Giving and receiving great recommendations on LinkedIn can be invaluable for building your professional brand and making connections. However, not all recommendations are created equal. A thoughtful, detailed recommendation that provides specific examples of your skills and achievements is the gold standard. So what exactly makes a LinkedIn recommendation stand out? Here are some best practices and examples to help you craft recommendations that make a strong impact.
Highlight Specific Skills and Accomplishments
A generic recommendation that simply states, “John was a great employee, he did good work” isn’t very helpful. The best recommendations provide concrete examples that illustrate your capabilities. For instance: “As a project manager, John demonstrated strong leadership abilities and helped our team deliver results on time. He led the successful ABC project, coordinating over 20 team members across multiple departments to launch our product redesign 2 months ahead of schedule.”
Specificity is key. Quantify results and provide real-world examples that showcase the person’s talents and achievements.
Tailor Recommendations to Each Person
While it may be tempting to reuse the same generic recommendation for multiple people, taking the time to personalize each one can make a big difference. Include details that are unique to that individual and their role. For example:
“I had the pleasure of managing Tim for 3 years while working on the e-commerce analytics team. Tim’s technical knowledge of data science and ability to communicate complex results enabled our executives to make smart business decisions. He built 3 dashboards that increased monthly site visits by 25%. Tim’s passion for continuous learning also allowed him to pick up new technical skills quickly, making him an invaluable agile team member.”
Customizing recommendations to highlight each person’s particular strengths shows you recognize their individual talents and contributions.
Focus on Soft Skills
Technical job skills and measurable achievements are important to mention, but also consider including notes on the person’s soft skills like communication, collaboration, and leadership. For example:
“As a senior web developer, Priya consistently delivered high-quality work and met aggressive deadlines. Beyond her technical skills, Priya also provided mentorship to junior developers. Her compassionate leadership style created a welcoming environment and helped less experienced team members build their skills.”
Comments on soft skills allow recommenders to provide a more holistic view of what the person brings to an organization.
Use Industry Jargon When Relevant
For recommendations related to a particular industry or job function, incorporate relevant jargon, terminology, and acronyms. This shows you truly understand the skills and capabilities required for that role. For example:
“As Lead UX Architect, James demonstrated deep expertise in HIS design principles and applications. He quickly produced quality DES blueprints and prototypes that led to improved KPIs, including a 15% increase in new user activation rates. James has a strong vision for creating intuitive CX journeys.”
Using the right lingo reinforces your familiarity with the person’s field and specialization.
Focus on Transferable Skills
While you want to provide position-specific examples when possible, also consider highlighting transferable skills that apply across roles. This showcases the person’s versatility as an employee. Phrases like “strong problem-solver”, “strategic thinker”, and “creative innovator” demonstrate adaptable capabilities.
Emphasize Cultural Contributions
Look beyond formal job responsibilities to emphasize ways the person contributed to the organization’s culture and community. Maybe they led a volunteer initiative, or organized fun employee events and bonding experiences. Examples like these demonstrate engagement and embodiment of company values.
Use Numbers and Data When Possible
Quantifiable details help illustrate tangible achievements. Even if the examples are approximations, including numbers makes the recommendation more persuasive. For instance:
“Through John’s innovative platform updates, our company increased app downloads by approximately 20% over a 6-month period.”
“As project manager, Sofia improved team productivity by implementing agile frameworks that reduced release cycles by roughly 35%.”
Hard numbers, percentages, and statistics make professional accomplishments more credible and memorable.
Focus on Impact
A great recommendation doesn’t just list responsibilities – it highlights real world impact and influence. Use action words that emphasize what the person achieved. Sentences like “Increased revenue by 30% through a viral marketing campaign” clearly convey results and bottom line value. Outlining key contributions provides proof of the individual’s capabilities.
Keep It Short Yet Detailed
Aim for 3-5 concise yet information-rich paragraphs. Avoid overly long recommendations that drone on. Be selective in providing the most meaningful examples and achievements. However, don’t cut corners either – a recommendation needs enough detail and context to substantiate your endorsement. Strive for balance between brevity and depth.
Proofread for Errors
Before submitting your recommendation, carefully proofread for any spelling, grammar, or factual errors. Recommendations filled with obvious mistakes undermine your professionalism and attention to detail. Don’t rely solely on spellcheck either – read your recommendation out loud to catch any awkward phrasing. A thoughtful, polished recommendation reflects well on you.
