I must say that LinkedIn recommendations are quite underrated and underutilized tools for increasing your professional presence online.
Think about it: in a platform that is the go-to place for all professionals, what matters the most?
That’s right, it’s the credibility and trust you build with your network.
It doesn’t really matter if you’re a job seeker, manager, freelancer, or even a student; effectively making use of LinkedIn recommendations can prove to be quite useful in building a robust and extensive network.
Guess what?
You’ve come to the right place if you wanna learn about:
👉 What are LinkedIn recommendations, and how they work?
👉 How do you request LinkedIn recommendations?
👉 7 LinkedIn recommendation templates
👉 Few examples of LinkedIn recommendations and why they work.
Let’s begin right away, then!
So, What Exactly Are LinkedIn Recommendations, and How Do They Work?
LinkedIn recommendations are basically a personal testimony written by your connections to highlight your skills, accomplishments, or even your character.
Long story short, it’s just someone vouching for you.
Why do I even need someone to vouch for me?
I know there are some of you who have that question on your mind; let me answer that with a question of my own…
Why wouldn’t you want someone to vouch for you? 😂
Benefits of LinkedIn Recommendations
- Visibility:
If you come across an account that interests you or just caught your eye, what’s the first thing you do? That’s right, you view their profile.
LinkedIn recommendations appear on your LinkedIn profile, so if people see that your skills and accomplishments are being backed up by someone, it is bound to increase your visibility.
- Builds trust:
LinkedIn recommendations essentially serve as digital proof of your proficiency.
This has way more impact than self-promotion. You can maintain a trustworthy image for any potential clients or collaborators who check your profile.
- Enhance your brand:
LinkedIn recommendations contribute significantly to your overall brand on LinkedIn.
They can showcase your work ethic, values, or any contributions to the industry, creating a compelling narrative that really puts you out there.
How Do LinkedIn Recommendations Work?
The working of LinkedIn recommendations is quite simple. You can:
1. Request Recommendations:
Yup, you can request recommendations from your connections. Just go to the person’s profile, click on more, and select “Request a recommendation.”
Now, you have to specify what your relationship with this person is and what your position was at the time, and you can also include a personalized message to add more context.
2. Writing a recommendation:
Once the recommendation request is received, the person writes it and submits it through LinkedIn.
You just need to approve it, and it will be displayed in the recommendations section of your profile.
3. Approving the recommendation:
Before you go ahead and display the recommendation on your profile, you can review it.
If required, you can also request edits to make sure that the recommendation suits your professional narrative.
And that’s it; people will be able to see any recommendations you have received or given in the recommendations tab of your profile.
How to Request a LinkedIn Recommendation… the Right Way?
Yeah, I know, asking someone for recommendations can be quite intimidating (unless you know them personally). But don’t worry, it’s actually a lot easier than you think.
Requesting a Recommendation
- Choose the right people: Reach out to the people who you've worked with or who know your work well. Your colleagues, managers, and clients are all good examples.
- Personalization: Make sure you always send a personalized message to the people you seek recommendations from. Provide a brief explanation of why you’re asking them for it, and mention any specific skills or experiences you’d like them to highlight.
- Be Grateful: Pretty generic advice, I know. Trust me when I say this: even a little gratitude goes a long way. Make sure you leave a small thank you regardless of who you ask or whether they accept your request or not.
Here’s an example message for requesting a LinkedIn recommendation:
Hi {Name},
I hope you’re doing well! I’m currently updating my LinkedIn profile and was wondering if you’d be open to writing a recommendation for me. It would mean a lot to me if you could highlight {specific skill/achievements} from our time working together on {specific project}.
Thank you so much for considering this!
Best regards,
{Your Name}
If you wanna know how you can automate the process of requesting recommendations, just click here!
7 LinkedIn Recommendation Templates for Different Scenarios
Writing recommendations for others is just as important as receiving them. At Least this way, you have a higher chance of getting recommendations for yourself.
However, creating a recommendation template can be quite difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Don’t worry; I’ve compiled 7 LinkedIn recommendation templates for you, which you can use in different scenarios.
