A simple and helpful thing you can do to help a coworker advance in their job is to write a LinkedIn recommendation for them. But it’s not always simple to write one that works, is clear, is honest, and is short.
In this guide, we will take you through how to write a recommendation for LinkedIn that will land your friend, colleague, boss, former boss that job they desperately seek.
What are LinkedIn recommendations? Why should I write one?
You can give short recommendations for people you’ve worked with on the most popular business networking site thanks to this small tool.
Think of LinkedIn recommendations as recommendations for bosses, employees, coworkers, and anyone else you’ve worked with in the past or present.
When hiring managers and recruiters are not sure whether to interview someone or hire them, they often scroll down to read their LinkedIn suggestions. Although concise recommendations are not as important as a good CV and cover letter, they do provide additional information about a candidate’s experience and qualifications from the view of a third party—almost like a tiny reference check.
So why should you write a LinkedIn recommendation? It’s a simple way to show your boss, friend, colleague, former boss you appreciate and support them, and it makes them look good to potential employers or customers. It’s also a casual way to stay in touch or renew old friendships. When you make a suggestion, they will be alerted, which will make them pleased and may inspire you to do the same for them in the future when you are looking for recommendations of your own.
By recommending someone on LinkedIn, you can show others that you’re a pleasant, considerate colleague who any future boss would want to work with. This goes double for those in your business networks.
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How to publish a Recommendation on LinkedIn
There are two ways to write a recommendation on LinkedIn;
From your Profile
Go to your profile, scroll down, click the “+” sign in the “Recommendations” section. When prompted, choose to make give a recommendation rather than request one. A pop-up box will appear, prompting you to pick the contact you wish to recommend.
From the Person’s Profile
Navigate to the individual’s profile that you want to recommend. After choosing “Recommend,” select the “More” option to the left of the “Message” button. Alternatively, scroll to their “Recommendations” section and click “Recommend [Name]”.
What is the Information I will Write in the Recommendation?
Your relationship: You’ll select from the options in the dropdown your relationship with the person. Some of them are; Did you manage the person? Did they report to you? Did you work together?
Their position at the time: You’ll write their position as at the time you worked together.
Your recommendation: Write a brief (no more than 3,000 characters; a shorter description is ideal) overview of your experiences with this person. You should spend the most of your time here.
Below, we will show you how to write a LinkedIn recommendation for a friend, your boss, colleague, or any other person you wish.
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How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation in Easy Steps
Step 1: Start by writing a knockout line.
Like all great writing, your first sentence should capture the reader’s attention and persuade them to continue reading. Ideally, this introduction will highlight your recommendee’s excellent personality from the start.
Remember that there are many more terms and phrases that sound just as nice as “the best” or “my favorite,” so don’t use them on everyone. For example:
“You don’t often find exceptional talent like Maria.”
“Not many people get to work for a manager who doubles as a coach and mentor, but I did when I was Susan’s employee.”
“The word that comes to mind when I think about Victory is ridiculously efficient.”
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Step 2: What is your relationship.
The reader should then be given some context about how you met the person, such as your reporting arrangement, projects you worked on together, or how long you’ve known each other. It is important to explain to readers why you are competent to provide the recommendation, even if you do not need to include all of the facts.
“I had the pleasure of working on several project teams with Favour during my two years at the Smith Company.”
“After viewing Carol’s online portfolio, I decided to hire her as a freelance designer in 2019, and she has since completed six faultless projects for me.”
“Marcs did an excellent job as the social media manager for my company’s marketing team for just over a year.”
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It’s possible that you think the person you’re recommending is brilliant, gifted, well-organized, pleasant to work with, etc. As a result, there is no need to state the obvious in your recommendation with the limited number of characters available. Rather, focus your proposal on the one or two areas where this person excels or that, in your viewpoint, make them an excellent colleague.
Inquire if there is anything special the other person wants you to write about. If your former executive assistant is applying for a management role for the first time, they will most likely want you to highlight their volunteer management experience rather than their organizational skills.