Sample Recommendation
Here is an example of a robust recommendation incorporating the best practices outlined above:
It was a privilege to work with Jane for over 2 years as members of the product marketing team. As our Senior Product Marketing Manager, Jane spearheaded the development of our company’s new SaaS platform from initial strategy to successful launch. She conducted in-depth market research, clearly communicated insights to our executive team in data-driven presentations, and created a targeted digital marketing campaign that drove 22% more trial sign-ups compared to our traditional SaaS products.
Beyond the measurable impact of her work, Jane is simply a pleasure to collaborate with. Her ability to translate complex concepts into compelling narratives helped bridge communication gaps between our sales, engineering, and marketing departments. She has a natural talent for relationship-building and uniting cross-functional teams around a shared vision. Even in stressful situations, Jane stays positive and solution-oriented.
In summary, Jane is an outstanding product leader who delivers quantifiable results while also nurturing team culture. She would bring invaluable strategic thinking, technical knowledge, and people skills to any technology product role. I wholeheartedly recommend her, and would welcome the opportunity to work with her again in the future.
This recommendation provides excellent social proof of Jane’s capabilities by highlighting both her hard skills and soft skills. The level of detail clearly demonstrates the recommender’s deep familiarity with Jane’s work.
Who Should You Ask for Recommendations?
To get great recommendations, think carefully about who to approach. Good options include:
– Current or former managers who have directly overseen your work
– Colleagues and teammates you’ve collaborated with on projects
– Clients, customers, or vendors you’ve worked closely with
– Mentors and coaches who have provided you guidance
Avoid asking for recommendations from people who don’t know you or your work well as they will likely just provide generic praise rather than in-depth examples. Focus on building relationships with potential recommenders over time so they are more inclined to enthusiastically endorse you.
How to Politely Ask for a Recommendation
Take a professional approach when requesting a recommendation. Here are some best practices:
– Briefly explain why you admire the person’s expertise and value their endorsement. Don’t just ask outright without any context upfront.
– Share details on the specific position or opportunity you are targeting and how their recommendation would be helpful.
– If needed, politely remind them of projects or accomplishments they could highlight based on your work together.
– Express your sincere gratitude and offer to provide a recommendation in return.
– Give them plenty of time to craft the recommendation thoughtfully, instead of pressuring a 24-hour turnaround.
– Send a thank you note expressing your appreciation when they provide the completed recommendation. Continue nurturing the relationship beyond just asking for favors.
Who Should You Recommend?
Be selective in choosing who to recommend on LinkedIn. Only endorse those you feel strongly positive about based on direct experience working together. Avoid giving recommendations out of mere obligation or reciprocity.
Stick to recommending:
– Former colleagues who made a positive impact and impressed you.
– Team members you managed who exhibited strong skills and results.
– Professionals who brought unique value to your organization.
Essentially, recommend people you truly respect and would gladly work with again. Your endorsement reflects directly on your own brand.
LinkedIn Recommendation Etiquette
Here are some additional tips for proper LinkedIn recommendation etiquette:
– Proofread recommendations you receive and politely request edits if needed to correct any significant errors.
– If uncomfortable providing a recommendation, transparently communicate reasons why instead of ignoring the request.
– Use customized messages when asking for recommendations instead of mass generic invites.
– Follow company guidelines regarding restrictions on giving recommendations (especially for legal or regulatory reasons).
– Keep your recommendations up-to-date by periodically revisiting old ones, removing those no longer relevant and adding new ones.
– Evaluate your recommendations objectively to identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement.
Adhering to etiquette best practices preserves your professional reputation and ensures your recommendations carry more weight.
The Importance of Quality Recommendations
So why do top-notch LinkedIn recommendations matter so much? Here are some key benefits:
Boost Credibility
Meaningful recommendations from respected professionals convey trust and credibility that you are a qualified, skilled candidate.
Showcase Achievements
Detailed examples of your accomplishments promote your personal brand by spotlighting your work.
Reinforce Skills
Recommendations complement and reinforce the skills listed on your profile with outside validation.
Increase Discoverability
Recommendations boost your visibility and help you get discovered by more recruiters and hiring managers.
Strengthen Connections
The process of giving and receiving recommendations expands your professional network.
Personalize Your Brand
Unique stories and anecdotes in recommendations add a personal touch to your brand.
In summary, recommendations humanize your profile, convey social proof of your capabilities, and strengthen ties across your connections on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
An effective LinkedIn recommendation tells a compelling story showcasing a person’s specific achievements, skills, and contributions. Customized examples and details are far more persuasive than generic praise. Recommendations that highlight both quantifiable results and cultural impact provide a well-rounded endorsement. By focusing on showcasing someone’s talents in a strategic light, you can craft recommendations that truly help build their professional brand and credibility. Both giving and receiving thoughtful recommendations is an important part of relationship-building and career growth on LinkedIn.
