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How To Write A LinkedIn Recommendation

If you’re like me, you’ve been asked to write a LinkedIn recommendation for someone at least once in your career. And if you’re like me, you’re also dreading the idea because it sounds really awkward and formal. But don’t worry! Once you know what to say, writing one is easy (and even kind of fun). So keep reading to learn how to make your recommendations sing. 

(cue intro music) Welcome to another episode of “The How To’s Of Life.” In today’s episode, we’ll be learning how to write a recommendation on LinkedIn like a pro.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “What could I possibly have to say about someone’s job experience?” or maybe you are wondering what makes a great LinkedIn recommendation? How can you make sure your words will make an impact?

In this article, we will share six tips for writing killer LinkedIn recommendations as well as some LinkedIn recommendation examples!

We have included all that there is to know about how to write LinkedIn recommendations. By the end of this article, you will be a LinkedIn recommendation-writing machine!

What is a LinkedIn Recommendation?

What is a LinkedIn Recommendation?

Have you ever heard of a letter of recommendation? Maybe you needed one for admissions or for a scholarship application. A LinkedIn recommendation is very similar! It’s a written statement attesting someone’s skills, qualifications, and character that will help them land a job.

To make things simple, it is a publicized comment that praises someone’s work or tells about your professional relationship with that person. It is similar to a letter of recommendation, but it is originally published on LinkedIn instead of submitted to a university application or a company application.

It can be given by absolutely anyone: a co-worker, supervisor, client, or even a friend. However, unlike a letter of recommendation, it is publicly visible on the person’s profile.

That means that your words could potentially be seen by hundreds (or even thousands) of people!

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Why Should I Make One?

Why Should I Make LinkedIn Recommendation

There are many reasons why you should make a LinkedIn recommendation. For one, it can help your connection get more opportunities. When people see that you have given them a positive review, they are more likely to trust your opinion and recommend them to others.

Additionally, making a LinkedIn recommendation will also help you build your own personal brand or company. By sharing your thoughts and experiences with others, you are able to show off your expertise and knowledge in your field.

Finally, giving a LinkedIn recommendation is simply a nice way to support someone you care about and help them get hired by a company.

How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation

Now that we know what a LinkedIn recommendation is and why you should make one, it’s time to learn what are the core elements that you should include in one! Here are six tips to help you get started:

Start by introducing yourself and your relationship to the person you’re recommending.

Be sure to include how you know each other and what your connection is (e.g., “I had the pleasure of working with Jane as my direct report at *company*”).

Give an overview of the person’s skills and accomplishments.

This is where you get to highlight why you’re recommending this person. What are they good at? What did they do that impressed you? Be sure to give specific examples on the person’s profile.

Describe the impact of the person’s work.

How did their work make a difference in your life or in the lives of others? What would you say is their most outstanding achievement? Do they boost team morale? Do they have a strong work ethic?

Use strong language to emphasize your point.

Avoid adjectives like “good” or “nice.” Instead, say things like “excellent manager,” “outstanding teammate,” or “valuable person.” Do not be afraid to be bold in describing this person so that you can get the audience’s attention

Keep it brief.

LinkedIn recommendations should be around 200-300 words. Anything more than that is likely to lose the reader. Be brief and concise. Highlight the strong points so you can quickly grab the reader’s attention.

End with a call to action.

Encourage your readers to reach out to the person you’re recommending’s Linkedin profile if they need help in the area that they specialize in.

Linkedin Recommendation Example

Now that you are starting to get the feel of what should be included in a recommendation intended to be published on Linkedin, let me provide you with a template to help you get started on making your first recommendation to help boost a person’s career

Below is a very basic LinkedIn recommendation template that you can use:

“I had the pleasure of working with ____ at _____. They were an integral part of our team and helped us achieve efficient solutions. I would recommend ____ to any hiring managers or future employers looking for a talented, hardworking professional.”

If you want to go above and beyond, you can include specific examples

Here are a bunch more Linkedin recommendation templates; feel free to help yourselves

“I had worked closely with Jane as my direct report at Linkedin. Jane is an excellent writer and editor, and she made a valuable contribution to our team. Her work was always of the highest quality, and she was able to meet the deadlines of the job without fail. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking to fill in the position of a talented writer or editor.”

or you could also say something like this about a person you recommend for the job

“If you’re looking for a talented writer or editor, I highly recommend Jane. She was an excellent member of my team and I know she would be a valuable asset to any organization. This person has the ability to handle the job in a very time-efficient manner.”

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What To Avoid

What To Avoid When Publishing LinkedIn Recommendation

Now that we have covered most of the dos, we should also probably warn you about the don’ts.

For example, avoid giving generic praise like “She’s a great colleague” or “He’s a hard worker.” These phrases don’t tell the reader anything new or exciting about the person being recommended or your working relationship, and they won’t do much to boost that person’s Linkedin profile.

Another thing you should avoid is using vague language when you make recommendations. For example, “She’s a very effective communicator” doesn’t give the reader any specific information about what makes this person’s communication skills so great or why she would be a great addition to the company.

Be as specific as possible in your praise about someone, and back up your claims with an example. This will make your recommendation much more meaningful and impactful.

The biggest mistake people usually make when they publish recommendations on LinkedIn is not taking the time to write a well-thought-out, detailed recommendation. This is not the place for you to be shy or modest – it’s an opportunity for you to really sell someone’s skills and accomplishments on that person’s LinkedIn profile. Feel free to expound and give an example. And go ahead and brag a little!

How Do You Know Who To Give Linkedin Recommendations To?

If you have ever been on the receiving end of LinkedIn recommendations, you know that they can be… weird. Sometimes they are from people you don’t even remember working with. Other times, they are from people who barely know you.

So how do you decide who to give recommendations to?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing recommendations:

The person should be someone you have actually worked with.

This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people recommend people they haven’t actually worked with. If you haven’t worked with the person, you can’t speak to their work ethic or skills.

The person should be someone you would recommend to a friend.

This is a good litmus test for whether or not the person is worth recommending. If you wouldn’t recommend them to a friend, why are you recommending them on LinkedIn?

The person should be someone who has actually done good work.

Again, this seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people recommend people who haven’t actually done anything noteworthy. If the person hasn’t done anything worth recommending, don’t waste your time writing a recommendation for them.

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When Should You Give Out Recommendations?

When Should You Give Out LinkedIn Recommendations

The best time to give a recommendation is when the person has done something worth recommending. For example, if they’ve just landed a big client or closed a big deal, that’s a great time to recommend them. Or if they’ve gone above and beyond on a team project, that’s also a great time to recommend them.

The bottom line is that you should only recommend people who you have actually worked with and who have done good work.

Keep these things in mind, and you’ll be sure to write recommendations that are actually worth reading. And who knows, maybe someday someone will write a recommendation for you that is actually worth reading. Wouldn’t that be nice?

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Some Final Thoughts

Recommendations on LinkedIn can be a great way to endorse someone’s skills and accomplishments. They’re also really easy to write on peoples’ Linkedin profiles!

Just think about what the person you’re recommending is good at, and sell their skills and how well they work with a team using strong language. And don’t forget to include specific examples of what they’ve done for the company. If you’ve had a good experience working with the person, go ahead and add that in too. This will surely help them land that new position that they are aiming for.

Writing a recommendation on Linkedin is fast, easy, and can make a big impact.

Now go out there and write some killer LinkedIn recommendations!

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