“Darren’s ability to handle even the most difficult clients with ease impressed me. Customer service people often require years to develop that skill, but he appeared to have it in his veins.”
“I was always amazed at Keisha’s ability to take charge of a room and win people over to her ideas, even if they weren’t initially in agreement.”
“Laura’s ability to juggle multiple projects was unlike any I’ve seen before and made a dramatic difference in the productivity level of our team.”
Step 4: Don’t forget to personalize it
The majority of hiring managers are looking for someone who is not only a hard worker, but also pleasant to work with. Please share any information you have about dealing with this person or your understanding of their nature.
Just remember to be mindful of your viewers. Potential employers may be offended by the comment, “Grace always bought everyone tequila shots at happy hour.”
For example;
“He also made sure our Monday morning staff meetings were never without bagels and coffee. Talk about motivating a team!”
“And we still miss her on the office softball team!”
“No matter how tense a meeting, Gracie made sure everyone left with a smile.”
Step 5: Finish solid recommendation.
It’s always a good idea to conclude your recommendation with a line or two expressing your heartfelt approval for your contact. Keep it brief, elegant, and well-rounded.
“Allwell would be an asset to any team.”
“As a team member or a leader, Jindu earns my highest recommendation.”
“Any employee would be lucky to have Tessy as a manager.”
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LinkedIn Recommendation Examples
Here are some examples for a LinkedIn recommendations for different people and your relationships;
LinkedIn Recommendation Example for a work colleague you managed
“I’ve worked with Sandy for over 5 years. I first met Sandy when she was hired onto the marketing team as a coordinator, since then she has been promoted several times. Sandy has some of the top marketing skills needed to help organizations stand out in an increasingly noisy environment. She led the team’s branding, marketing and communications successfully.
Give specific examples if you have them – increased by X amount.
What I really enjoy about Sandy is her ability to bring people together, she is a true professional and team player and I would highly recommend her for any role.”
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LinkedIn Recommendation Example for a work colleague from another team
“I have enjoyed working with Samuel for the last year. Our teams worked closely together to help build out the company’s project management process. I found him to be hard-working, bright, and a skilled communicator. I particularly enjoyed his sense of humor in the face of what can sometimes be a stressful situation when faced with tight deadlines. But what makes him stand out is his willingness to help others. I am glad to have worked with him and have no hesitation recommending him to potential employers.”
LinkedIn Recommendation Example for a manager
“Joy was my manager for over 3 years. I very much enjoyed working with her on many projects throughout her tenure. She led the team to consistently exceed quote month over month. She sets realistic goals and gives clear instructions and feedback. She instills pride, confidence, and positive energy in everyone on her team. I would welcome the opportunity to work with her again. If you have the chance to work with Jane, take it!”
LinkedIn Recommendation Example for a client
“My company was brought in by Theresa 3 years ago to help them implement a new marketing software platform. I found her to be highly cooperative and responsive. She set the strategy, handled the project timeline and was extremely valuable to both us as a vendor and her organization in getting to a successful outcome. I found her to be amenable, adaptable and witnessed her interaction with her team and was impressed with those as well. I look forward to working with her again in the future and highly recommend her for any role.”
LinkedIn Recommendation Example for a vendor
“A year ago, my company was looking for a software company to help us build out our platform. I was introduced to Collins when he was working at XYZ Software, and I’m so glad I was! He helped us plan, implement, and execute our MVP. He was patient and worked with our team to design the best platform for our needs. I found him to be very personable, have excellent communication skills and have a customer centric attitude. He will be an asset to any project.”
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Conclusion
Learning how to write a LinkedIn recommendation is essential for that friend, colleague, boss, former boss to be seen by potential employers as the best thing after sliced bread. You should write for your friends more often if you are asked. You’re also making yourself a good networker.
References
- Linkedin – how to write a recommendation on LinkedIn
- The muse – how to write a recommendation on LinkedIn
