a recommendation they have already completed. At that point your only option is to hide the recommendation.

Can I prevent a recommendation I don’t want from being seen by others?

Yes, you can prevent a recommendation you don’t want from being seen by others by hiding it. Go to your profile, click on Recommendations, find the recommendation, click the three dots icon next to it, and choose Hide. This will remove it from view on your profile.

Is there a way to fully delete a recommendation on my profile?

No, there is no way to fully delete a recommendation that has already been submitted and posted to your LinkedIn profile. The only options are to hide it or unhide it. But it will remain associated with your account in LinkedIn’s system even if hidden.

What’s the best way to cancel a recommendation to maintain a good professional relationship?

The best way to cancel a recommendation request while maintaining a good professional relationship is to communicate directly and politely with the person outside of LinkedIn. Send them a courteous message explaining you have reconsidered and asking them not to complete the recommendation you previously requested. Most people will understand if you handle it graciously.

Should I tell the person if I end up hiding their recommendation?

It’s a good idea to let the person know if you end up hiding their recommendation, but not required. If they notice it’s no longer visible on your profile they may ask you about it anyway. But it demonstrates transparency and preserves the relationship to proactively tell them you chose to hide their recommendation for X reason and appreciate them taking the time to write it.

Steps to Take When Canceling a LinkedIn Recommendation Request

Here is a summary of the key steps to take when canceling a LinkedIn recommendation request:

1. Contact the person privately to ask them not to complete the recommendation
2. Explain the reason you are canceling the request
3. Thank them again for being willing to help originally
4. Confirm they will not submit the recommendation
5. Delete the recommendation request from your profile
6. If needed, hide a submitted recommendation from your profile
7. Notify the person if you end up hiding their recommendation
8. Maintain a positive professional relationship

Following these steps helps ensure you effectively cancel an unwanted recommendation request while preserving your connection with the person.

Key Takeaways

• Directly ask the person not to complete the recommendation after canceling the request
• Delete the request from your profile to formally withdraw it
• Hide any submitted recommendations you don’t want visible
• Notify the person if you hide their recommendation
• Canceling gracefully preserves professional relationships

Table Summary

Conclusion

While not directly reversible, LinkedIn recommendation requests can effectively be canceled through communication, deleting requests, and hiding recommendations if needed. The key is acting quickly before the person puts in time writing one to preserve professional relationships. With tact, you can rescind an unwanted recommendation request.