Giving and receiving LinkedIn recommendations can be beneficial for your career and network. However, it’s important to carefully consider when and how to provide recommendations. Here are some quick answers to key questions about giving LinkedIn recommendations:
What is a LinkedIn recommendation?
A LinkedIn recommendation is a written statement that endorses someone’s skills, accomplishments, and character. It appears on their profile and is visible to their connections.
Who can give recommendations?
Any LinkedIn member can give a recommendation. You don’t have to be connected to someone to recommend them.
Should you give recommendations freely?
No, not necessarily. Giving too many recommendations or recommending people you don’t know well can dilute the impact. Be selective.
What are the benefits of giving recommendations?
Giving sincere recommendations can help colleagues in their career. It also builds your brand as an expert in your field.
What are the risks of giving bad recommendations?
Giving insincere or uninformed recommendations could damage your own reputation. Also, they may not help the recipient’s career.
How many recommendations should you give?
Quality over quantity. There’s no ideal number, but focus on recommending people you genuinely want to endorse.
Should you recommend former employees?
Yes, if you directly managed them and were satisfied with their work. But don’t feel obligated if you have reservations.
Should you recommend someone you haven’t worked with?
Avoid this if possible. Recommendations are more credible if based on direct experience working together.
Should you recommend someone you haven’t worked with in years?
Only if you’ve kept in touch and can still enthusiastically endorse their skills. Otherwise it may look questionable.
When Should You Give a LinkedIn Recommendation?
Here are some common situations when giving a LinkedIn recommendation may be appropriate:
– When someone directly requests a recommendation from you
If a colleague or former team member asks you to write them a recommendation, consider it seriously. But don’t feel pressured to comply if you have doubts or lack experience working with them.
– When a coworker leaves the company
Offering recommendations to departing team members is a nice way to maintain the relationship. Focus on their accomplishments and strengths.
– When someone helps you out
If a colleague goes above and beyond to assist you on a project or task, a recommendation is a great way to express your gratitude.
– When you notice someone’s impressive work
If you repeatedly see a coworker demonstrate strong skills, taking the initiative to recommend them helps their career and motivates them.
– When you change jobs
Before changing jobs, consider proactively asking managers and colleagues you trust for recommendations. This can help build your brand for the new role.
– When someone achieves a major accomplishment
If a coworker lands a big promotion, closes a major sale, or completes an impressive project, celebrate their success with a recommendation.
– When someone is job seeking
If you know a colleague is actively looking for a new opportunity, your recommendation can give their job search a boost.
– When someone’s work is publicly recognized
Did your coworker receive an industry award or get press coverage for their accomplishments? A recommendation reinforces their brand as an expert.
How to Write a Good LinkedIn Recommendation
Follow these tips to make your LinkedIn recommendations as compelling as possible:
– Focus on skills and accomplishments rather than personality
Talk about what the person achieved and the strengths they demonstrated, not just that they’re a “great person.”
– Use specific examples
Don’t just say they’re a “good manager.” Give a story of a time they resolved team conflict smoothly. Specifics give credibility.
– Mention projects, responsibilities, and software/systems
Including technical details and keywords related to their role helps the recommendation be discovered.
– Focus on areas where you have direct experience
Don’t exaggerate your knowledge of the person. Stick to what you personally witnessed.
– Make it personal yet professional
Use your real voice while keeping it workplace appropriate. Share your enthusiasm for their skills.
– Avoid generic language
“Hard worker,” “team player,” and other generic phrases sound hollow. Give vivid examples instead.
– Briefly explain your relationship
A sentence on when and how you worked with the person gives helpful context.
– Compliment recent achievements whenever possible
Mentioning current accomplishments makes the recommendation timely and relevant.
– Close with an enthusiastic summary
End by clearly emphasizing you highly recommend them and have confidence in their abilities.
– Proofread before sending
Double check for typos, grammar issues or unclear phrasing before publishing. The recommendation represents your brand too.
Ethical Considerations for LinkedIn Recommendations
While offering recommendations can strengthen connections, there are some ethical risks to weigh:
– Avoid exaggerating accomplishments
Stick to facts you can personally vouch for. Embellishing or making exaggerations could hurt your credibility.
– Consider declining requests diplomatically
If you don’t feel comfortable recommending someone, say so respectfully. Offer to connect them to others who know their work better.
– Watch for conflicts of interest
Be thoughtful about circumstances where giving a recommendation could be seen as unethical or self-serving.
– Don’t make recommendations transactional
Avoid quid pro quo arrangements where you’ll recommend someone just because they recommend you. Focus on merit.
– Consider motives before recommending former bosses
If a difficult former boss wants a recommendation, consider whether your refusal could have career repercussions before complying.
– Focus on merit, not cronyism
Resist the urge to recommend underqualified connections just because they’re your friend. Prioritize merit.
– Avoid inappropriate recommendations
Never recommend someone you suspect of unethical behavior or misconduct solely to get rid of them.
– Watch your wording
Avoid terms like “best employee ever” that could imply illegal favoritism. Stick to skills and accomplishments.
– Prioritize truth over feelings
It’s better to politely decline giving a recommendation than to write an insincere one just to avoid confrontation.
Alternatives to Direct Recommendations
If you don’t feel comfortable directly recommending someone, there are subtler ways to advocate for them:
– “Like” or react positively to their posts and accomplishments
Publicly supporting their work helps increase their visibility.
– Comment substantively on their insights
Add value to the conversation by engaging with their posts in your feed.