Template for Colleagues:
“It was a great pleasure working with {Name} at {company}. I was impressed with how they demonstrated their {key qualities, e.g., creativity, leadership}. {Name} played a crucial role in {specific achievement} during {specific project}. Their expertise and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to collaborate with them!”
Template for Clients:
“Working with {Name} on {specific project/service} really showed me their level of professionalism and expertise in {respective field}. Their understanding of {specific skill} helped us achieve {specific result} together. Their attention to detail was exactly what we were looking for, and we would gladly love to work with them again.”
Template for Freelancers/Contractors:
“I hired {Name} for {specific project}, and their skills in {specific area} have exceeded my expectations. They were able to deliver {specific results} with absolutely no compromise on quality. What really stood out was their ability to adapt to any feedback given to them and work on it ASAP! It was a fantastic experience working with them.”
Template for Manager:
“{Name} is an exceptional leader, and I’ve learned so much from them during my time at {company name}. They have the unique ability to {specific skill} and create an atmosphere filled with fun and motivation. One of my most memorable moments was working together with them during {specific project}, which was a huge success with the help of their guidance. They truly lead by example.”
Template for Mentors:
“{Name} has been a tremendous mentor, always willing to share their knowledge and insights on {specific field}. Their guidance during {specific project/challenge} helped me get through various obstacles and also helped me grow professionally and personally. I’m truly grateful for the unending support they’ve given me in my journey.”
Template for an HR Professional:
“{Name} is an exceptional recruitment manager! Their approachable nature and also the fact that they always go above and beyond for the company made every one not only love them but also hold a lot of respect for them. The way they always take initiative during {specific events} with their innovative strategies led to {specific outcomes}. They really are an invaluable part of our team.”
Template for a Student:
“The eagerness to always learn more and do better is something that always made {name} stand out. Achieving {specific result} was only possible because of the creativity and dedication {name} showed during {particular project}. They’re a motivated individual with great potential, and I’m really eager to see what they achieve in the future.”
Real-Life Recommendation Examples and Why They Work
Example 1:
“Working with {Name} was an absolute delight! We worked together on the same team to tackle new business initiatives. They are extremely driven and approach challenges positively. I’ve learned so much about how to face problems thanks to her. {Name} goes above and beyond for their team and really holds us all together strong. Any workplace would be lucky to have her.”
This recommendation highlights teamwork and problem-solving (two of the most important things you need in a professional workplace). It also emphasizes their positive attitude and offers genuine gratitude and respect.
Example 2:
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with {name} for over {specific period of time}. We worked closely together on a number of our company’s clients. They are incredibly reliable, organized, and resourceful, too. They were able to make all projects run smoothly and brought an incredible project management experience. Their friendly yet professional demeanor just makes them the perfect addition to any workplace.”
This recommendation emphasizes the reliability, organizational skills, and professionalism of the person. It makes a clear point that the individual is a valuable asset to the team.
Example 3:
“{Name} is an energetic and earnest person who dedicates themself to what they’re passionate about. Their plans strategically balance both short and long-term goals. With a desire for intensive research and also critical thinking, they are able to identify problems before they arise. When we face any problem, they would show strong leadership skills and communicate creative solutions. It’s just great reassurance knowing that they’ve always got our back!”
This recommendation showcases the person's leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills. It gives a well-rounded perspective on the individual’s capabilities.
Best Practices and Tips for LinkedIn Recommendations
Once you’ve understood what LinkedIn recommendations are (which you should know by now), you will see that they are quite powerful.
Let me tell you some of the best practices for LinkedIn recommendations by answering a few questions and also a few tips for all the job seekers out there 😉.
Automation For The Win
Yeah, you read that right!
You can automate the process of requesting LinkedIn recommendations. Let me just show you how easy it is with SalesRobot.
Link Your LinkedIn Account
The first thing you’ll need to do is to link your LinkedIn account to SalesRobot.
Once you log in to SalesRobot, just click on “Dashboard” and select “Add Account.”
Now, just add your credentials and let’s get to automation.
Creating a LinkedIn Recommendation Request Campaign
Before we start the campaign, there’s one thing you need to do.
