Writing a LinkedIn recommendation can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve never done it before.
However, leaving a testimonial on someone’s LinkedIn profile can really bolster their confidence, especially if they’re looking for a new job.
Plus, writing a compelling recommendation isn’t too challenging, so long as you have a strategy in place.
Keep reading to learn how to easily craft a LinkedIn testimonial that resonates with readers. I also share example recommendations to serve as inspiration.
How To Write A LinkedIn Recommendation
For starters, if someone is asking you to leave them a LinkedIn testimonial, hopefully you know them well enough to write a few hundred kind words about them. (And if you don’t feel comfortable with their ask, we’ll share a few options shortly.)
The goal of a recommendation is to provide the reader with additional insights about the recipient that they may not immediately learn from their LinkedIn content alone.
With this in mind, you might cover the following in your recommendation:
- The recipient’s greatest strengths and unique value position
- Their leadership philosophy
- Key results or achievements
- Examples of them going above and beyond
How Long Should A LinkedIn Recommendation Be?
Thankfully, a LinkedIn recommendation doesn’t have to be lengthy. A few short paragraphs are often more than enough content for a hearty review.
If you’re looking for something more specific, approximately 100 to 200 words can be a good ballpark range for a LinkedIn recommendation, but don’t feel restricted if your testimonial is shorter or longer, as the content is what’s most important.
In fact, a pithy review can sometimes be more powerful than a lengthy narrative.
Remember that you’re not authoring a dissertation or book here, you’re crafting a brief testimonial that will be displayed on the recipient’s profile.
What To Include In A LinkedIn Recommendation
Now, what exactly do you include in your review? Here’s how you might outline your recommendation:
- Begin with your relationship with the recipient and any relevant context regarding how your relationship has evolved over time.
- You might then mention how long you’ve known each other, particularly if it’s more than a few years.
- Next, highlight their strengths and what sets them apart from other people (AKA their fabulousness). Consider focusing attention on their soft skills, as these can be more challenging for someone to highlight themselves on their LinkedIn profile and resume, and this is one of the primary reasons people request recommendations from managers, colleagues, and other workplace connections.
- Lastly, if there’s a story or example that demonstrates the recipient’s attributes in action, you can include this in your testimonial.
Note: This outline is only one example of how you might structure your recommendation, so please feel free to get creative with the process.
What Is An Example Of A Good Recommendation On LinkedIn?
The following are several examples of LinkedIn recommendations to serve as inspiration as you craft your own.
Sample Of LinkedIn Recommendation For A Manager
I first met Jill Katz when she invited me to be a guest on her podcast. From our first conversation, we connected over our mutual love for people-centered leadership and empowering senior executives and their teams through coaching. Over the last 5+ years, Jill has become my friend, mentor, and boss.
When I left my last full-time job to dedicate 100% of my time to my coaching business, I told myself I’d never work for anyone again. I made an exception for Jill because she lives her values 24/7/365, which is increasingly rare in a modern-day founder and CEO. From leading meetings to answering emails, she embodies what it means to be a people-centered leader and coach.
I’m not easily impressed, yet Jill constantly amazes me with her knowledge, care, and humility. I learn something new each I watch Jill coach or speak.
Sample Of LinkedIn Recommendation For A Colleague
I originally hired Jennifer to proofread the new articles on my website’s blog. However, I quickly learned she is much more than a proofreader. While I consider myself a talented writer, Jennifer always finds seemingly hidden opportunities to add an extra punch to my writing through her edits. Now, I run all of my articles, both for my website and major publications, by her before hitting publish. My only regret was not hiring Jennifer sooner.
How Do I Say No To Writing A Recommendation On LinkedIn?
There might be some situations where you don’t want to leave someone a LinkedIn testimonial.
For a variety of reasons, you might feel a bit uncomfortable telling someone you don’t want to write them a LinkedIn recommendation. In these cases, consider a concise, direct response to their request for a recommendation, as you probably don’t want to leave them hanging.
You might also consider not giving them a specific reason for not wanting to provide a LinkedIn review; otherwise, it can lead to unnecessary back and forth.
Here’s what you might say if you don’t want to write someone a LinkedIn recommendation:
Hi [Their First Name],
I really appreciate you asking me to write you a LinkedIn recommendation. While I would love to support you in updating your profile, I won’t be able to provide you with a recommendation at this time. Thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
[Your First Name]
Final Thoughts On Writing A LinkedIn Recommendation
If you’ve gotten this far and are still feeling stuck about what to write in the testimonial, you can also ask the requester what they’d like you to focus on in the recommendation. At the end of the day, try not to overthink the process. Remember, it’s only a LinkedIn recommendation. You’ve got this!
