Quick answer: You can change the relationship on a LinkedIn recommendation by editing the recommendation. On the LinkedIn website, go to your profile page and click on the Recommendations section. Find the recommendation you want to edit and click the “Edit” button. This will allow you to change the relationship that is listed for the person who gave you the recommendation.
Changing the relationship on a LinkedIn recommendation can be useful if your relationship with the person has changed over time. For example, if someone gave you a recommendation when they were your coworker, but is now a manager or direct report, you may want to update the relationship listed in the recommendation.
Why Would You Want to Change the Relationship on a LinkedIn Recommendation?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to change the relationship listed on a LinkedIn recommendation:
Your relationship has changed
As mentioned above, the most common reason is that your relationship with the person has evolved. For example:
- A coworker has become your manager or supervisor
- A manager is now a coworker or peer
- A client has become an employer or coworker
- A vendor is now a client
Updating the relationship keeps your profile accurate and current.
The original relationship was inaccurate
Sometimes the person giving the recommendation may have selected an incorrect relationship when first writing it. Changing this ensures your profile reflects the true nature of the relationship.
You want to highlight a key relationship
In some cases, you may want to emphasize a particular relationship more on your profile by listing it in your recommendations. For example, listing someone as a “client” rather than just a coworker can showcase your client management abilities.
How to Change the Relationship on a LinkedIn Recommendation
Editing the relationship on a LinkedIn recommendation is easy to do, just follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to your profile
Log into your LinkedIn account and navigate to your personal profile page.
Step 2: Click on Recommendations
Find the Recommendations section and click on “See all recommendations” to expand the list.
Step 3: Locate the recommendation
Scroll through the list to find the specific recommendation you want to edit. You may need to click “Show more” to see all your recommendations.
Step 4: Click Edit
Once you have located the correct recommendation, click the pencil “Edit” icon on the right side.
Step 5: Update the relationship
This will open an editor window where you can update the relationship listed for this recommendation. Click on the relationship field and select a new option from the drop down menu.
Step 6: Save changes
Once you have picked the new relationship, scroll down and click “Save”. The recommendation will now display the updated relationship.
Key Relationships You Can Choose
When editing a LinkedIn recommendation, here are some of the key relationships you can select:
- Coworker
- Manager
- Direct report
- Client
- Customer
- Vendor
- Teacher
- Student
- Supervisor
- Mentor
- Mentee
- Advisor
- Colleague
Choose whichever option best reflects your actual relationship with the person.
Should You Notify the Recommender?
When you change the relationship on a LinkedIn recommendation, it’s a nice courtesy to notify the person who gave it to you. Especially if you are upgrading the relationship (e.g. coworker to supervisor) or totally changing it (client to teacher).
A quick message ensures they are aware and the change is accurate. Most people won’t mind as relationships often evolve over time.
You can notify them by:
- Sending a LinkedIn message
- Emailing them directly
- Mentioning it next time you speak
Say something simple like “Just wanted to let you know that I updated your recommendation on my LinkedIn profile to reflect my new role” or “Thanks again for the recommendation. I just updated it to show you were a client instead of a coworker which is more accurate.”
What Happens If You Change the Relationship Without Permission?
Technically you can edit the relationship on any recommendation on your LinkedIn profile without getting explicit permission from the recommender first. However, there are some risks:
- They may be confused or unhappy about the change
- They could rescind the recommendation entirely
- It could damage your relationship if they feel misled
So while you don’t need legal approval, it’s wise to let them know to preserve the relationship and avoid misunderstandings. Most recommenders won’t mind as long as the new relationship accurately reflects your interactions.
Can the Recommender Reject Your Relationship Change?
The original recommender does not have the ability to reject relationship edits you make or revert them back on your profile. As the profile owner, you have full control over the information on your LinkedIn page.
However, as mentioned above, the recommender can decide to withdraw their recommendation altogether if they feel the new relationship is inaccurate or misrepresentative.
So it’s best to keep them in the loop to avoid any conflicts. A quick heads up message prevents hurt feelings and shows extra respect.
Can You Change the Relationship Back Later On?
Yes, you can change the relationship on a LinkedIn recommendation as many times as needed. All edits are reversible.
For example, you could:
- Change a coworker to a manager
- Later edit it back to coworker if needed
- Change it once again to a supervisor
LinkedIn recommendations are designed to be flexible and adaptable as relationships evolve over careers. Feel free to tweak as needed to keep your profile accurate.
Are There Any Limits to Relationship Edits?
LinkedIn places no official limits on how many times you can edit the relationship field in a recommendation. You have complete flexibility.
However, excessive edits may confuse your connections and look inauthentic. Stick to only making edits when relationships genuinely evolve or you need to fix inaccuracies.
A good rule of thumb is to not make major relationship changes more than once every 6-12 months per recommendation. And always notify the recommender so they stay informed.
Can You Edit Any Part of a Recommendation?
In addition to changing the relationship, you can also edit other parts of a LinkedIn recommendation:
- The recommendation text itself
- The date range when you worked together
- The location where you worked together
- The position/title you held when receiving the recommendation
Use edits judiciously to fix mistakes and keep your profile up-to-date as career details change. But avoid excessive editing for integrity.
Do Edits Require Approval from LinkedIn?
No, you do not need approval from LinkedIn to change relationships or edit recommendations. As the profile owner, you have full control.
LinkedIn automatically saves any changes you make to recommendations on your profile. There is no review or approval process.
However, be sure edits comply with LinkedIn’s guidelines to avoid issues. For example, don’t change a relationship to mislead readers or gain an unfair advantage.
Can You Hide LinkedIn Recommendations?
If needed, you can also hide recommendations on your LinkedIn profile so they are not visible to others.
To do so:
- Go to your profile and click Recommendations
- Locate the specific recommendation you want to hide
- Click the “Edit” button
- Uncheck the box next to “Show this recommendation on my profile”
- Save changes
The recommendation will now be private and only visible to you when editing your profile.
This can be useful for removing old, irrelevant recommendations from view. Just be sure to notify the recommender so they are not surprised.
Can You Delete LinkedIn Recommendations?
Unlike Facebook, there is no official way to permanently delete or remove a LinkedIn recommendation. Even if you hide it from your profile, it still exists in LinkedIn’s database.
The only option is to have the original recommender withdraw their recommendation. But this requires them to actively take action on their profile.
Most recommenders will be willing to withdraw upon request if the recommendation is outdated or you have parted ways. Simply send them a message to request they withdraw.
Conclusion
Updating relationship types on LinkedIn recommendations keeps your profile current. Notify recommenders to stay aligned and avoid surprises. Don’t over-edit for a trustworthy profile. While not reversible, hiding or withdrawing lets you curate top recommendations.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why would you change a LinkedIn recommendation relationship? | If the relationship evolves over time, to correct inaccuracies, or to highlight a key relationship. |
| How do you edit the relationship on a recommendation? | Go to your profile, click Recommendations, select Edit, pick a new relationship. |
| Should you notify the recommender about changes? | Yes, to be courteous and avoid surprises or confusion. |
| Can you change relationships back later? | Yes, you can edit the relationship as many times as needed. |
| Can you edit other parts of recommendations? | Yes, you can edit the text, date, location, and position. |
| Do relationship edits require LinkedIn approval? | No, you can edit without approval as the profile owner. |
| Can you delete LinkedIn recommendations? | No, but you can hide or have the recommender withdraw it. |