- Head over to your LinkedIn account, click on My Network, and select Connections.
- Click on “Search with filters.”
- Now, use the search filters to choose the people from whom you want to request the recommendation.
For example, if you’re looking for people from a certain region or a certain position, just select that particular filter and apply.
- Once that’s done, copy the URL.
- Head over to SalesRobot and create a campaign.
- Select “Create campaign with LinkedIn only,” select “I’m an Advanced User,” and name your campaign.
- Now, click on “Add from LinkedIn Search.”
- Paste the URL you copied earlier from LinkedIn, click save, and go to configure settings.
- Click on the connection levels drop-down and select only “1st”, then save and continue.
You can request recommendations from your first-degree connections only.
- Now, select the “From Scratch” option.
- Click on the “Send Message” option.
Since you’re asking people from your first-degree connections, you can directly send them a message.
- Enter your recommendation request message, and SalesRobot will score it and tell you what chances that message has of getting a response.
- Save it and start your campaign. That’s it!
SalesRobot will begin messaging every first-degree connection of yours based on the filters you choose.
How Many Recommendations Should You Have On LinkedIn?
Aim to keep at least 3-5 strong recommendations. Make sure these recommendations are from diverse connections (like colleagues, managers, and clients).
Even if you have a lot of recommendations, just remember that quality matters the most. One good recommendation that is detailed and authentic is worth a lot more than any number of generic recommendations.
How To Make Your LinkedIn Profile Shine With Recommendations?
- Curate your display: Make sure you highlight the recommendations that align with your career goals.
- Update regularly: Request new recommendations periodically to ensure that your profile is fresh. How often? Anytime you complete major projects, change roles or jobs, or usually every 6-8 months.
- Diversify your recommendations: Get recommendations from a variety of roles and industries. This showcases your versatility and ability to succeed in various environments.
- Give and take: In order to get recommendations, you will need to write a few recommendations for your peers. This shows that you acknowledge them, and often, they will return the favor.
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile: If you want people to even scroll down to the recommendations section, you need to make sure your profile is attractive enough. Update and optimize your LinkedIn profile regularly.
LinkedIn Recommendations vs Endorsements: What’s The Difference?
Recommendations are testimonials that provide detailed insights into not only your skills but also your character in general.
Endorsements are more of a quick acknowledgment of your skills. These are less personalized than recommendations.
Just think of it as someone giving you a thumbs up for your skills.
Tips for Job Seekers: How to Stand Out Using LinkedIn Recommendations?
- Incorporate Industry Keywords: You can ask your recommenders to include specific keywords to your industry or role. This will increase your profile’s searchability and make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to find you.
- Highlight the right recommendations: Recommendations that showcase certain abilities like your leadership qualities, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and adaptability are the ones that you need to make sure are present at the beginning of the recommendations section of your profile.
- Use recommendations to cover gaps: If you have any gaps or are transitioning to a new industry, use recommendations to bridge these gaps. Recommendations that highlight any positive contributions or transferable skills can really help you.
- Make it easier for your recommenders: If your recommender is someone you’ve worked with personally (colleagues, team members), give them some context and suggestions so that it’s easier for them to write a more targeted recommendation.
- Request for honest and detailed feedback: Remember quality over quantity. Encourage your recommenders to give thoughtful, genuine, and specific feedback over random generic praise. Detailed recommendations that describe your strengths and contributions are way more impactful.
The Takeaway
Well, that’s all for now, folks!
LinkedIn recommendations are just a more detailed and personalized way to vouch for somebody’s skills, character, or accomplishments.
When asking for recommendations, make sure you write a personalized message mentioning why you’re asking them for a recommendation and also include any specific skills or achievements you want them to highlight.
Always remember the quality of your recommendations is worth a lot more than the quantity. So ensure that whenever you’re writing a recommendation or requesting for them, they focus on authenticity and are relevant.
A strong LinkedIn profile that's backed by thoughtful recommendations can really set you apart from the rest and also open a wide door of opportunities.
It’s about time you start leveraging this feature right now and let your professional networking do the talking for you!
Until next time!
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