LinkedIn recommendations are an important part of building your professional brand and credibility on the platform. A good recommendation provides specific examples of your skills, accomplishments, and positive attributes that make you stand out. This helps give future employers or connections insight into what it’s like to work with you.
Crafting a thoughtful, detailed recommendation takes effort, but it can really help the person you’re recommending. Here’s what goes into an effective LinkedIn recommendation and some examples you can use for inspiration.
The Elements of a Strong LinkedIn Recommendation
An impactful LinkedIn recommendation generally contains the following elements:
- A brief explanation of your relationship with the person
- Details about specific projects or responsibilities you’ve worked on together
- Examples of the person’s most impressive skills and accomplishments
- Descriptions of the person’s leadership, teamwork, or other positive qualities
- An overview of the impact the person had on you, your team, or your company
The most effective recommendations provide specific, tangible examples of the person’s achievements. Vague, generic praise doesn’t carry as much weight.
The ideal length is 3-5 paragraphs or around 150-300 words. You want enough detail for the recommendation to be meaningful without getting overly long.
Opening With Your Relationship
Briefly explaining how you know the person establishes your credibility right away. You don’t need more than a sentence or two about working together:
“I worked closely with [name] for over two years while they served as [role] at [company]. In that time, I was consistently impressed with [his/her] contributions and capabilities.”
If you managed or supervised the person, note that here as well. Being in a leadership role gives your recommendation more authority:
“As [name’s] manager during [his/her] three years at [company], I directly oversaw [his/her] work and contributions.”
Describing Projects & Responsibilities
After introducing yourself, give specific examples of projects and responsibilities you worked on together. Focus on the person’s most significant contributions and achievements on their key initiatives or assignments:
“[Name] played an instrumental role in redesigning our company’s website, from collaborating closely with our marketing and UX teams through to overseeing the development process. The end result was a 50% increase in site visits year-over-year thanks to the improved user experience.”
“As lead engineer on our flagship product, [name] spearheaded the development of key features including [x], [y], and [z]. These features directly led to a 25% boost in product engagement from our userbase.”
Quantifying contributions with real metrics shows how the person directly impacted their team and company. It also demonstrates firsthand experience working together.
Highlighting Skills & Accomplishments
Focus the bulk of the recommendation on showcasing the person’s most impressive and relevant skills, strengths, and achievements. Think about the things that really set this person apart from their peers and share specific examples.
For technical or specialized roles, mention specific domain expertise and capabilities:
“As a Senior Data Scientist, [name] demonstrated exceptional skill in machine learning and AI. [He/She] built complex algorithms and models that led directly to major improvements in operational efficiency and cost savings.”
“[Name’s] deep knowledge of electronic circuit design enabled [him/her] to quickly troubleshoot issues and optimize our product’s battery efficiency substantially.”
For less technical roles, highlight interpersonal, leadership, strategic, or organizational strengths with relevant examples:
“[Name] has truly phenomenal leadership talents. [He/She] rebuilt and restructured our entire sales team, driving best practices for motivation, accountability, and goal-setting. Under [his/her] leadership, sales increased 30% year-over-year.”
“[Name] is one of the most creative marketing professionals I’ve worked with. [He/She] spearheaded the development of an innovative social media outreach campaign that increased engagement 68% quarter-over-quarter.”
Describing Positive Attributes
It’s also impactful to highlight the person’s standout qualities like work ethic, integrity, coaching/mentorship abilities, communication skills, problem-solving, adaptability, and more.
Share one or two short anecdotes to demonstrate these attributes in action:
“[Name’s] communication skills are exceptional. In product development meetings, [he/she] consistently explained complex technical details clearly and simply to cross-functional partners.”
“[Name] is truly unflappable in times of stress and uncertainty. During the pandemic, [he/she] helped keep morale high with [his/her] calm, solutions-oriented leadership.”
“One of [name’s] greatest strengths is [his/her] adaptability and growth mindset. When our company went through major restructuring, [he/she] quickly learned new skills and processes to thrive in the new environment.”
Summarizing the Person’s Impact
Wrap up the recommendation with a summary of the overall value the person brought to your team or company:
“[Name’s] leadership, innovative thinking, and technical expertise were tremendous assets to our marketing team. [He/She] played a key role in rejuvenating our company’s brand and driving growth.”
“During a period of transition, [name] helped maintain high team engagement and productivity levels with [his/her] passion, work ethic, and commitment to excellence.”
“I can truly say our company would not be where we are today without [name’s] vision and tireless efforts leading our product team. [He/She] has left an enduring mark on our organization.”
Concluding with the person’s unique impact makes it clear what a valuable contributor they were and what they accomplished.
Editing Tips for an Effective Recommendation
After drafting your recommendation, go back and ensure it is polished by:
- Checking for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors
- Cutting any unnecessary words or repetitive phrases
- Re-reading for consistent verb tenses and appropriate use of pronouns
- Ensuring examples are specific and quantified, not vague or abstract
- Balancing professionalism with some warmth and personality
A clean, thoughtful recommendation is much more powerful than a careless or generic one.
LinkedIn Recommendation Example Templates
It can be challenging to craft an impactful recommendation from scratch. Here are a few recommendation templates and examples you can reference as a starting point:
For a Former Colleague
I worked with [name] for over [x] years at [company] where we served as [titles/roles]. In that time, I was consistently impressed with [his/her] contributions to and impact on our [department/team].