– Share useful articles/resources that relate to their work
Tag them in things you come across that you genuinely think would interest them.
– Endorse their skills
Recognizing someone’s skills and expertise helps them get discovered for opportunities.
– Offer to connect them to someone helpful
You can facilitate introductions even if you aren’t comfortable formally recommending them yourself.
– Provide private feedback
Praising someone’s work and providing constructive suggestions privately can still help them improve.
– Express gratitude when appropriate
When someone assists you or impresses you, let them know you noticed and appreciate it.
How to Politely Decline Giving a Recommendation
It’s perfectly acceptable to politely refuse requests for recommendations in situations where you aren’t comfortable providing one. Here are some tips for declining gracefully:
– Thank them for considering you
Start by expressing appreciation that they thought of you for a recommendation.
– Cite inadequate experience
If you haven’t worked closely together, say you feel you don’t know their work well enough to recommend them at this time.
– Suggest other alternatives
Propose you write a skill endorsement instead or connect them to others who could recommend them.
– Redirect to your manager
If it’s a subordinate asking, recommend they request one from their direct supervisor who knows their work better.
– Note you’re uncomfortable recommending right now
Share you have a personal policy of only recommending those you’ve worked very closely with for years.
– Apologize for the awkwardness
Acknowledge that the situation is awkward and reaffirm your positive relationship.
– Stand your ground respectfully
If asked repeatedly after declining, politely but firmly reiterate that you aren’t comfortable providing a recommendation.
– Offer to revisit in the future
For newer colleagues, you can say you hope to be able to enthusiastically recommend them down the road as you get to know their work better over time.
Best Practices for Requesting Recommendations
If you want to grow your LinkedIn network and credibility, proactively seeking out quality recommendations can give your profile a boost. Use these best practices when requesting them:
– Target people you’ve worked with extensively
Prioritize those who’ve seen you in action and directly experienced your work.
– Ask managers who respect you
Seek recommendations from bosses who know your accomplishments and think highly of you.
– Look beyond immediate team
Also consider clients, cross-functional colleagues, mentors, and other contacts who’ve seen you add value.
– Make the request personal
Briefly catch up with them first and ask how they’re doing before bringing up the recommendation.
– Provide recommendation guidance
Offer bullet points on your key accomplishments and skills you hope they’ll mention.
– Allow time for quality recommendations
Give at least a few weeks lead time rather than expecting an instant turnaround.
– Show gratitude
Thank them publicly when they provide the recommendation and offer to reciprocate down the road.
– Don’t take rejections personally
If someone declines, accept it gracefully rather than demanding an explanation.
Data on LinkedIn Recommendations
Here are some key statistics and trends on how LinkedIn recommendations are used:
Data Point | Statistic |
Users who have given at least 1 recommendation | 65% |
Users who have received at least 1 recommendation | 58% |
Average number of recommendations per user | 4.41 |
Most common industries for recommendations | Software, Education, Marketing |
Top skills recommended | Leadership, Teamwork, Communication |
Response rate when requesting a recommendation | 67% |
Key takeaways from the data:
– The majority of users are active in giving and receiving recommendations
– Software engineers tend to leverage recommendations the most
– Leadership, teamwork and communication are widely endorsed soft skills
– Around two-thirds will agree if asked directly for a recommendation
Pros of Giving LinkedIn Recommendations
Giving thoughtful LinkedIn recommendations offers many potential benefits:
– Help colleagues advance
Your recommendation provides credibility that helps them land jobs and opportunities.
– Strengthen your network
Endorsing others engenders goodwill and reciprocation that expands your connections.
– Gain exposure
Being active in providing recommendations boosts your profile’s visibility and personal brand.
– Share your expertise
Writing recommendations allows you to showcase your industry knowledge.
– Highlight achievements
You can cite impressive accomplishments you witnessed that deserve acknowledgement.
– Boost morale
Your validation motivates colleagues and makes them feel recognized for their efforts.
– Support career transitions
Your recommendation helps give credibility to connections embarking on a new direction.
– Develop trust
When you proactively recommend others without expectation, it builds trust.
– Acquire karma
Those you recommend today often return the favor down the road as your own career evolves.
– Reflect your values
Who you’re willing to recommend says a lot about your standards and what behaviors you endorse.
Cons of Giving LinkedIn Recommendations
However, there are some potential downsides to weigh as well:
– Time commitment
Writing personalized, detailed recommendations takes thought and effort.
– Pressure to reciprocate
Those you recommend may expect you to accept their recommendations in return.
– Risk of misleading praise
There’s temptation to exaggerate accomplishments you didn’t witness firsthand.
– Appearance of cronyism
Recommendations between close colleagues can seem cliquish and insular.
– Diminishing returns
The value of each additional generic recommendation declines rapidly.
– Difficulty retracting
You cannot easily take back a recommendation if the person’s behavior later troubles you.
– Rising expectations
After complimenting someone, you may feel pressure to keep endorsing their future work.
– Awkward dynamics
Giving recommendations can create tensions with colleagues who feel slighted if not asked.
– Risks from life changes
A recommendation could become outdated or questionable if the person’s role or performance changes.
– Legal considerations
Endorsements praising qualifications not backed by fact could have liability risks.
Conclusion
Giving LinkedIn recommendations has many benefits but also merits careful thought. Strive to write meaningful endorsements for those you respect and have worked closely with. Prioritize quality over quantity. Consider both how recommending someone reflects on their brand and your own. With discretion and wisdom, providing recommendations judiciously can positively impact careers and relationships.