[Name] played a lead role in [key projects/campaigns] by [summarizing work and contributions]. [His/Her] leadership and expertise in [relevant skills] were critical to the success of these initiatives. [Provide 1-2 examples of specific skills and impact on key metrics].
Beyond [his/her] outstanding professional accomplishments, [name] is truly a pleasure to work with. [He/She] builds strong relationships through [his/her] communication skills, brings out the best in colleagues with [his/her] collaborative spirit, and maintains unwavering integrity. I wholeheartedly recommend [name] and know [he/she] will provide invaluable contributions to any team.
For a Direct Report
As [name’s] manager for [x] years, I had the pleasure of seeing [his/her] early career growth and many professional achievements firsthand. In [his/her] role as [title], [name] consistently exceeded expectations and became an indispensable contributor on our team.
[Name] demonstrated exceptional skill in [key capabilities] by [provide examples]. [He/She] spearheaded high-impact projects like [name initiatives] through [summarize work and impact]. I was perpetually impressed with [his/her] ability to [highlight strengths and qualities with examples].
[Name] has a truly promising career ahead and I highly recommend [him/her]. Any team would be lucky to have this talented, dedicated professional with such a strong foundation of skills and experience at this stage of [his/her] career.
For a Manager
I had the pleasure of working under [name’s] management for [x] years at [company] where [he/she] led the [team/department] team. Throughout [his/her] tenure as [title], I consistently witnessed [name’s] strengths in leadership, strategic thinking, and relationship-building.
[Name] motivated our team to top performance by [examples of excellence in people management]. [He/She] drove major cross-functional initiatives like [name projects] through [his/her] ability to [highlight key qualities]. And [he/she] navigated organizational challenges and change with poise, transparency, and adaptability.
I credit much of my career growth to [name’s] mentorship and guidance. [His/Her] mix of high standards, encouragement, and advocacy for [his/her] team is truly remarkable. I cannot recommend [name] highly enough as a visionary, results-driven leader who brings out the best in those around [him/her].
For an Entrepreneur/Founder
As an early advisor to [name], I had the opportunity to witness [him/her] bringing [company] from concept to creation and ultimately enormous success. [Name’s] vision, determination, and leadership were the driving forces that turned [his/her] idea into a company that today serves [x] customers worldwide.
From scrappy startup to global brand, [name] focused fanatically on serving [company’s] customers with solutions for [key problems]. [He/She] brought on funders and talent by selling a vision so compelling that early employees took major pay cuts just for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. And [he/she] navigated crises and challenges through resilient optimism and creative problem-solving.
[Name] is the epitome of a founder – utterly relentless in [his/her] pursuit of excellence for customers and company alike. It has been an honor advising [him/her] along the [his/her] journey, and I cannot recommend [name] highly enough as a once-in-a-generation business mind and leader.
Key Takeaways
An impactful LinkedIn recommendation should:
- Explain your relationship and establish credibility upfront
- Provide specific examples of projects, accomplishments, and contributions
- Highlight the most relevant hard and soft skills
- Include positive attributes with illustrative anecdotes
- Quantify achievements and impact with metrics when possible
- Summarize the overall value the person brought
While recommendations require effort, detailed recommendations can powerfully convey someone’s talents and strengths. Use the examples and templates provided above to craft recommendations that make meaningful connections and open doors for your colleagues and connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good LinkedIn recommendation?
A good LinkedIn recommendation includes:
- Specific examples of projects and accomplishments
- Relevant skills and qualifications described
- Measures of success and impact provided
- Positives attributes highlighted
- A summary of the value the person brought
How long should a LinkedIn recommendation be?
Aim for 3-5 paragraphs or 150-300 words. You want sufficient detail without being overly long. Listing someone’s responsibilities isn’t enough – provide vivid examples.
How do you start a LinkedIn recommendation?
Start by briefly explaining your relationship, such as working together at the same company or manager and direct report. This establishes credibility.
Should you accept bad LinkedIn recommendations?
Be selective. It’s better to have fewer recommendations that are thoughtful and detailed. Generic or vague praise does little. Don’t be afraid to decline recommendations that lack substance.
Who should you ask for LinkedIn recommendations?
Good sources include managers, colleagues in key projects, mentors, happy customers/clients, vendors, or professors if you lack work experience. Focus on those who can highlight relevant skills.
Project | Contributions | Impact |
---|---|---|
Website Redesign | Collaborated with marketing and UX teams, oversaw development | 50% increase in site visits |
New Product Development | Spearheaded key feature development | 25% boost in product engagement |
What should you not include in a LinkedIn recommendation?
Avoid:
- Typos, spelling/grammar errors
- Generic, exaggerated praise without examples
- Mentioning weaknesses or negative traits
- Potentially sensitive details about compensation, firings, disputes
- Overly flowery language or cliches
Can you ask for a LinkedIn recommendation after leaving a company?
Yes, it’s common to request recommendations from former managers and colleagues after leaving a role, while their insights into your performance are still fresh. Most are happy to help former team members.
Is there a character limit for LinkedIn recommendations?
No strict character limit exists, but LinkedIn suggests keeping recommendations under 300 words or about three paragraphs for readability.
Conclusion
LinkedIn recommendations showcase your capabilities and credibility. While high-quality recommendations require thoughtfulness, they provide unparalleled validation from professionals familiar with your work. Use the advice and examples provided to create or request recommendations that depict achievements, highlight strengths, and open doors.